Martin Doyle (VC) explained

Martin Doyle
Birth Date:25 October 1891
Death Date:20 November 1940 (aged 49)
Birth Place:New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland
Placeofburial:Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin
Allegiance:
Ireland
Rank:Company Sergeant Major
Branch:British Army
Irish Republican Army
National Army
Defence Forces
Reserve Defence Forces
Unit:Royal Munster Fusiliers
Awards:Victoria Cross
Military Medal

Martin Doyle VC, MM (25 October 1891  - 20 November 1940) was an Irish member of the British Army during the First World War, and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

After the war, he joined the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence, served with the National Army during the Irish Civil War, in the Defence Forces until 1937 and Reserve Defence Forces until 1939.

World War I

Doyle was born in New Ross, County Wexford on 25 October 1891. He initially joined the Royal Irish Regiment in 1909 being given the Service Number 9962. He was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in August 1914. After service with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers he joined The Royal Munster Fusiliers and was awarded the Military Medal

In September 1918 as a company sergeant-major in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Munster Fusiliers, 16th (Irish) Division during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

IRA service

In 1920, Doyle joined the Irish Republican Army and fought in the Irish War of Independence. He served with the pro-treaty National Army in the Irish Civil War, and retired in 1937. Some sources have described Doyle as acting as an intelligence officer for the IRA in east County Clare.[1]

He died in Dublin in 1940 from poliomyelitis, aged 49, and is buried in Grangegorman Military Cemetery.[2] [3]

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Armistice Day: Victoria Cross winner who later joined IRA to be honoured . Irish Times . irishtimes.com . 10 November 2018 . In June 1919 [..Doyle..] received the Victoria Cross from King George V at Buckingham Palace. A month later he left the British army after nine years. In October 1920 he took up arms against Britain when he joined the IRA in East Clare acting as an intelligence officer.
  2. Web site: Military Heritage Tours Ltd Coughlan VC Day Speech . Military Heritage Tours website . https://web.archive.org/web/20061104031303/http://www.militaryheritagetours.com/info/spch_mhtldonal.html . 4 November 2006 .
  3. Web site: C. S. M. Martin Doyle V.C. M.M. October 1894 - November 1940 . Munster Fusiliers website . https://web.archive.org/web/20140820101105/http://www.royalmunsterfusiliers.org/b4doyle.htm . 20 August 2014 .