A Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant J. J. Coyle, Canadian Engineers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (502802 Sjt: J. J. Coyle. M.M. 9/Can: E.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (502802 Sapr. J. J. Coyle. 9/F. Coy. Can: E.); British War and Victory Medals (502802 Sjt. J. J. Coyle. C.E.) good very fine (4) £1600-1800

D.C.M. Canada Gazette 21 December 1918:

‘This N.C.O. was with a party of Engineers under his officer, following the infantry attack. By his personal example he forced through the work of clearing and repairing the main road under heavy fire, so that guns and ammunition could be got up. He had been wounded two days earlier, and was again wounded while assisting another wounded man under fire, but refused to leave. He also assisted in the capture of eight men and one machine gun, which the infantry had passed.’

M.M. Canada Gazette 10 February 1917. The recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous service near Courcelette on the night of Oct. 5th-6th, and a number of subsequent nights, when under rifle and shell fire, he rendered valuable assistance to his section officer in reconnoitring the area in front of our line and laying out jumping-off trenches in close guide to several of the working parties detailed to construct them.’

John Joseph Coyle was born in Liverpool, England, in 1889, and emigrated to Canada prior to World War I. He enlisted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Vancouver, B.C., in December 1915, was transferred to Ottawa and joined the 9th Field Company, Canadian Engineers. After training in Canada, he served in France and Flanders from mid-1916 to late 1919. He died in Vancouver, B.C., in 1964. Sold with comprehensive copied service and medical records.