David Doyle – Vietnam Veteran and Coffs C.ex Chairman
Vietnam – served with 131 Divisional Locating Battery, responsible for survey, radar, meteorology and all Artillery intelligence in the Task force Area. Two Tours of duty, 1966 for 8 months and returned 70/71 6 months then wounded and returned to Australia, ran over anti-tank mine in land rover and sustained broken legs, ribs and numerous shrapnel, none of the Survey Party were killed in the incidence.
David’s Medals OAM, Australian Vietnam Medal, Australian Service Medal, Long Service Medal, Good Conduct with long Service Medal, Vietnam Medal, Free World Forces Medal.
Frances Henry Frederick Doyle was the Father of David Doyle and a Rat of Tobruk in WWII with 2nd 9th Battalion in Siege of Tobruk which lasted 242 days, and was the longest siege in Australian military history. This Battalion stopped the advance of Rommel and the Italian Army in Syria and Libya. He was posted back to Australia where he became a Sergeant Instructor for Z Special Forces. He was based on Fraser Island for the remainder of the war training Operators for behind the line activities. He signed up in 1939 and discharged in 1945 after 6 years service.
Dave and Damon Leach’s (See other profile) fathers worked on Fraser Island together after their return.
Frederick Frances Henry Doyle WWI was Grandfather to David Doyle, and was a Medic on western front and went back in WWII as a medical orderly because he was too old to fight. Came to Australia after WWI service in the British Army and then did service in Australian forces in WWII. Grand-pop Doyle received the Bravery Medal at the age of sixteen for saving a person from drowning in the Mersey River.
Harry Smith, also Grandfather of David Doyle, WWI, Born at Charters Towers in the Atherton Tablelands in QLD served on western front at Albert, The Somme, Menin Road and Villiers – Bretonneux. They marched into battle sometimes up to 30 kms away to where they were needed, fought in trenches for 2-3 weeks until they were dirty with some wounded as well, they would be brought out of the battle to clean up then march another 30kms to the next location. They were relieving soldiers and filled in where others were missing. Harry Smith was a machine gunnerin the First AIF he was gassed several times by the German Mustard Gas Bombs.
