Private Colin M Boyle, Liverpool Scottish, MIA

Liverpool Echo 18th Feb 1915

LIVERPOOL SOLDIER

INFORMATION WANTED OF A MISSING MAN

From an advertisement on the front page of the “Echo” it will be seen that information is wanted of Private Colin M. Boyle, of "C" Company of the Liverpool Scottish, who was wounded in the trenches on December 14, and whose whereabouts has not since been traced.

The information to hand concerning Private Boyle and the manner in which he received his injury affords an interesting glimpse of life in the trenches. A comrade states that about 2.30 on the morning of December 14, "C" Company, which had been in the trenches near Ypres all night, was ordered out.

Up to this time it appears that Colin Boyle had been the next man to Lieutenant Gemmell. When they were coming away from the trenches, Lieutenant Gemmell ran after them and said: “I am afraid I shall have to ask six of you to go back and take up another position to the right.”

The six who went back were Corporal Lawson, Brownlie, Ferguson, Boyle, Stewart, and another. Before taking up the new position Boyle had brought away Lieutenant Gemmell’s valise by mistake, About 12.30pm Lawson called to Stewart and suggested that he, Boyle and Stewart should have dinner together, but as there was some water between Lawson and Stewart the latter decided to stay where he was. About this time Stewart saw Boyle get out of the trench on the parapet.

It is thought he intended to take back Lieutenant Gemmell’s valise, which would contain his dinner, and get his own. Three shots were fired at him, the third getting him. When he was shot he staggered back into the trench about six men further down – about 60 yards. It is believed the men in that part of the trench belonged to "G" or "H" Company. Word was passed that Boyle was slightly wounded in the shoulder.

Active inquiries have been prosecuted as to Private Boyle’s whereabouts, and it was believed a clue had been obtained, but this has, unfortunately, not been verified.

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The CWGC entry for Colin Macewan Boyle shows that he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, his date of death is given as 16th December 1914 and he was only 19 years old.