Thomas Henry Boyle

Killed in Action on the 07/06/1917 on the opening day of the Battle of Messines

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne in October 1915 and were part of the 107th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division. Thomas is listed as PRIVATE HENRY BOYLE on the CWGC site and his HEADSTONE and also on other listings except for Census and Bessbrook Memorial and his Pension Records (listed as Thomas Henry). Also see photos for his listing in the Bessbrook District War Dead book kindly sent to me by Christine Tyrrell from Warrenpoint and thanks to her donators too (Thomas' sister Miss Lizzie (Elizabeth) Boyle received Thomas Henry's belongings after his death). He was Killed in Action at the Battle of Messines, 7th - 14th June 1917 : A brilliantly planned and executed attack that resulted in the capture of the Wytschaete-Messines ridge south of Ypres, a feature that had given the British problems since 1914 and which was important to hold for future offensive operations in Flanders. Commenced with one of the heaviest artillery bombardments of the war and the explosion of nineteen enormous and long-prepared underground mines. The 36th (Ulster) Division along with the 16th (Irish) Division captured Wytschaete. SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JANUARY - JUNE 1917. The War Diary for the 07/06/1917 states : Casualties - 12 Other Ranks Killed, 5 Officers and 86 Other Ranks Wounded. SEE PHOTOS x 30 FOR THE 36th (ULSTER) DIVISION BOOK JUNE 1917. Thomas is also remembered on the Bessbrook War Memorial, Co. Armagh as Thomas Boyle (see photos x 4). He was reburied in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery (Henry see photos). See photos for Thomas Henry's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Ireland Casualties of WW1 (Henry), his Grave Registration x 2, Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, the Royal Irish Rifles Cap Badge, Bessbrook War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday 2019, Thomas Henry's Pension Records x 2, his Headstone Report and a dummy tree used as an observation post on Hill 63 by Australian troops during the Battle of Messines. Finally, see photos for the 36th (Ulster) Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division he was with when he died), myself with Poppies at the Bessbrook War Memorial in May 2025, Poppy placed by myself at Thomas' name on the Bessbrook War Memorial in May 2025 x 2, Newspaper clippings x 5 (Newry Reporter x 1, Northern Whig x 2, Newry Telegraph x 1 and the Belfast Weekly Telegraph x 1) and the 1901 and 1911 Ireland Census Records.