Coyle, John Humphrey
2805 Private John Humphrey Coyle - 44th Battalion AIF
John Humphrey Coyle was born on the 12th December 1896 in Jarrahdale WA to Michael and Johannah Coyle. He was one of six siblings with, Madeline 1883, Nicholas 1885, Catherine 1887, Mary 1890 and Theodore 1892.
He grew up and was educated in Jarrahdale. Sadly his mother died in 1906 and his father in 1907 so he then resided with elder siblings.
Pre the Great War John was working as a Labourer and living at 67 Market street Fremantle. That building housed Thomas Gordon who was a Dry Products producer.
John had served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. He tried to enlist in July 1916 but was knocked back for defective vision. He tried again and on the 12th October 1916 John successfully enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force.
The medical examiner recorded John's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 4 inches;
Weight - 132lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-35 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment John was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 6th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group for over two months.
On the 29th December 1916 John and his group boarded the transport ship HMAT Persic and set sail for England, reaching Devonport on the 3rd March 1917.
John and his group were then disembarked and sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville. He trained with them in England for the next few months.
On the 14th June 1917 John left England and proceeded to France, where upon arrival he was sent to the 3rd Australian Division Base Depot at le Havre. He had a few weeks in Le Havre and then joined the 44th Battalion on the 6th July 1917.
The 44th Battalion were then situated on the Messines battlefield. They served here till the end of August 1917 and John came through this time safely.
In September 1917 the 44th Battalion, as part of the 3rd Australian Division, was moved to Ypres in Belgium. They would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres and on October 4th 1917 took part in a successful advance at Zonnebeke. Two days after their successful advance John was hit by shrapnel in the left arm, right leg and thigh.
He was initially treated at the 11th Field Ambulance and was then taken to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station for further treatment. He was then sent by ambulance train to a hospital at Wimereux. John was only there for four days and was then shipped to England.
On arriving in England John was sent to the Kitchener War Hospital in Brighton. Of his wounds, that to his arm was the most severe, though he was recovering well. On the 19th October 1917 John was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He spent a further week there and was then transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
On the 29th October 1917 John was transferred to No.3 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He remained here till the 5th December 1917 when hew as transferred to No.4 Command Depot Camp and on the 10th January 1918 John went to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He spent the next few weeks here and on the 1st February 1918 returned to France. He was taken back on strength of the 44th Battalion on the 9th February 1918.
The 44th battalion were then situated in Belgium south east of Ypres. On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which broke through the German lines further south. As a result the Australian Divisions were sent south to help stop this advance.
The 44th Battalion were sent to near the Somme River and the towns of Corbie, Sailly Laurette and Sailly le Sec. The 44th battalion advanced on March 28th 1918 till they came into contact with the Germans. The Germans launched a heavy fire on the advancing men which stopped the 44th Bn from a further advance but the Germans were also halted for advancing further.
John was hit in the wrist by a bullet on the 28th March and was then evacuated for treatment to the 11th Field Ambulance. He was then sent to the 20th General Hospital at Camieres. He wasn't here for long as on the 1st April 1918 John was shipped to England.
On arrival in England John was sent to Norfolk War Hospital at Norwich. He remained there for a month and on the 3rd May 1918 was sent to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He spent ten more days in hospital here and was then released on the 13th May 1918 for a two week furlough.
On the 27th may 1918 John was sent to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He remained here for the next seven weeks and on the 18th July 1918 was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He spent another month here and on the 15th August 1918 returned to France.
On the 19th August 1918 John rejoined the 44th Battalion. The 44th Battalion were then advancing towards Clery north of the Somme River. The Germans were pushed back continually over the next few weeks. The 44th Battalion fought their last engagement at the Hindenburg Line at Bony from September 29th to October 1st 1918. John came through this battle safely and the 44th Battalion were then withdrawn for a well deserved rest.
Just over a month later the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. Once the Germans had withdrawn to behind their own borders the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France.
On the 24th January 1919 John was transferred for duty with the Australian Corps workshops.
After a few more months in France John was transferred back to England. On the 23rd July 1919 he boarded the transport ship Main and set sail home for Australia, arriving at Fremantle on the 27th September 1919.
John was discharged from the AIF on the 24th May 1920.
He then returned home and secured work as a linesman.
In 1923 John married Agnes May in Perth and they moved to Seventh Avenue Maylands. They lived there through to the late 1930's when they moved to Fourth avenue Maylands. John was still a linesman but also was employed as a fitter.
On the 29th April 1942 John enlisted into the Australian Army for service in World War Two. He was accepted for service and given the service number W80345. He served in the 5th Military District Line of Communication Signals Unit.
When he was discharged he returned to his work as a linesman. In 1943 the family was living at Crawford road in Bayswater. They lived here through to the 1950's
John Coyle died aged 59 on the 17th February 1966 in Inglewood WA. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery plot Presbyterian DC 0331.