Dawlish World War One Project

A Press report, below, suggests that Walter enlisted in 1908. In 1911 he is in Malta at St George’s Barracks with the Devonshire Regiment.

The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of Tuesday 23 March, 1915, reports:

”Another Dawlish Man – Pte Walter Stoyles[sic]- has given his life for his country. He was killed in the fighting on March 11^th. Seven years ago he joined the 2^nd Devons, and two years later went with the Regiment to India. He returned to England in September last, when he spent a short time at Dawlish. A letter from his chum, a Corporal, states that deceased was the first man of the Company to reach the German trenches. Soon afterwards he was hit and killed instantly.”

Walter was born on the 2^nd June, 1891. His birth certificate shows him as the son of Emma Louise (1875-1932), unmarried, and without a father's name.

His mother was the daughter of Thomas Stoyle (1846- 1893), a Journeyman Plasterer/builder, and Elizabeth Coombes (1843-).

Walter's mother, Emma Louise Stoyle married William Lovell (1863-1942) in January 1896, and they had four children, including William F J Lovell (1896- )(see Dawlish Gazette article, below).

The 1901 census places Walter as the 9 year old grandson of the widow, Elizabeth Stoyle, 63, and living with her. Elizabeth, native of Dawlish, was on Parish Relief with two children, her daughter Eliza Ann, 22, a laundry maid, and son Albert Percy, 16, and Walter, her grandson scholar. They were at 6 High Street, Dawlish.