Researching soldier from medals?

[aghadowey]

Wondering how to get more details for a friend about a soldier with only his five medals to start with for clues.

The medals- from left to right-
1) North West Frontier 1936-1937 India
     2306838 SJT. V. HOYLAND, R. SIGNALS.
2) 1939-1945 Star
3) The African Star (clasp- 8th Army)
4) The Italy Star
5) Long Service/Good Conduct (clasp- Regular Army)
     2306838 SJT. V. HOYLAND, R. SIGNALS.

The man these belonged to was probably English but died in County Down, Northern Ireland or Belfast? (date unknown- haven't found an obituary but I was told he had no family so perhaps there was nothing in newspaper).

Any idea where to find more details?

[Kiltaglassan]

Hi aghadowey,

GRONI Online gives the following. Is this his death?
D/1962/45/1007/11/325    Victor   Hoyland   31st March 1962          58   Male         Belfast

Occupants of grave C 489, Roselawn Cemetery
https://online.belfastcity.gov.uk/find-burial-records/BurialSearch.aspx?GraveSection=C&GraveNumber=489&CemeteryName=Roselawn%20Cemetery#MOVEHERE

Most Army records from WW2 are now with The National Archives.
See https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service/apply-for-the-records-of-a-deceased-serviceperson

[Andy J2022]

When you say 'North West Frontier 1936-37' I assume you are talking about the Indian General Service Medal with the clasp of that name. He would have been on detached duty to the Indian Corps of Signals. This tends to suggest that he may have been either a wireless operator or a technician, since these trades were manned almost exclusively by British Other Ranks at that time.

As he was a career soldier I suggest contacting the Royal Signals Association's Northern Ireland Branch (which for security reasons you have to do through RHQ R Signals). Details here: https://royalsignals.org/royal-signals-association/branches/northern-ireland

Although he appears to have been born around 1918, unless you wanted to get a copy of his death certificate (based on the details Kiltaglassan has found) you may run into a problem getting his service record from the MOD without a dc (assuming that you actually want to pay £30 in the first place!). In fact as Kiltaglassan says, his records have probably already been transferred to TNA and will be released by them, via Ancestry in due course. Nothing comes up in a search at TNA at present.

[Andy J2022]

Deleted - Not relevant

[softly softly]

This young man appears in 1921 census in Dublin, as a telegraphist in the Army Royal Corp of Signals.

HOYLAND, VICTOR       mmn WHEELER 
GRO Reference: 1904  M Quarter in PORTSMOUTH  Volume 02B  Page 530

SS

[softly softly]

Posting this as a good possible for Victor. Sadly the GRO birth image not available as a £3 image. However, according to 1905 Workhouse (to be found on FindMyPast) record Victor had several siblings. Image of his brother Herbert attached.

Parents married
Marriages Sep 1899   

Hoyland    Joseph                Portsea    2b   924    
SMYTH    Emily Elizabeth        Portsea    2b   924     (previously Wheeler)

1901 census

Piece   1003
Folio   93
Page number   21
Household schedule number   147
Household Members (Name)   Age   Relationship

Emily Heyland 34 Head
Herbert Heyland   1   Son
Emily Heyland 7/12 Daughter

SS

[AlanBoyd]

deleted

[aghadowey]

Many. many thanks so far for all this information. The death in Belfast in 1962 is the correct man but the date much earlier than I was led to believe (from the person who got the medals via the person Victor gave them to).

With the death date I found the following-
1951- Belfast directory- The Straight:    21. Victor Hoyland, engineer (also 1955, 1960)
The person he gave the medals to was a neighbour and she and her husband are also listed in the same street.

Northern Whig, 3 Apr.1962:  HOYLAND — March 31, 1962, Captain Victor Hoyland, 118, The Straight. Funeral from Wilton's Funeral Home. Woodstock Road, to-day (Tuesday), at 11 a.m., to Roselawn ...

Hoyland, Victor of 11B The Straight Cregagh Belfast departmental manager died 31 March 1962 at Musgrave Park Hospital Belfast Administration Belfast 25 June to Colonel Stanley Joseph Hoyland. Effects £978 13s. 5d.

Not sure if he came to Belfast for employment after the War or to do with his wife (supposed to have had no family and been unmarried but like Chinese Whispers the 'facts' aren't always correct).

Hoyland Agnes Young of 21 The Straight Cregagh Belfast died 19 September 1958 at the City Hospital Belfast Administration Belfast 27 November to Victor Hoyland assistant production controller the husband. Effects £23 0s. 6d

According to death reg. he was born c1904 but c1905 from cemetery records. Only close birth in England (none in Ireland) is a Victor Hoyland J/M 1904 Portsmouth dist. (mother's maiden name Wheeler) mentioned earlier.

Will keep checking more more details and probably view his death certificate in case there are any clues there.

[Kiltaglassan]

In relation to his siblings maybe?-
Birth Jul-Sep 1900   
HOYLAND    Emily Catherine        Portsmouth    2b   503    
Birth Jul-Sep 1905   
Hoyland    Florence Adelaide        Portsmouth    2b   468    
Birth Oct-Dec 1908   
Hoyland    Elizabeth Marjorie        Portsmouth    2b   488

FreeBMD   https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl