DOYLE, William

William, a son of John and Annie Doyle, was twenty years old when, with his father’s permission, he enlisted at Inverell in March 1917. He joined the 6th Light Horse Regiment, 25th Reinforcement and left Australia for Egypt on HMAT A42 Boorara in May 1917. He attended a School of Instruction at Zeitoun the same year. Before coming home in 1919 he was ill with malaria.

During World War II William was working as Overseer for the British Phosphate Commission at Nauru and was one of five men murdered by the Japanese in May 1943. During November 2019 these five men will be posthumously awarded a ‘Group Bravery Citation’ for their services. It is hoped their remains will be returned to Australia in 2020.

William’s brother Francis also served in World War I and World War II. Their names are recorded on the Inverell Intermediate High School Honor Roll.

Image: K. Byrne