World War I Digger’s Cheltenham grave remains unmarked for 89 years

WORLD War I Digger Thomas Marcellus Boyle has lain unnoticed and unrecognised in an unmarked grave for 89 years. But that’s about to change ...

WW1 soldier Thomas Marcellus Boyle has had an unmarked grave since he died, but it is finally been given a plaque after the local historical society researched him and applied to have him recognised. Peter Birt (Acting President of Cheltenham-Moorabbin RSL sub branch) at the grave of WW1 soldier Thomas Marcellus Boyle. Picture: Jason Sammon Friday 13th March 2015

FOR 89 years Digger Thomas Marcellus Boyle has lain unnoticed and unrecognised in an unmarked grave.

But next week he will at last be granted recognition when a plaque is placed on his resting place in Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery.

Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries president Rosemary Reddick said the group, after discovering Gunner Boyle was buried at the cemetery, spent months trying to find information about him to get a marker on his grave through the Office of Australian War Graves.

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“It was absolutely worth it,” Ms Reddick said.

“In a sense, there was nothing remarkable about him. Like a lot of young men, he went off to war and although he didn’t die there, he died only a few years later.

“But many of these soldiers have nothing to commemorate them and I think that if you served your country, the least they can do is recognise that sacrifice.”

Gunner Boyle fought in the Battle for Amiens at Albert and Mont Saint Quentin, which proved to be the most decisive battle against the Germans on the Western Front in 1918.

He also took part in the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, the last and strongest of the German army’s defences.

Between the Battle for Amiens and the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, 27,000 men had been killed but Gunner Boyle survived.

“I think that if you served your country, the least they can do is recognise that sacrifice,” — Rosemary Reddick, Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries president

However, in 1926, seven years after he was discharged from the army, he died at the military hospital in Caulfield from pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried in Cheltenham.

Tuberculosis was the dominant chronic infectious disease in the first half of the 20th century and there was no effective treatment until the 1950s.

It is believed many men who fought in World War I contracted tuberculosis by living in cramped, unhygienic, damp and cold conditions, as well as due to exhaustion and malnutrition.

Ms Reddick said the soldier never married or fathered any children.

“Sadly, Thomas and his brother and sister all died of tuberculosis,” Ms Reddick said.

Cheltenham Moorabbin RSL sub-branch president Peter Birt, who will unveil the plaque on March 27, said it was “very important” to acknowledge veterans and their sacrifices.

Cheltenham Moorabbin RSL president Peter Birt at the grave of Thomas Marcellus Boyle. Picture: Jason Sammon

THOMAS MARCELLUS BOYLE

■ Thomas Marcellus Boyle enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force — the 8th Field Artillery Brigade — on July 29, 1916

■ He left Australia on May 20, 1916, disembarking at Plymouth, UK, on July 18, 1916

■ Boyle was taken on strength to the 23rd Field Artillery Brigade, part of the 3rd Division, on September 13, 1916

■ He was sent to France in December with the 3rd Division and transferred to 12th Army Field Artillery Brigade in February 1917

■ In France, Boyle was put in a howitzer divisions and was transferred to the 11th Brigade, 111th Battery, attached to the 4th Division

■ He was part of this unit until October 19, 1918