Ernest HOYLES

30 June 1916

SKIPTON ‘CANADIAN’ KILLED

Official news reached Skipton last weekend of the death in action of another local soldier, Sergt. Ernest Hoyles, whose parents live at 14, Montgomery Street. Thirty-one years of age, deceased as a boy attended the old British School, now known as the Brougham Street School. Joining the Army at an early age, he celebrated his 17th birthday whilst serving in the South African war. About four years ago he went out to Canada, but on the outbreak of the present war he joined the 15th Battalion Canadian Highlanders and in due course returned to this country, from where he was sent to the Front nearly twelve months ago.

14 July 1916

A HOT TIME

Another Skipton soldier, Pte. George Hoyles, of the 1/6th West Riding Regiment, was also in at the beginning of the great push, and was wounded at the bottom of the back. In a letter to his wife, who resides at 37, Duckett Street, he mentions that he is in a convalescent camp at Boulogne, and adds:– “I have had a hot time this week. You will very likely have heard that I have been wounded; but don’t be alarmed, it is only slight, although I have been lucky to come out alive. I was buried twice on Sunday night, (July 2nd) and got a slight shrapnel wound in the back on Tuesday. I am expecting to go back to the line in a day or two, so you will see that I am not at all bad. I was close to Burgess when he got killed. The same shell buried Fred Hudson and myself, so I was lucky to get off with that. Fred and myself were together on Tuesday night when we both got hit. Fred got it bad and I expect he will be in England soon. I saw J. Bennett - he passed me as he was coming out of the trenches and we were going in. He was all right then. It’s a bad job about my brother Ernest. I should have liked to have met him, but it seemed it had not to be. Don’t trouble about me, I am well looked after.”

30 March 1917

ANOTHER SKIPTON HERO – CORPORAL GEORGE HOYLES

The Second Son Pays the Price

We have to record the death this week of another well-known Skipton soldier in the person of Corporal George Hoyles, whose wife and daughter live at 37, Duckett Street, Skipton. Mrs. Hoyles received a telegram from the Infantry Records Office, York, on Saturday, stating that her husband had been dangerously wounded in the head by a gun shot on the previous day, and this was followed by another telegram on Tuesday to the effect that he had died from the wounds in hospital on the day that he was admitted (Friday).

34 years of age, deceased was a gas stoker at the Skipton Urban Council’s Gasworks up to enlisting in the West Riding Regiment in November 1915, and had been in France nearly 12 months, during which time he had never had leave. He was previously wounded last July, and had been twice ‘buried’ by the bursting of shells. By his death, his father, Mr. George Hoyles, of Montgomery Street, Skipton, sustains his second bereavement owing to the war: another son, Sergeant Ernest Hoyles, having been killed about 9 months ago. Mr. Hoyles has a third son in the Army, Pte. Richard Hoyles, who is also in the trenches.

On Wednesday morning, Mrs. Hoyles received the following touching letter from the Rev. W.O. Edwards, Chaplain:– “I am so very sorry to have to tell you that your dear husband was brought to this Clearing Station late on Friday night. He was very badly wounded in the head, was quite unconscious and dying. He passed away before midnight and I laid him to rest this afternoon (Sunday) in the British Cemetery in this place. A cross will be erected over his grave in the course of a few days. My heart bleeds for all the poor mothers and wives who are losing their dear ones in this horrible war. God grant it may soon be over. I do pray God will comfort and bless you in your sorrow and sore distress and help you to bear your trouble bravely. Your husband has died a hero, but I know how difficult it is to gain comfort from that thought alone.”

09 November 1917

THE LAST OF THREE SONS – PRIVATE RICHARD HOYLES, SKIPTON

By the death in action on October 5th of Private Richard Hoyles, East Lancashire Regiment, Mr. George Hoyles, of 14, Montgomery Street, Skipton, has suffered a third war bereavement: two other sons having fallen previously – Sergeant Ernest Hoyles, who was killed in June 1916, and Corporal George Hoyles, who died from wounds in March last. Mr. Hoyles also suffered an irreparable loss in the death of his wife last November, and much sympathy is felt for him in the district.

Pte. Hoyles, whose wife and child live in Dawson Street, Skipton, was 37 years of age, and prior to enlisting had lived for several years at Colne where he worked as a weaver. Formerly he played football with the Skipton Trinity Club, and both he and his brothers were well known in the district. The sad news was conveyed to his wife in a letter from one of his officers.