TOPIC:

Dear Forum


I am currently researching my Family Tree, and have come to a point where I cannot go any further back.

I am looking to find information on a Richard Doyle, I believe that he was a Bodyguard for Winston Churchill at the time of his capture, however not confirmed and I cannot find any information on him what so ever.

Any help would be much appreciated

If it helps he was born around 1882

Regards

Kieron Doyle

Dear Kieron,

Winston Churchill was captured in the famous armoured train incident near Chieveley on 15th November 1899. The troops that were escorting the train were drawn from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Durban Light Infantry. I hope this gives you some leads. It might be worth checking the medal rolls of both regiments.

Best wishes,

Justin

Hi Justin

this is a great start, think I will start with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers as have been looking at an enlistment paper on Ancestry that could tie into the dates from the last censes info I have.

I guess he may have been captured along with Winston Churchill? would there be a list of POW's from that encounter?

thanks for your help, knowledge and reply

Regards

Kieron

Kieron
I just now had a look at the Natal Field Force Casualty roll for the "Dubs" and there are a few "Doyles" but none with initial "R".
Regards
IL.

Hi Linneyl

I have been looking now for a few weeks, as only just started on my search, feel there will be many more forums and a few visits to the National Archives

Doyle's I have counted that have medals on RDF website are as follows

64 have a QSA, over two thirds seem to have no initial "R" or initial what so ever

a few Doyle's with KSA's

I need as much help as I can get so will tell you what I think I know, I think at some point he was a company sergeant major in the British army so think I can narrow it down a little.

I know he lived in ballysax Kildare in 1911, this is next to the Curragh camp, and British army left Ireland there in 1922 so assume he came to the UK as this is the year my granddad was born I think, I am told it was a British legion house in Kildare so maybe this helps me with a link to his past prior to 1911, in short other than fathering my granddad (who passed in 1996) I know little or at least nothing that helps me build a picture the Doyle past before the 1911 census,

so all comments and info I can get is so much appreciated


Regards

Kieron

Kieron
I think that a visit to the NA is a great place to start in your quest. Sometimes I just wish I was rather closer to it than here in OZ! However you do have to steel yourself against running into a big fat blank. As Frank would say, "If you dont look, you will never know". Family info can also be a bit of a trap; if that is where you got the gen about R.Doyle being one of WSC's bogyguards. By trap, I mean that sometimes things get a bit embellished over time. Nevertheless, if your R.Doyle did service in the "Dubs" during the ABW, he served in a true fighting Regiment.
I also had a look at the Durban LI casualty list and there is no R.Doyle on that either.
Good luck in your quest. One of the nice things about this site is that you can let us all know of your search.
Regards
IL.