Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Joyce, a shepherd, born on the 2nd August 1861 in Blaby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 2nd August 1861 in All Saint’s Church, Blaby (son of Richard Joyce, 1823-1896 and Elizabeth Vann, 1824-1902) and his wife Martha Ann Joyce (nee Rudkin, married on the 27th March 1883 in All Saint’s Church, Blaby), born on the 29th January 1863 in Blaby (daughter of Joseph Rudkin, 1826-1891 and Eliza Vesty, 1827-1885). Cyril Joseph was born in the April quarter of 1898 in Blaby, his siblings were, Edward James, a farm boy, born on the 15th March 1885 in Blaby, Hilda Annie, born in the April quarter of 1889 and Wilfred Arthur, born on the 3rd August 1890, the latter two siblings were both born in Whetstone, Leicestershire and Elizabeth Maud, born on the 19th September 1893 in Blaby, in March 1901 the family home was at The Manor Cottages, Blaby.
In April 1911 Cyril was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Sycamore Street, Blaby, together with his father, a builder’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Ethel Eliza, a boot and shoe trade fitter, born on the 21st May 1887 in Whetstone, Hilda, a silk weavers assistant, Wilfred, a boot and shoe trade clicker and Elizabeth, a boot and shoe trade machinist.
Cyril’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Royal Garrison Artillery. Gunner. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 162244.
Posted. To 296th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Gnr. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 26/4/18.
Buried in Aubigny British Cemetery, Somme, France. Headstone inscription reads. “The fragrance of a good life abideth forever.”
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Cyril nominated his father James as his sole legatee.
The War Diary for the 296th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery is not available from March 1st 1918 onwards.
On the 11th November 1918, Cyril’s mother, Martha Ann Joyce, of Sycamore Street, Blaby, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of three shillings and six pence, commensurate on the 12th November 1918, this was further increased under Article 21 (4a) on the 6th November 1918 to five shillings.
[recognitum XXIV-II-MMXXIV]