Name

Thomas Kyle.

Description

Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Thomas Kyle.

Life Story

Name: Thomas Kyle.

Service Number: 726.

Rank: Lance Sergeant.

Battalion: 8th Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.

Born: 5th December 1879, Belfast.

Died: 7th June 1917.

Address: 27 Mountcashel Street, Belfast

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Ulster Volunteer Thomas Kyle, son of the late Samuel and Jane Kyle, lived with his wife Eveleen and children at 27 Mountcashel Street, Greater Shankill, Belfast

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The 1901 Ireland Census has Thomas living at 34 Tennent Street, Shankill Road, Belfast with his father, occupation, Draper, two brothers, James 26, Factory Clerk, Samuel, 16 years, Factory Labourer, and two sisters, Mary, 14 years, and Jane, 12 years. Thomas's occupation at this time is given as Factory Clerk

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Thomas and Eveleen Kyle, Nee Rush, were married within St John's Church, Belfast on the 15th of August 1906

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They went on to have three children, Jane, born 16th of June 1907, Emily, born 24th of January 1909, and Thomas, born 6th of September 1911, with all eventually attending Woodvale National School, Belfast

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The 1911 Ireland Census has Thomas living at 28 Mountcashel Street, Greater Shankill, Belfast with his wife and two daughters, Jane, 3 years, and Emily, 2 years

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Both Thomas's parents had died, his mother on the 3rd of January 1890 and his father on the 8th December 1909, before he enlisted

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Prior to enlistment he worked for the New Northern Spinning and Weaving Company

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Thomas was a member of both the Orange Order and Royal Black Preceptory

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He signed the Ulster Covenant on the 28th of September 1912, Ulster Day.

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Thomas was a member of the West Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force

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Thomas enlisted into the Royal Irish Rifles on the 19th of May 1915.

On the 7th of July 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

He was then promoted once more to Corporal on the 6th of August 1915.

On the 1st of September he was appointed Lance Sergeant.

He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Forces to France on the 12th of September 1916.

On the 3rd of May 1917 Thomas requested to revert back to Rifleman.

Thomas was a Rifleman in 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed In Action in France on the 7th of June 1917 aged 38 years

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A local newspaper states.

Rifleman Thomas Kyle, Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on June 7. Deceased, who leaves a widow and three children at 27 Mountcashel Street, Belfast, was a brother of Mr James Kyle, 1 Springdale Gardens, and Colour Sergeant John Kyle, R.I.R, who is on active service

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See his brother also: Colour Sergeant John Kyle Royal Irish Rifles

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Thomas Soldiers Effects were left to his widow, Eveleen

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He received the British War Medal and Victory Medal

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He is Remembered at Lone Tree Cemetery, Belgium.

To Remember Is To Honour

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