Algernon Douglas Edward Harry Boyle

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Admiral (retired) THE HONOURABLE SIR Algernon Douglas Edward Harry Boyle, K.C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., Royal Navy (21 October 1871 – 13 October 1949) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Boyle gained twelve months' time on passing out of Britannia.

Boyle was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with a seniority of 21 October, 1891. His top gunnery marks earned him the Goodenough Medal for 1891.

He served in the Royal Sovereign in the Channel Squadron from May 1892 to August, 1893 and then went to Excellent to qualify in gunnery. He became a Lieutnant (G) in July 1895 and served as gunnery officer in the second class protected cruiser Indefatigable in the annual manoeuvres of 1895, and in Dreadnought in 1896. He stayed on with Dreadnought through March 1897.

Boyle was promoted to the rank of Commander with a seniority of 1 January, 1902. On 29 August, he was appointed to the second class protected cruiser Isis. He would remain in her until April, 1907.

Boyle was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1907.[1]

He was appointed in command of the battleship Hibernia on 12 June, 1908 and served as Flag Captain until being superseded on 1 April, 1909.[2]

He was appointed in command of Edgar on 12 January, 1910,[3] and of Cumberland in June 1910.

Boyle was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Bacchante in August 1914 and then directly over to the unfinished super-dreadnought Malaya on 28 November, 1915.[4] He commissioned the new vessel on 1 January, 1916 and commanded her at the Battle of Jutland as part of the Fifth Battle Squadron.[5] He would remain in command of Malaya until 19 January, 1918 when he was appointed as Chief of Staff to the Vice Admiral, Dover Patrol, being made a Commodore, First Class for the duration..

Flag Rank

Boyle was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 9 January, 1919.

On 20 May 1919, he was placed on the books of President for "special service". He spent some time in Room 50 of the Old Building at the Admiralty when something concrete emerged for him: a note in his service record from the Assistant Secretary to the Board of Admialty, J. W. S. Anderson dated 29 May 1919 indicates that this was to include command of "a small Force of Light Cruisers and Destroyers" which would be sent to Flensborg "in connection with the arrangements that are being made for an International Commission to supervise the conduct of the plebiscite in Sleevig." However, this operation was cancelled and Boyle was directed to hoist his flag in Carysfort on 23 July and strike it the same day and return to continue his nebulous work at the Admiralty.

He remained at the Admiralty until being appointed as Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport, vice Chatfield in mid-March 1920. He was superseded by as 4S.L. by John Donald Kelly on 1 April, 1924. He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 August, 1924 and placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 September. He would be advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 5 April, 1928.

See Also

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Cecil F. Lambert
Captain of H.M.S. Hibernia
12 Jun, 1908[6] – 1 Apr, 1909[7]
Succeeded by
Archibald P. Stoddart
Preceded by
Carlton V. de M. Cowper
Captain of H.M.S. Edgar
12 Jan, 1910[8] – 26 Jun, 1910[9]
Succeeded by
Charles B. Miller
Preceded by
Allan F. Everett
Captain of H.M.S. Cumberland
6 Jun, 1910[10][11] – 1 May, 1912[12]
Succeeded by
Aubrey C. H. Smith
Preceded by
Vivian H. G. Bernard
Captain of Devonport Gunnery School
1 May, 1912[13] – 11 May, 1914
Succeeded by
Henry M. Doughty
Preceded by
Godfrey Tuke
Captain of H.M.S. Bacchante
1 Aug, 1914[14] – 28 Nov, 1915[15]
Succeeded by
John R. Segrave
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Malaya
28 Nov, 1915[16] – 5 Jan, 1918[17][18]
Succeeded by
Louis C. S. Woollcombe
Preceded by
Sir A. Ernle M. Chatfield
Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport
15 Mar, 1920[19]
Succeeded by
John D. Kelly
 

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 28096. p. 34. 3 January, 1908.
  2. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 327.
  3. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 1 January, 1910. Issue 39158, col D, p. 10.
  4. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395zz.
  5. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
  6. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 327.
  7. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.
  8. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 1 January, 1910. Issue 39158, col D, p. 10.
  9. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.
  10. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.
  11. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 298.
  12. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.
  13. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 23 April, 1912. Issue 39880, col G, p. 16.
  14. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392g.
  15. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.
  16. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395zz.
  17. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.
  18. Day of month taken from successor. Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 267.
  19. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.