Seaman Gunner Christopher Doyle RNR, the son of Michael and Catherine Doyle (née Davies) was born in Liverpool on the 9th of December 1893. He was the youngest of 11 children. Both of his parents were born and grew up in Liverpool.

At the time the census was taken in 1901 the family were living at 31 Fontenoy Street, in the centre of Liverpool. Christopher was with his parents and seven of his siblings. His father was working as a broker’s agent.

We don’t know where Christopher was at census time in 1911; he wasn’t included in the census with his family who were still living at 31 Fontenoy Street.

Christopher enrolled on the 13th of August 1914 at the outbreak of WW1. He joined the Royal Naval Division, Howe Battalion on the 19th of September 1914. The division was formed on the outbreak of war when the newly-mobilised Royal Navy found it had too many men and too few duties for them. The unused sailors were formed into battalions, The Royal Marines Light Infantry, The Royal Marines Artillery and formed the Royal Naval Division. After rudimentary training the first elements of the Division were dispatched to the Continent to help with the defence of Antwerp September – October 1914. They had no engineers, no medical services, no logistical support. Many of the men didn’t even have canteens or packs. The Germans, who had begun their assault against Antwerp defences on 27 September, eventually overwhelmed the defenders and entered Antwerp on 9 October, forcing the Allies to retreat. The withdrawing brigades of the Royal Navy Division had mixed fortunes with some elements escaping and others being taken prisoner and interned in the neutral Netherlands till the end of the war. Christopher escaped and was discharged to the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth on the 27th of October 1914. It is not clear from his service record exactly when he joined the crew of the Laurentic.

A report on his death appeared in the Evening Express on the 2nd February 1917.

 “Mr. and Mrs. Doyle, of 220, Commercial-road, Kirkdale, mourn the loss of Gunner Christopher Doyle, their son, aged 22, who has been in the Royal Naval Reserve since the outbreak of war. He was one of those who took part in the defence of Antwerp, and his death on the Laurentic is deeply regretted by many friends and acquaintances.“

Evening Express 2nd February 1917

Sources:-

The British Newspaper Archive
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/

The National Archives of the UK: Discovery
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/