Bernard COYTE

Bernard COYTE

Bernard Coyte, ca. 1915 (Photograph: Australian War Memorial P09199.001)

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4757), Bernard Coyte was born at Borenore, N.S.W. He gave his age as 21 years and 1 month, his marital status as single, and his occupation as farmer & labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 11 inches tall, weight 11 stone, with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He completed his medical on the 14^th October 1915 at Orange, and was attested at Orange on the 14^th October 1915.

He was reported in The Leader on 22^nd October 1915 (p. 6) as one of the men who had ‘volunteered to join in the Coo-ees march as recruits when they arrive in Orange’. His date of joining on his attestation paper in his service record was 23^rd October 1915. He joined the Coo-ees when they arrived in Orange on Saturday 23^rd October 1915.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Borenore, near Orange, N.S.W N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as father, W. Coyte, Borenore, near Orange, N.S.W.

On 8^th March 1916 Private Coyte departed Sydney along with many of the other Coo-ees on the HMAT A15 Star of England, arriving in Egypt on 11^th April 1916. He was immediately admitted to the 31^st General Hospital at Port Said sick. On 3^rd May 1916 he was transferred to the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Abbussia. He was discharged on 8^th June 1916. On 28^th July 1916 Private Coyte was charged with being Absent Without Leave from 1700 to 1900 on 28^th July 1916 at Tel-El-Kebir. He was awarded 24 hours Field Punishment Number Two.

On 6th August 1916 Private Coyte left Alexandria aboard RMS Megantic bound for England. After arriving in England, later in August 1916 Private Coyte was posted to the 4^th Training Battalion. On 30^th August 1916 he was charged with Being Absent Without Leave from 0900 to 1600 on 29^th August 1916. He was awarded Three days confined to Camp and forfeit One days pay.

On 22^nd September 1916 Private Coyte embarked for France. On 24^th September 1916 he marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. On 4^th October 1916 Private Coyte was taken on strength of the 13^th Battalion whilst they were in action in the vicinity of Voormezele in Belgium.

On 15^th January 1917 Private Coyte was admitted to the Corps Rest Station with scabies. On 23^rd January 1917 he was transferred to the ANZAC R.B. sick with an illness Not yet Diagnosed. On 28^th January 1917 he was transferred to the SMD Casualty Clearance Station sick.

On the 6^th March 1917 he was discharged from Hospital to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot. On the 20^th March 1917 Private Coyte rejoined the 13^th Battalion.

On the 21^st March 1917 Private Coyte was sent to the 13^th Australian Field Ambulance with Influenza. On the 29^th March 1916 he was admitted to the 3^rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station with an Auxillary Abscess. On the 21^st of April 1917 Private Coyte was embarked aboard the Hospital Ship St George for England suffering a Slight Debility. On 23^rd April 1917 he was admitted to the Lewisham Military Hospital, and then on 30^th April 1917 he was transferred to the Bermondsey Ladywell Hospital. On 28^th May 1917 he was transferred to the 3^rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, England. On 1^st June 1917 he was discharged from 3^rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, and went on leave.

On 11^th September 1917 he moved out of No. 1 Command Depot at Pernham Downs to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge.

On 2^nd November 1917 Private Coyte departed Southampton for France. On 3^rd November 1917 he reported to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Havre. On 13^th November 1917 he rejoined the 13^th Battalion when it was conducting training at Fontaine Lez Boulans, France.

On 14^th January 1918 Private Coyte was charged with Leaving a Train Without Permission from 12 noon on 11/01/18 to 8.30 pm on 12/01/18 he was awarded 10 days Field Punishment Number Two and forfeit 12 days pay.

On 4^th March 1918 Private Coyte was admitted to the 13^th Australian Field Ambulance then to the 2^nd Australian Casualty Clearance Station with a condition Not Yet Diagnosed. On 6^th March 1918 he was transferred to the 19^th Ambulance Train, then on 9^th March 1918 to the 39^th General Hospital. On 12^th March 1918 he was discharged, and marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot. On 14^th March 1918 Private Coyte rejoined the 13^th Battalion whilst it was training at Neuve Eglise, France.

On 28^th June 1918 Private Coyte went on leave to Paris. He returned to his unit on 11^th July 1918.

On 29^th July 1918 he was admitted to the 4^th Australian Field Ambulance sick. On 30^th July 1918 he was transferred to the 12^th Casualty Clearance Station sick. On 10^th August 1918 he was sent to the Australian Corps Rest Centre and on 18^th August 1918 he rejoined the 13^th Battalion whilst it was engaged in action in the vicinity of Harbonnieres, France.

On 18^th September 1918 Private Coyte was killed in action during an attack launched by the 13^th Battalion on the German Lines south of the village of Le Verguier, France. He is buried at the nearby Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Private B. Coyte’s headstone at Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France (Photograph: S & H Thompson, 6/9/2014)

Private Coyte’s’s name is commemorated on panel 68 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

Private Coyte’s name is also listed on Borenore District War Memorial, and Orange War Memorial.