THOMAS GERALD DOYLE

Posts : 1851 Join date : 2009-03-25

The son of Mr. P. Doyle, was born on the 22nd March, 1859, and studied at the High School during 1871 and 1872, when he was in the Second Division. After leaving school he entered a solicitor's office in Pietermaritzburg, and subsequently went to Kokstadt, where he gained a very good name. At a later date he entered the service of the Railway contractors. He became a Conductor in Lonsdale's Horse, and was killed at Isandhlwana on 22nd January, 1879. His body was found by his father near those of Captain Bradstreet, (B.B.G.), Lieutenant Hitchcock, and S. Grant. They had evidently made a stand together, and fallen fighting. Four months later his remains were interred by his father.

Posts : 4 Join date : 2016-03-16 Location : Hampshire, UK

Would like more information on Thomas Gerald Doyle, appears to have died at Isandhlwana on 22nd January 1879. Any help welcome. Thank you

Subject: Re: THOMAS GERALD DOYLE Wed Mar 16, 2016 4:10 pm

Normaaw,

Contrary to what appears in 24th's post of 9th March 2010, Conductor Doyle served in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent.

Just to explain a Conductor was a warranted rank, applied to warrant officers who service in transport, supply and ordnance roles. Given the information above regarding his role with the railway contractors - I assume this was the Durban to Pietermaritzburg line which was completed post the Zulu War - he might have been involved one of the first two.

Sorry it does add much to what 24th has already contributed.

John Y.

Posts : 4 Join date : 2016-03-16 Location : Hampshire, UK

Thank you, John, for this information. Can you recommend any particular publication that I can name either information in my family research? I suspect that Thomas Gerald Doyle might be my great, great uncle.

Subject: Re: THOMAS GERALD DOYLE Wed Mar 16, 2016 5:06 pm

Normaaw,

You might try his old school, they have a blog site on which he is mentioned: http://collegewargraves.blogspot.co.uk/p/isandlwana-1879.html

I would normally suggest the National Archives of South Africa, but I just ran a check on their database for Pietermaritzburg over a ten year period prior to his death but to no avail.

He's in my book They Fell Like Stones on page 66 He also appears in Terry Sole's book For God, Queen and Colony on page 304.

John Y.

Posts : 4 Join date : 2016-03-16 Location : Hampshire, UK

Thank you, I have today ordered your book, I look forward to reading it. How does one get access to the National Archives of South Africa?
Normaaw

Subject: Re: THOMAS GERALD DOYLE Fri Mar 18, 2016 7:25 am

Normaaw,

I do hope that you didn't spend too much. His name appears in my casualty return for Isandhlwana alongside his comrades.

The National Archives of South Africa can be searched online via their data base - http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl

The search I used was through the NAB database using the surname Doyle, the only hits that it retrieved related to a Philip Doyle could have been a possible relative?

John Y.

Posts : 2389 Join date : 2011-09-12

Philip Doyle was TG Doyle's father.

Posts : 4 Join date : 2016-03-16 Location : Hampshire, UK

Thank you for that confirmation.