James Doyle - 12th Northumberland Fusiliers

[Guest Mike536]

Hello, My family have recently started doing research on my great great grandfather 'James Doyle'

The information we have so far is:

Doyle, James.

James Doyle was born in Hartlepool and enlisted in Middlesbrough.

Serving with the 12th battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, Private Doyle was killed in action aged 45 on July 2nd

1916 in an attack on Shelter Wood during the Battle of the Somme.

His body lost to the battlefield his name is remembered today on the Thiepval

Memorial to the missing of the Somme battles.

James Doyle was the son of James Doyle and the husband of Mary Ellen Loughran, formerly Doyle of 28 Garbutt Street in Middlesbrough.

Rank: Private Service No: 21945 Date of Death: 02/07/1916 Age: 45 Regiment/Service: Northumberland Fusiliers 12th Bn. Panel Reference: Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

If you could help me get any more addtional info of relatives, pictures or anything it would be amazing.

[SgtPrice]

Hi,

Just seen your post. I have checked with the WW1 medal index card and James Doyle, 21945, arrived in France on 7-10-15.

If you want to know what his battalion was doing prior to his death I would suggest that you either go to the National Archives at Kew and see his Bn war diary from the WO/95 series or order it on line as I would have thought that will have been digistised by now.

If you can give me a location of his death I should be able to get you a soft copy of the trench map for the relevant area. If I think of any other sources I will let know.

regards,

PrivatePrice

[Guest Mike536]

He was killed in action aged 45 on July 2nd 1916 in an attack on Shelter Wood during the Battle of the Somme.

I was hoping somebody might have came across photos of the 12th Northumberland Fusiliers, or might have known relatives as there were many other with the last name 'Doyle' within the Northumberland Fusiliers with one even being from North Ormesby which is a stones throw away.

Thanks PrivatePrice

[Graham Stewart]

Not a lot more to add to this one, apart from the fact that he enlisted around the 8th May 1915.

[SgtPrice]

Mike,

Glad to be of help. If you would like a screen shot of a map showing the trenches in the area please just shout. I will get it to you next week.

Please see belwo an extract from a book by John Masefield titled "The battle of the Somme" where Shelter Wood is mentioned during the Somme battle:

The defences of the boot-shaped table-land were as follows: A line of trench known as Railway Alley, which ran (N.E.) from Fricourt Wood towards the toe; odds and ends of work about (1) a farms (2) a copse called the Poodles, and (3), a crucifix along the leg of the boot; a strong field fortress in the biggish copse called Shelter Wood, which hangs like a curtain of shrubs and trees on the steep wall of the valley, at the top of the leg; the trenched copses, called Lozenge Wood and the Dingle, on the heel and back.

Beyond Shelter. Valley to the north the ground rises to another hill of about the same height the boot. Men in important works on this hill could, and did, fire upon our men during all the fighting for the possession of the boot.

At dawn on the 2nd of July our troops advanced to the storm of Fricourt Wood, the Contalmaison Road, Shelter Wood, and as much of the bootshaped plateau as they could take. As they advanced, the massed machine guns in all the trenches and strongholds opened upon them. They got across the field of this fire into Fricourt Wood to an indescribable day which will never be known about nor imagined. They climbed over fallen trees and were caught in branches, and were shot when caught. It took them all day to clear that jungle; but they did clear it, and by dark they were almost out at the northern end, where Railway Alley lay in front of them on the roll of the hill. Further to the north, on the top of the leg of the boot, our men stormed the Shelter Wood and fought in that 200 yards of copse for four bloody and awful hours, with bomb and bayonet, body to body, till the wood was heaped with corpses, but in our hands.

I think tht is about the best I can do for now.

regards,

PrivatePrice

[Geoff Langford]

Hello Mike

A am also researching my grandfather Thomas Robinson Private No 15055 of the 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who was killed in action on 4th July 1916 in the battle of the at Somme, Flanders. His body was lost on the battlefield but he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial alas I have no further information so if anyone can add to this I would be very grateful.

Regards

Geoff Langford

[JefR]

Mike

I've been following my late wife's grandfather who served in the 12th NF from Aug 1914 to Sept 1916 - this might help.

This link should take you to the Battalion diary covering the Shelter Wood attack (3 images) if you click on it , or maybe double click.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/huh35wiukzv8kxa/W_diaeQN9X/12NF%20Diary%20Shelter%20Wood

I attach a photo of Shelter Wood taken about 18 months ago from the sunken road about 100m south of the bend labelled The Dingle on the trench map.

JefR

Apologies - I fouled up the attachment revised post follows.

[Geoff Langford]

Hi Lieutenant

That information is amazing you have thrown a light as to what happened to my grandfather .

Many Many thanks

Regards

Geoff

[Geoff Langford]

Hello Again

Having re-read the above account of the battle it shows that 12th Battalion Northumbrian Fusiliers did not take part in any action on July 4th 1916. however my grandfather's records show that he was killed in action on 4th July 1916 and that his body was lost on the battlefield which all sound odd. Can anyone throw any light on this?

Regards

Geoff