Woodstock in Oxford County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, D.S.O.

1867 - 1923

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 19, 2023

1. Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, D.S.O. Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

A legendary adventurer known as “Klondike Joe” Boyle was born in Toronto and came to Woodstock with his family in 1872. He worked at various jobs before attaining great success as a prospector and entrepreneur in the Yukon. At the outbreak of the First World War, Boyle raised, financed and equipped a fifty-man machine gun contingent. Determined to help the war effort further, he headed an allied mission to Russia in 1917 to help reorganize the railway system. His adventures soon took him to Rumania where he became a confidant of the Royal Family. He was charged with obtaining famine relief for the Rumanian people and with negotiating a peace treaty with Russia. Much honoured for his efforts, Boyle died in England.

Aventurier légendaire, qu'on appelait "Klondike Joe", Boyle naquit à Toronto mais sa famille se fixa à Woodstock en 1872. Il occupa divers emplois avant de connaître un grand succès comme prospecteur et entrepeneur au Yukon. Au début de la première guerre mondiale, Boyle recruta et finança une escouade de cinquante mitrailleurs qu'il équipa à ses frais. Voulant participer davantage à l'effort de

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guerre, il dirigea une mission alliée en Russie en 1917 pour aider à y réorganiser les chemins de fer. Ses aventures l'amenèrent bientôt en Roumanie où il devint confident de la famille royale. Il fut chargé de procurer de l'aide au peuple roumain frappé par la famine et de négocier un traité de paix avec la Russie. Boyle mourut en Angleterre couvert d'honneurs.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Citizenship and Culture.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Railroads & Streetcars • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 43° 8.462′ N, 80° 45.919′ W. Marker is in Woodstock, Ontario, in Oxford County. It is at the intersection of Vansittart Avenue and Devonshire Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Vansittart Avenue. The marker is near the entrance to the Presbyterian Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Woodstock ON N4S 6G5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Thomas “Carbide” Willson (approx. half a kilometer away); The Woodstock Armoury (approx. one kilometer away); The Oxford County Court House (approx.

Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, D.S.O. Marker [français] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 19, 2021

2. Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, D.S.O. Marker [français]

1.1 kilometers away); Sir Francis Hincks 1807-1885 (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Woodstock Carnegie Library (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); Old Town Hall/ L’ancien Hôtel de Ville (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); Capt. Andrew Drew, R.N., 1792-1878 (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); St. Paul’s Church 1834 (approx. 1.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Woodstock.

Also see . . . Col. Boyle 1918. Oxford County Archives website entry:

In June 1980, Flora Boyle Frisch, of Long Island, and Joe Boyle’s last surviving heir, wrote to former Woodstock journalist Len Taylor inquiring about the possibility of transferring her father’s remains from England to Woodstock. That same year, the Oxford Historical Society voted to undertake the project and the group established the Joe Boyle Repatriation Committee with Len Taylor and Ed Bennett as Co-Chairmen. George Calder, was the legal representative on the Committee, and successfully argued the case for repatriation in a Consistory Court in England. In 1983 following several years of arduous but successful efforts, the Committee was able to repatriate the body of Joseph W. Boyle to Woodstock where he is now interned at the Presbyterian
circa 1918

3. Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, ca 1918
(Public domain)
Cemetery.

(Submitted on August 21, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 19, 2023

4. Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle, D.S.O. Marker

Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle memorial in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Woodstock image. Click for full size.

5. Lt. Colonel Joseph Whiteside Boyle memorial in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Woodstock

Sources: Oxford County Museum archives

Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 264 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 21, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.