Roger Courtenay Boyle

Roger Courtenay Boyle was the son of Major-General Robert Boyle CB. He was commissioned in the Royal Munster Fusiliers from the Militia on 6 May 1885. He saw active service in Burma (1885-9) and in the South African War (1899-1902). He was Adjutant 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers (1891-5), Adjutant 3rd (South Cork Militia) Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers (1902-5) and CO 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers (July 1909-July 1913). When the European War broke out Boyle had been on half-pay for more than a year, but the war rescued his career.

He served as AA&QMG with the 3rd Division from August to December 1914, when he was appointed GOC 83rd Brigade in the newly formed Regular 28th Division. His time as a brigade commander, however, was short. He fell ill in May 1915 and went home. After his recovery he became Inspector of Territorial Forces (July-November 1915) and then DAG HQ British Salonika Army (November-December 1915). Salonika was not an ideal posting for someone with health problems and on 9 December 1915 Boyle was transferred to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force as Commander Alexandria District. He retained this post until June 1919, when he retired from the army.