The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Corporal Joseph Dominick Coyle, 19th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on Corporal Joseph Dominick Coyle, 19th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Corporal Joseph Dominick Coyle, 19th Battalion, AIF
Accidentally killed 16 April 1916

Story delivered 6 November 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal Joseph Coyle.

Popularly known as “Joe”, Joseph Dominick Coyle was born in 1884 to Dominick and Charlotte Coyle. His father might have run the hotel at Yamba for some years before the family moved to Dorrigo in New South Wales. He had a number of siblings but in 1896 his seven-year-old brother Patrick drowned in the Clarence River, leaving Joseph and his brother Ernie the only two sons in the family. In 1909 Joseph left Dorrigo to take up a position with the Fresh Food and Ice Company at Grafton as a clerk. He was an accomplished musician and regularly played at public events and gatherings, including back in Dorrigo after moving away.

Joseph Coyle attempted to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force with a number of his friends shortly after the outbreak of war in August 1914, but although his mates were accepted, he was turned down as medically unfit. He tried again and was accepted three months later. After beginning his training, he was put on the clerical staff at Liverpool Camp, serving in that capacity for a number of months.

In April 1916 Coyle went on leave, and on 12 April was returning to camp on a train travelling from Sydney to Liverpool. He was travelling on a flatbed car of the train with a number of other soldiers. He lay down for a little while, and then sat up with his feet near the edge pointing towards the coupling at the back of the truck. Just after the train passed Merrylands Station it gave a jolt as it rounded a curve. The man standing next to Corporal Coyle called out “Oh my god! He’s gone!”
Coyle had fallen off the railway truck and under the one following. He was later found lying near the tracks and taken to hospital. Despite his
injuries, he was still conscious, and was given an anaesthetic so that the doctor could suture his wounds. His head and jaw were particularly damaged, and three of his fingers were crushed. His parents were advised of the accident by telegram, and Mrs Coyle and her daughter arrived at the hospital just before Joe Coyle died of his injuries.

It was reported that “Corporal Coyle’s sad end will come as a shock and will be learned with deep regret by those old chums of his in far-off Egypt”. Joseph Coyle’s brother Ernie had also enlisted and was in camp when news of his brother’s death came. Ernie left for active service overseas later, only to die of a heart defect on board the troopship. The local newspaper lamented that “Mr and Mrs D. Coyle had only the two sons, and it is indeed sad that they should be robbed of both of them”. Both had been prepared to fight, but neither had reached the battlefield. Joseph Coyle was 32 years old, his brother Ernie not quite 24.

Their names are listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Corporal Joseph Dominick Coyle, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section