James William HOYLE

767155, Private. b. 1881, Titchmarsh, Northants. d. Fri. 5th April 1918 (aged 37)

James was the eldest son of William Henry and Elizabeth Hoyle, they had 8 children (6 boys and 2 girls), Annie was the oldest and Fredrick the youngest.  James father, William Henry was a Professor of Music and the census shows that the family moved around between Northamptonshire and Yorkshire, James was born in Titchmarsh.

James moved to Clayton shortly after his marriage to a local girl, Mary Barker in June 1905. Mary was a schoolmistress.

James had moved to Bradford several years before with his parents . The 1901 census shows the family living at 1 Chapel Street, Queensbury and James father William is shown as an organist and music teacher of his ‘own account’.

The young couple settled at ‘Greenside’ in Clayton and James got a job at T.S. Tetley & Co. at Bradshaw Mills as a Worsted Spinners Clerk where he was to stay for the next several years before he was called up rising through ranks to work as a cashier. The 1911 census shows the couple had 3 young girls; Beatrice, Marjorie and Helena and are living at 1 Raw Lane, Illingworth.

James attested in London in October 1917 at age of 35. He was posted to the 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles). This was a prestigious regiment famous for enlisting painters, sculptors and poets and artistic young men.

After training James landed in France on 4th March 1918 and joined his unit 28th Battalion. London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles) on the 13th March in Gouzeaucourt. The battalion war diary records that they were forced to withdraw as the enemy launched their 1918 spring offensive and by March 26th they were at Bouzincourt amongst the old 1916 Somme battlefields.

James was killed in action on 5th April 1918, aged 37, when his Battalion were subjected to a heavy bombardment followed by an attack on their positions. James became separated from his unit and left behind what were now enemy lines. The advancing German forces buried his body in a nearby cemetery.

His effects; a 9ct Gold watch (damaged) and strap, letters, pocket book and a religious book were returned to Mary at Greenside in Clayton on 25th October 1918.

Mary was awarded a pension of 33s 9d for herself and four dependents. Mary Hannah Hoyle appears to have lived at 57 Pasture Lane until 1952 when she died aged 72.

James is buried at Hamel Military Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France.

His headstone is inscribed “At Rest”.

Artists Rifles

The Regiment James William Hoyle served in the Artists Rifles was perhaps the most curious regiment in the British Army. It was formed in 1860 by a group of painters, architects, poets, sculptors, musicians and actors concerned about a possible French invasion. The Pre-Raphaelites were early members as were William Morris, Frederic Leighton and even the poet Algernon Swinburne.

The regiment was the natural choice for young men of an artistic persuasion at the outbreak of war in 1914. Artists like John and Paul Nash, the poets Edward Thomas and Wilfred Owen, and the playwright Noël Coward wore the uniform of the Artists Rifles.

In view of the calibre of men serving in its ranks, it became an officer-producing unit in 1915 and turned out over 10,000 officers for service in other regiments during the First World War.
The Arists Rifles today is 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) Reserves.

Hoyle brothers

Fredrick Hoyle, the youngest brother of James, was to die of wounds on 20th April 1918. Frederick is listed on the Queensbury memorial. Read about Frederick here.

Ernest Hoyle is recorded as discharged from army the and claiming a disability pension on 15/07/1919.

Percy Mayes Hoyle is recorded as marrying Annie on 20th November 1911 in Queensbury and in register entry his address is listed as Coventry. The 1939 Registration Census shows Percy and Annie living in Southam, Warwickshire with Percy working as Director of a Piano, radio and music store. The probate records show Percy died in 1971 in Fenny Compton, Warwickshire.