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Doyleston soldiers who enlisted in WW1 1914-1918
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TitleDoyleston soldiers who enlisted in WW1 1914-1918
DescriptionDoyleston in 1914 was a very busy farming community serviced by many businesses around the township.
When Mary McDonald Aitken left her position at Christchurch Hospital to go to England in 1912, she would have been unaware what the future held for her.
War was declared in July 1914 by October 1914 Mary had enlisted with the British Red Cross and served five years with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in France.
She was awarded the Mons Star, and Red Cross Decoration both presented at Buckingham Palace.
Her brother Gloud Aitken was the first of the Doyleston men to enlist in August 1914.
William Bowis followed him in October 1914.
Eric Clark, Charles Hulston, Alan McLachlan, Walter O’Neill, and Francis Redmond enlisted in 1915. The call to serve was getting stronger and thirteen more men joined during 1916: Frederick Boal, Walter Carter, Charles Helston, Albert Hoskin, Mark Kelly, William Kelly, Clement McLachlan, Colin McLachlan, Wallace McLachlan, Ernest Mahoney, Joseph O’Boyle, Patrick O’Boyle, William Robb.
In 1817 a further 19 joined up. Thomas Carr, Eric Clark, Richard Dawson, Victor Douglas, Henry Donaldson, Daniel Flanagan, John Flanagan, William Fussell, Edward Grace, Patrick Greenan, Belbie Maw, Francis McCabe, Donald Norquay, John O’Boyle, Francis Quigley, Edward Stapleton, Charles Tod, (Awarded Military Medal, May 1918 for bravery in the field) Robert Tod, William Tod.
1918: Stephen Eddy, Samuel Green, Lawrence Hewitt, William Kelly, Mark Maw, Thomas Maw, Leonard Mouldey and Colonel Pratt (Doyleston School Teacher).
They were all given farewells in the Doyleston Hall presided over by Mr W.O. Rennie.
These occasions were very well attended, with each man being presented with a gift and districts “Best Wishes”.
Their occupations ranged from nurse, grocer, butcher, contractor, engineer, schoolteacher but most of men had worked on the land.
Their absence put the overall functioning of farming in the district under a great deal of pressure especially during harvest and cultivation.
Many of these men came home wounded and were discharged as being no longer fit for service. They carried their injuries for the rest of their lives.
The following gave their lives:
32432 PTE. WALTER CARTER
Born 26 January 1896. Son of John and Margaret (nee McKay) Walter was killed in action at Gallipoli 6 August 1917, and buried at Ypres, Belgium, aged 20.
4143 PTE. JOHN O’BOYLE
Born 11 February 1878. Eldest son of James and Mary Anne (nee Clarke) O’Boyle, Doyleston. Killed in action 1st October 1917. Ypres, Belgium, aged 41.
21737 PTE. WILLIAM J. ROBB Born 13 March 1896. Eldest son of James and Letitia (nee Rushbrook) Robb, Doyleston. Killed in action 12 October 1917. Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium, aged 21
20931 QTR. MR. SERG. COLIN McLACHLAN.
Born 15 November 1890. 3rd son of Archibald and Mary (nee Lamont) McLachlan “Hazelburn” Doyleston. Killed in action 12 October 1917, Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium, aged 26.
15557 CORP. WILLIAM J. KELLY
Born 4 May 1885. Son of William and Ellen (O’Sullivan) Kelly. Died of wounds at Bapaume, Somme, 26 August 1918, aged 33.
3711 RFM. CLEMENT R. McLACHLAN
Born 17 Feb 1894. Son of Alexander and Elizabeth (nee Rothery) McLachlan, “Strathlachlan”, Doyleston. Died of wounds 18 April 1918. Somme, France.
Shona McCartin
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date26 March 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoyleston
DescriptionDoyleston in 1914 was a very busy farming community serviced by many businesses around the township. When Mary McDonald Aitken left her position at Christchurch Hospital to go to England in 1912, she would have been unaware what the future held for her.
War was declared in July 1914 by October 1914 Mary had enlisted with the British Red Cross and served five years with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in France.
She was awarded the Mons Star, and Red Cross Decoration both presented at Buckingham Palace.
Her brother Gloud Aitken was the first of the Doyleston men to enlist in August 1914.
William Bowis followed him in October 1914.
Eric Clark, Charles Hulston, Alan McLachlan, Walter O’Neill, and Francis Redmond enlisted in 1915. The call to serve was getting stronger and thirteen more men joined during 1916: Frederick Boal, Walter Carter, Charles Helston, Albert Hoskin, Mark Kelly, William Kelly, Clement McLachlan, Colin McLachlan, Wallace McLachlan, Ernest Mahoney, Joseph O’Boyle, Patrick O’Boyle, William Robb.
In 1817 a further 19 joined up. Thomas Carr, Eric Clark, Richard Dawson, Victor Douglas, Henry Donaldson, Daniel Flanagan, John Flanagan, William Fussell, Edward Grace, Patrick Greenan, Belbie Maw, Francis McCabe, Donald Norquay, John O’Boyle, Francis Quigley, Edward Stapleton, Charles Tod, (Awarded Military Medal, May 1918 for bravery in the field) Robert Tod, William Tod.
1918: Stephen Eddy, Samuel Green, Lawrence Hewitt, William Kelly, Mark Maw, Thomas Maw, Leonard Mouldey and Colonel Pratt (Doyleston School Teacher).
They were all given farewells in the Doyleston Hall presided over by Mr W.O. Rennie.
These occasions were very well attended, with each man being presented with a gift and districts “Best Wishes”.
Their occupations ranged from nurse, grocer, butcher, contractor, engineer, schoolteacher but most of men had worked on the land.
Their absence put the overall functioning of farming in the district under a great deal of pressure especially during harvest and cultivation.
Many of these men came home wounded and were discharged as being no longer fit for service. They carried their injuries for the rest of their lives.
The following gave their lives:
32432 PTE. WALTER CARTER
Born 26 January 1896. Son of John and Margaret (nee McKay) Walter was killed in action at Gallipoli 6 August 1917, and buried at Ypres, Belgium, aged 20.
4143 PTE. JOHN O’BOYLE
Born 11 February 1878. Eldest son of James and Mary Anne (nee Clarke) O’Boyle, Doyleston. Killed in action 1st October 1917. Ypres, Belgium, aged 41.
21737 PTE. WILLIAM J. ROBB Born 13 March 1896. Eldest son of James and Letitia (nee Rushbrook) Robb, Doyleston. Killed in action 12 October 1917. Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium, aged 21
20931 QTR. MR. SERG. COLIN McLACHLAN.
Born 15 November 1890. 3rd son of Archibald and Mary (nee Lamont) McLachlan “Hazelburn” Doyleston. Killed in action 12 October 1917, Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium, aged 26.
15557 CORP. WILLIAM J. KELLY
Born 4 May 1885. Son of William and Ellen (O’Sullivan) Kelly. Died of wounds at Bapaume, Somme, 26 August 1918, aged 33.
3711 RFM. CLEMENT R. McLACHLAN
Born 17 Feb 1894. Son of Alexander and Elizabeth (nee Rothery) McLachlan, “Strathlachlan”, Doyleston. Died of wounds 18 April 1918. Somme, France.
Shona McCartin
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date26 March 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoylestonConnections
CollectionHistory of DoylestonSoldiers of Selwyn PlaceDoylestonOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
Soldiers of Selwyn PlaceDoylestonOrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByShona McCartinWritten ByShona McCartin
Written ByShona McCartinClick on the image to add
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Doyleston soldiers who enlisted in WW1 1914-1918 (26 March 2020). Selwyn Stories, accessed 10/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5300