Richard William Thomas Boyle
From Our Contribution
 Courtesy Helen Manson | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22 Feb 1900 |
| Place of Birth | Fitzroy, Victoria |
| Death | 2:30pm 20 Mar 1938, aged 38 |
| Place of Death | Donnybrook, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 14 years, 11 months |
| Description | 4' 11" (1.49m) when enlisted as a boy, 5' 4" (1.63m) when paid a man's rating. Brown eyes, fair complexion, boil scars on lower back |
| Occupation | school boy |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Beenup, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Grandfather Mr Thomas Boyle |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | Navy 4558 |
| Date of Enlistment | 1 Feb 1915 |
| Rank | Navy Signaller |
| Unit/Formation | HMAS Melbourne |
| Ship Returned On | 7 Mar 1919 - Aug 1919 (Sydney) |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Following training in Australia Richard was posted to the London Depot on 23 Nov 1915. On 14 Jan 1916 he joined the HMAS Melbourne, which at the time was engaged in patrol duties, mainly between the islands of the West Indies and the east coast of North America.
From Sep 1916 the ship was engaged in patrol, escort and screening duties as part of the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron. Richard and his ship mates would have been present at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918, and in April 1919 the ship and its crew returned to Australia.
On 22 Feb 1918, Richard had re-engaged for a further seven (7) years.
Post War
Richard married Ruby May Robbins in 1926. Ruby died on 10 Feb 1938, (Wooroloo Sanitorium). They had no children.
The 1925 Electoral Roll lists Richard as being in Palgarrup near Manjimup, employed as a timber worker. Later electoral rolls show that he returned to Byford to work in the brick works by 1931, remaining there until 1936 when he moved to Kirup.
Richard's death notice appears in Western Mail on 5 May 1938, and The West Australian published an article on 21 March 1938 about the accident that took his life. Richard was the outer of two passengers in a truck that had a tyre blow out, causing the driver to lose control and slam the truck into a tree. The point of impact was the passengers door.
It also noted Richard's wife had died several weeks earlier.
Notes