DOYLESTON is a small Canterbury township in the South Island of New Zealand. It was named after Joseph Hastings Doyle, a publican from Christchurch who moved to the locality
- Joseph Hastings Doyle was born in Scotland and arrived in Canterbury about 1863

Doyleston as it was, a small township twenty-six miles south-west from Christchurch, on the Christchurch-Southbridge railway, and about one mile from the town of Leeston

Doyleston's name was once changed to Cheddar in recognition of the importance of the dairy industry to the area, however the friends of the township's namesake, Mr Doyle, argued against the change and it reverted to its original name.



the list of names was taken from the site Doyleston memorial library

I have put the names into alphabetical order for easier researching

.. The memorial comprises a small brick library with two large white marble tablets in the entrance porch recording the names of 42 service persons who went to WWI. Of these 6 are recorded as casualties.
Of 32 servicemen who went to WWII from the district, one was killed.

Please visit that link for photos and the names as they were carved -


the names on the ROLL OF HONOUR at Doyleston memorial library;

the * at a name indicates they made the 'supreme sacrifice'

- WWI - 1914 - 1918

AITKEN - C. R.

AITKEN - D.

BOAL - Frederick John
- Private #6/4204 with NZEF, 11th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was S. Boal (father) Doyleston
- Frederick married Elsie May ADAMS in 1921

BOAL - Hugh Robot
- Private #24129 with NZEF, 13th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Samuel Boal (father) Killinchy, Canterbury
- Hugh married Elsie Maud McKee MILLAR in 1923

the above 2 Boal soldiers were brothers, 2 of the 8 children of Samuel BOAL & Eliza Jane LEMMON

BOWIS - William Frederick
- Private #6/189 with Canterbury Infantry Battalion
- NEXT OF KIN was William Bowis (father) Doyleston, Christchurch
William was a son of William BOWIS & Sarah Ann QUIGLEY

*CARTER - Walter
- Private #32432 with NZEF, 19th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
- son of John CARTER & Margaret McKAY of Leeston, Canterbury
- KILLED IN ACTION Ypres, Belgium 6 August 1917
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs M. Carter (mother) Lakeside, Canterbury

CLARKE - E.

DAWSON - Richard William
- Private #33702 with NZEF, 21st Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
Richard was a son of William DAWSON & Margaret MATTHEWS
- Richard married Rachael Caroline Hopa PAURA in 1924

DONALDSON - Henry
- Lance Corporal #60915 with the NZEF, 31st Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs E.L. Donaldson (wife) of Lincoln
- Henry married Ellen Louisa TUCKER in 1917

EDDY - Stephen Harvey
- Private #68597 with the NZEF, 35th Reinforcements B Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs Eddy (mother) Doyleston, Canterbury
Stephen was a son of Richard & Elizabeth Ann EDDY
- Stephen married Dora CONSTANCE in 1920

GREEN - Samuel
- Private #78616 with the NZEF, 41st Reinforcements F Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs M.K. Green (wife) c/o W.H. Eddy, Southbridge
- Samuel married Marlborough Kate EDDY in 1917

GREENAN - Patrick
- Priate #62961 with NZEF, 33rd Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company
- NEXT OF KIN was T. Greenan (father), Doyleston
Patrick was a son of Thomas & Annie GREENAN

HEWITT - Lawrence William
- Lance Corporal #79979 with NZEF, 41st Reinforcements F Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs E.E. Hewitt (wife) Doyleston, Canterbury
- Lawrence married Ethel Eleanor MOODY in 1912

HOSKIN - Albert
- Private #29253 with NZEF, 18th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Sydney Hoskin (father) Doyleston
- Albert married Maud Margaret BISMARK in 1927

KELLY - M.

*KELLY - William
- Private #40014 with the NZEF, 26th Reinforcements F Company
- son of the late Dennis (1829-1894) & Catherine (1846-1896)
- his parents are buried in Timaru with a brother Dennis (1881-1898)
- KILLED IN ACTION Ypres, Belgium on 3 December 1917 aged 40
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs Mary McWilliams (sister) Wanganui (married Alexander McWilliams in 1901)

MAHONEY - E.

MAW - Beilbie (born 1895)
- Private #40228 with the NZEF, 23rd Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs G. Maw (mother) Doyleston, Canterbury
- Belbie married Mary Kathleen QUIGLEY in 1924

MAW - Mark (born 1882)
- Private #55519 with the NZEF, 28th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs. E. H. Maw (wife) c/o G. Maw, Doyleston
- Mark married Elizabeth Henrietta GULLIVER in 1916

MAW - Thomas Charles (born 1890)
- Corporal #60962 with the NZEF, 41st Reinforcements H Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs T.C. Maw (wife) Southbridge, Canterbury
- Thomas married Minnie Amelia TUCKER in 1917

the above 3 Maw soldiers were brothers, 3 of the 12 (known) children of George & Mary Anne MAW

McCABE - Francis
- Private #46962 with the NZEF, 25th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was W. McCabe (brother) Doyleston

McLACHLAN - A.

*McLACHLAN - Clement Rothery
- Rifleman #53711 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Reinforcements G Company (part)
- son of Alexander McLACHLAN & Elizabeth ROTHERY
- DIED OF WOUNDS in France on 18 April 1918
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs E. McLachlan (mother) Doyleston, Canterbury

*McLACHLAN - Colin John Alexander
- Sergeant #20931 with the NZEF, 19th Reinforcements Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company
- son of Archibald McLACHLN & Mary LAMONT
- KILLED IN ACTION in Ypres, Belgium on 12 October 1917
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs A. McLachlan (mother) Doyleston, Canterbury

McLACHLAN - W.

NELSON - C. H.

*O'BOYLE - John
- Rifleman #44143 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Reinforcements G Company
- son of James O'BOYLE & Mary Ann CLARKE of Doyleston, Canterbury
- KILLED IN ACTION Ypres, Belgium on 1 October 1917
- NEXT OF KIN was J. O'Boyle (father) Doyleston, Canterbury

O'BOYLE - Joseph Michael
- Rifleman #25/1006 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was James O'Boyle (father) Doyleston, Ellesmere

O'BOYLE - Patrick James
- Private #11715 with the NZEF, 12th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was James O'Boyle (father) Doyleston, Canterbury

O'BOYLE - Thomas
- Private #76162 with the NZEF, 40th Reinforcements E Company
- NEXT OF KIN was James O'Boyle (father), Doyleston, Canterbury

... all the above O'Boyle soldiers were 4 of the 8 children (6 of them sons) of James O'BOYLE & Mary Ann CLARKE ...

PEARCE - James
- Private #78622 with the NZEF, 40th Reinforcements A Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs V. Pearce (wife) Doyleston, Canterbury
- James married Violet BOAL in 1916

PRATT - Colonel Frank
- Sergeant #52692 with the NZEF, Miscellaneous Embarkations Details for Special Duty
- NEXT OF KIN was G.W. Pratt (father) 598 Hereford Street, Linwood, Christchurch
Colonel was a son of George William & Sarah PRATT
- he married Hessie McFAUL in 1917

QUIGLEY - Francis
- Corporal #60988 with the NZEF, 38th Reinforcements B Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs M. Quigley (mother) Doyleston, Canterbury

REDMOND - J.

ROBB - G.

*ROBB - William James
- Private #21737 with the NZEF, 17th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
- son of James ROBB & Letitia RUSHBROOK
- KILLED IN ACTION Ypres, Belgium on 12 October 1917
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs L. Robb (mother) Doyleston, Canterbury

SISTER M. Mc. ??

STAPLETON - Edward (born 1889)
- Private #63052 with the NZEF, 32nd Reinforcements Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs M. Stapleton (mother) Doyleston
Edward was 1 of 9 children of Michael STAPLETON & Mary MULLAHY

TOD - Charles
- Private #40258 with the NZEF, 23rd Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs Catherine Tod (mother), Doyleston, Canterbury

TOD - J. (not found)

TOD - Robert
- Trooper #7/405 with NZEF, 32nd Reinforcements Mounted Rifles Brigade
- NEXT OF KIN was Mrs Catherine Tod (mother), Doyleston, Canterbury

TOD - William
- Rifleman #44170 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Reinforcements G Company (part)
- NEXT OF KIN was David Tod (brother) Doyleston, Canterbury


the names on the ROLL OF HONOUR for WWII