Regiment: Royal Flying Corps Formerly
Royal Scots Fusiliers
Rank & Number: Lieutenant
Born: 08 October 1886; Ayr
Died: 10
October 1958; Dalry, Ayrshire
Other: Mentioned
In Despatches; Air Force Cross Brother
of The Hon. James, The Hon. John David, and
Patrick, Earl of Glasgow
THE
HON. ALAN REGINALD BOYLE was born 08 Oct 1886
in Ayr, to parents David, 7th Earl of Glasgow, and Dorothea Elizabeth
Thomasina Hunter Blair (who married on 23
July 1873). He died on 10
Oct 1958 in Dalry, Ayrshire, aged 72, and is buried in Largs Cemetery. The inscription reads “Per ardua ad astra,
Hon. Alan Boyle, A.F.C. 1886-1958; a pioneer of aviation; they that wait upon
the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on eagles; and the
ashes of his wife Isabella Julia 1893-1978.
RIP”
On 5 Feb 1916 at St. John’s Church, Redhill, Surrey,
he married Isabel Julia Hull. They had
two children – Fenella Frances Dora and Jean Isabel.
In
the 1891 Census, Alan, aged 4, is living at Kelburn Castle, Fairlie with
parents David, Earl of Glasgow (57, b. Edinburgh,
Convenor of Ayrshire, retired RN Captain)
and Dorothea, Countess of Glasgow (40, b.
Edinburgh), and siblings Edward G (15), Augusta (14),
Alice (13), Dorothy (12), James (11), and John (6)
In the 1911 Census, he is aged 24, and is living 9 Montpellier Square SW, Mayfair &
Knightsbridge, London with parents David, Earl of Glasgow (78) and Dora, Countess of Glasgow (60), and brother John (26)
SERVICE DETAILS Named in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald Roll of
Honour in December 1914 (Boyle, Lieut. the Honourable Alan R., Fairlie
Craig, Fairlie, RSF). He
served with both the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Royal Flying Corps (as a
balloon officer). His medal index card
shows first theatre of war entered was France on 11 May 1915. He received the 1914-15 Star (with the RSF)
and the British War and Victory medals (with the RFC), was mentioned in
despatches, and was awarded the Air Force Cross.
OBITUARY Flight Global Archive, 31 October 1958
The Hon. Alan Boyle: We regret to record that the Hon. Alan
Reginald Boyle, A.F.C., younger brother of the Earl of Glasgow and a pioneer
British aviator, died suddenly on October 15 at the age of 72.
He took part in the 1910 Bournemouth
international meeting, flying the Avis monoplane which he had built himself and
which is now preserved in the Science Museum, South Kensington. Unfortunately the machine turned over during
a landing on rough ground and Boyle was thrown out, receiving severe head
injuries from which he never fully recovered and which put an end to his flying
career. He received the A.F.C. for his
service as a balloon officer in the R.F.C. in the First World War; from 1932 to
1945 he was president of the Scottish Gliding Union; and he also served as
chairman of the aviation committee of the Scottish Council for Industry.
Model of the Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate
Avis Monoplane flown by Hon. Alan Boyle
Hon. Alan Boyle’s flying helmet
Painting
of the Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate Avis Monoplane flown by Hon. Alan Boyle
Extracts
from the Largs & Millport Weekly News:-
21 November 1914 The Hon. Alan R. Boyle left on Monday to join
the Royal Scots Fusiliers. All Lord
Glasgow’s sons are now engaged in the country’s service
15 May
1915 2nd
Lieut. the Hon. Alan Boyle, who joined the army after the outbreak of war, is
now at the front with his regiment
22 January 1916
The engagement is announced of The Hon. Alan
Boyle, R.S.F. and R.F.C., third surviving son of the late Earl of Glasgow, to
Miss Isabel Hull, only unmarried daughter of E. Hull, Esq., Earlswood, Surrey.
12
February 1916 The
Hon. Alan and Mrs Boyle have arrived at Fairlie Craig on their wedding
tour. Hearty congratulations and good
wishes are the sentiments of the villagers.
23
February 1918
Captain
the Hon. Alan Boyle, youngest son of the Dowager Countess of Glasgow, was on
board the Osmanch when she was torpedoed recently and has had a very thrilling
experience. He was rescued after having
been in the water for 35 minutes, in a very exhausted condition, but we are
glad to see he is now very well and none the worse for his experience.
Extracts
from other newspapers:-
Aberdeen Journal, 23 March 1915 Promotions in the Army; From the “London Gazette”:
Regular Army, Infantry – Service Battalions:
Royal Scots Fusiliers, 6th Battalion – The Hon. A.R. Boyle to be
temporary Lieutenant.
Aberdeen Journal, 19 January 1916 Naval and Military Appointments; From the “London Gazette”:
Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing):
The undermentioned appointments are made:-
Balloon officers (dated Dec. 8) – Temp. Lieut. The Hon. A.R. Boyle,
Royal Scots Fusiliers, and to be transferred to the general list
Surrey Mirror, 4 February 1916 County Jottings: The marriage arranged between the Hon. Alan
R., Royal Flying Corps, and Miss Isabel Hull, will take place in St. John’s
Church, Redhill, on Saturday next, 5th inst, at 2.30pm. There will be no reception, but all friends
will be welcome at the church. Train
leaves Victoria at 1.25pm for Earlswood, where friends from London will be met.
