Cyril Clarkson Hoyle was born in Conisbrough on 15th September 1894 as the only son of John Hoyle and his wife Eleanor (nee Clarkson) who sadly died in 1896, the year after Cyril was born. The couple also had a daughter, Clara who was four years Cyril’s senior. John and Eleanor had married on 7th September 1887 in Bradford.
Following his first wife's death, John remarried and in 1901 was living with his new wife Alice and his children in Station Villas, Conisbrough with his mother Sarah, a widow and Elizabeth Hill, a servant. John is the headmaster of the Denaby Main Colliery School, which Cyril also attended.
By 1911 John and Alice are living at Heydon House in Conisbrough, and John is still the headmaster of Denaby Main Colliery chool. Heydon House still stands today on Buckingham Road. Both children have flown the nest, and Cyril who is now 16 is working as an operator at a Photo Engravers. At the time of the census he was living in Bradford with his maternal Grandmother Eleanor who was 74 and a widow after 53 years of marriage. Emma also had a servant, Harriet living with her.
The Conisbrough and Denaby 100 Project
Cyril C Hoyle
At the time of his death on 30th July 1916, the 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment was in the area of Bécourt (Bécordel Bécourt), on the Somme. The battalion had moved to the front line trenches on teh 28th July, and on the 29th the war diaries report heavy shelling from the Germans, which came “very near to doing some serious damage” to the village of Bécourt itself. The battalion lost a total of 33 men – 2 officers and 31 other ranks, along with 128 wounded (4 officers, 124 OR), 31 missing (1 officer, 30 OR) and 13 other ranks suffering shell shock.
Cyril, who never married, attested for the army on 18th November 1915 at the age of 21 years and 64 days. At the time he lived at 9 Carlton Grove, Shipley with his father John and stepmother Alice who had moved following John’s retirement, and was employed as a ‘Process operator’. He was five feet seven and a half inches tall, weighed 11st 6lb and had a good level of physical development.
Although some records state that he joined the 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, his paperwork show he was originally posted into the 11th Battalion, and transferred to the 10th when he was sent to France in May 1916. Cyril was placed in the Army Reserve from the day after his attestation (19th November 1915) until the time of his mobilisation in January 1916, and was sent to France on the 18th May 1916. He stayed in France until he was killed. Cyril had a perfectly clean service record with no misdemeanors. His total army service was 256 days.
On the day of Cyril’s death, the battalion war diaries read:
“ The Battalion was relieved by the 9th Yorks Regiment, about 6pm and took up position in reserve in Scott’s Redoubt and whilst here we had no casualties. ”
Therefore, it can be assumed that either Cyril was killed in the earlier part of the day whilst they were still in the trenches, or he was wounded in the heavy attack the day before, and died on the 30th.
What is known is that Cyril was bandaging the Company Sergeant Major’s wound during an attack when the pair were shot. He was awarded the British and Victory Medals, and in January 1918 his personal effects were returned to his father John who was still living in Shipley, comprising his wallet, letters, photos, card, and some forms.
Following his death, the Captain of his company wrote to his parents:
“ Dear Mrs Hoyle, I am writing to tell you the sad news that your son Private CC Hoyle was killed in action on the night of July 29th. I would have written before, but I was wounded on 10th July, and only rejoined the company a few days ago. The company was making an attack when the CSM was wounded. Your son was bandaging his wound when they were both shot and killed. I did not know your address, so I opened one of your letters to get it. Your son was with the company throughout the recent fighting, and did very well. If I can do anything for you in any way, will you write and let me know? May I offer you and his father my deepest sympathy. ”
Either Cyril’s body was never recovered, or his grave was subsequently lost; most likely the latter, as it is clear from the Captain’s letter that his death was observed and presumably his body (and that of the CSM) was recovered. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.
We visited Thiepval and laid Cyril’s tribute card in April 2015.
Cyril's medal index card (click for larger image)
Cyril's inscription on Thiepval Memorial to the Missing
(click for larger image)