Coyle, Theodore

2313 Private Theodore Coyle - 44th Battalion AIF

Theodore Coyle was born on the 23rd August 1892 in Jarrahdale WA to Michael and Johannah Coyle. He was one of six siblings, with, Madeline 1883, Nicholas 1885, Catherine 1887, Mary 1890 and John 1896.

Theo grew up and was educated in Jarrahdale. Sadly his mother died in 1906 and father in 1907. He then moved in with his older siblings.

Prior to the Great War Theo was living with his sister Beatrice at 69 Market Street Fremantle and was working locally as a labourer. Beatrice's husband ran a Pawnbrokers shop in Market Street.

On the 28th March 1916 Theo enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording Theo's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 inches;

Weight - 142lbs;

Chest Measurement - 37 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark.

After his successful enlistment Theo was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially assigned to No.67 Training depot where he was taken through the basics of infantry work for the next six weeks. On the 20th June 1916 Theo was assigned to the 4th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion. He trained with them in WA for the next few months. They then received their departure orders and on the 13th October 1916 Theo and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Port Macquarie and set sail for England.

After the long sea voyage they arrived at Plymouth on the 12th December 1916. They were then disembarked and Theo was sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville. He trained with this group for the next two months and departed for France on the 4th February 1917.

Theo was taken on strength of the 44th Battalion on the 8th February 1917 when the Battalion was in the line at Armentieres.

On the 22nd March 1917 Theo got into strife by failing to appear on a parade and was subsequently given 5 days of Field Punishment No.2. On the 11th April 1917 Theo reported sick and was away from his unit for a week. Upon his return to the 44th Battalion he again got into trouble for not appearing on a parade on the 21st April 1917. He was then given seven days of Field Punishment No.1.

By this time the 44th Battalion was then in southern Belgium at Ploegsteert. On the 29th May 1917 Theo reported sick and was sent to the 10th Field Ambulance where he was diagnosed with defective vision. He had a few days at the Field Ambulance and was then sent back to the 3rd Australian Division Base Depot at Le Havre.

He spent four weeks at the base, then on the 25th June 1917 was sent to England. He had been medically assessed as no longer medically fit for front line service.

On arrival in England Theo was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.

On the 25th August 1917 Theo boarded a transport ship for the journey back to Australia, arriving back in Fremantle in October 1917. He was discharged from the AIF on the 8th November 1917.

Theo remained in Fremantle during 1919 and became involved in the wharf riots and was arrested by the Police. However after his court appearance he was just fined.

In 1930 in Mt Lawley Theo got married to Lucy Halstead and they resided at Fourth Avenue. Though Theo spent much of the time at Piawaning which is about 160 kilometres north east of Perth.

On the 10th October 1939 Theo enlisted for service in World War Two. He was accepted as fit for service and was given the service number W243063. He was assigned to the 10th Garrison Battalion and served in the Perth metropolitan area.

In 1943 Theo was transferred to the 29th Garrison Battalion and was discharged from service in August 1944.

During this time they were living at 14 Carnac street Fremantle. They lived here till the 1950's when they moved to Fourth avenue in Maylands.

Theo died on the 28th January 1973 aged 80. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.