Harold Owen Joyce

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Commander (retired) Harold Owen Joyce, D.S.C.*, O.B.E., R.N. (2 June, 1888 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Whitchurch, Shropshire the son of J. B. Joyce, Esq..

Joyce's first ship was the battleship Magnificent, appointed to her 15 January, 1905 and remaining in her until she paid off on 3 November, 1906.

Joyce was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1910.

At the outbreak of war, Joyce was serving as first lieutenant in Harpy. Ordered home on 11 September 1914, he was presently placed in the sloop Vestal on 5 October 1914. He remained in her only briefly as she operated off the Belgian Coast, but by the time he was superseded on 5 November, he had been wounded by a shell. Despite his injuries, he rallied his men and got his gun back in action, earning himself a mention in despatches and also, eventually, a D.S.C.. He was sent to an infirmary, but was out by 7 November.

On 25 February, 1918 while in command of the "M" Class destroyer Onslow, he carried out an attack on an enemy submarine, which was tentatively identified as UB 17, which was judged to have sunk it, resulting in Joyce being awarded a bar to his D.S.C.. In hindsight, it is known that UB-17 only departed on her first patrol on 11 March, and no U-boats at all were sunk in February.[1]

Joyce was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1918.

Joyce was appointed in command of the destroyer Tasmania on 11 October, 1919.[2]

Joyce was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 1 November, 1929.

World War II

Reverted 4 September, 1945.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Henry I. M. L. Scott 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 31
22 Sep, 1915 – 28 Jul, 1916 		Succeeded by
Guy O. Maund
Preceded by
Humphrey M. Robson 		Captain of H.M.S. Contest
8 Aug, 1916[3] – Jun, 1917 		Succeeded by
Edward D. W. Lawford
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Tower
26 Jun, 1917[4] – 11 Oct, 1917 		Succeeded by
Jack E. A. Mocatta
Preceded by
John C. Tovey 		Captain of H.M.S. Onslow
11 Oct, 1917[5] – 8 Aug, 1918 		Succeeded by
Malcolm Murray
Preceded by
Donald C. Brock 		Captain of H.M.S. Menace
c. 28 Mar, 1919[6] – 15 Aug, 1919 		Succeeded by
Harold O. Joyce
Preceded by
Harold O. Joyce 		Captain of H.M.S. Menace
15 Aug, 1919[7] – 11 Oct, 1919 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Eric J. Shelley 		Captain of H.M.S. Tasmania
11 Oct, 1919[8] – 7 Feb, 1922 		Succeeded by
Cyril J. P. Hill
as Captain of H.M.A.S. Tasmania
Preceded by
Herbert M. Ellis 		Captain of H.M.S. Sesame
15 Jul, 1923[9] – Feb, 1925 		Succeeded by
Torkel Lundholm
Preceded by
William St. C. Fleming 		Captain of H.M.S. Huntley
15 Feb, 1927[10] 		Succeeded by
Theodore F. A. Voysey
Preceded by
? 		In Charge, Minesweepers in Reserve, Malta
8 Mar, 1927[11] – 15 Feb, 1929[12] 		Succeeded by
Frederick C. C. Kennedy

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Uboat.net list of WW1 losses, and email from Michael Lowrey, 20201129.
  2. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 951a.
  3. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 393g.
  4. ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 398n.
  5. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 396a.
  6. ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Friday, Mar 28, 1919; pg. 23; Issue 42060.
  7. ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Monday, Aug 18, 1919; pg. 14; Issue 42181.
  8. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 951a.
  9. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 269.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 246.
  11. ↑ Joyce Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/22. f. 374.
  12. ↑ Joyce Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/22. f. 374.

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