Edward Blake Hoyle

Commander (retired) Edward Blake Hoyle (28 September, 1888 – 1958) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Hoyle gained two and a half months on passing out of Britannia and he was sent to join the Triumph on 15 September, 1904. He served in her for about a year before 9 October, 1905 when he was deemed unfit for further service due to "stammering". His name was removed from the list of officers on the 17th. This decision, however, was placed in abeyance for three months from 1 November, in hopes that treatment for the speech defect might render Hoyle suitable for the Navy. The medical officer in Albemarle was to deliver the verdict, and Hoyle's father was informed that this would be the final adjudication on the matter. In May of 1906, the report indicated that the stutter had been much reduced and that a complete cure would be likely. Hoyle was dealt a new hand.

Hoyle applied for service in destroyers in August 1909 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1909.

He specially contributed to Formidable's good results in Battle Practice in 1910.

Hoyle was appointed Lieutenant & Commander in first-class torpedo boat T.B. 33 on 4 March, 1912.

On 1 October, 1915, Hoyle was appointed in command of the new sweeping sloop Azalea. On 2 December 1915, she collided with a transport. Hoyle was informed that he should have been more direct in his order that course was not to be altered except in emergency. In May of 1916, it was discovered that another collision had occurred with the Manques de Mudela, and that Hoyle had failed to report this at his first opportunity and supplied an unsatisfactory explanation for the failure. Whatever dings the vessel had acquired through these misadventures were forgotten, however, when she had her bow nearly blown off by a mine in July, 1917. Hoyle was able to save his vessel.

On 12 August, 1917, Hoyle was down with colic (?) and admitted to Haslar. Eight days later he was fit and was placed on the books of Victory. Hoyle was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 September, 1917.

Hoyle was appointed in command of the destroyer Sable on 22 October, 1918. On 17 November, he grounded the destroyer. A Court of Enquiry was convened on the 23rd and concluded that the accident was due to a want of discretion. Hoyle was told to be more careful and he was held to blame for damage sustained by Sturdy, although there is no indication of how the other destroyer was involved in the mishap.

Post-War

Hoyle was place on the Retired List at his own request with a gratuity on 17 June, 1920.

Hoyle was promoted to the rank of Commander on 28 September, 1928.

World War II

In late August 1938, he was appointed as E.D.O., Stromness.

On 7 November, 1941, he was appointed X.D.O., Kirkwall vice Corbett.

On 27 August 1942 he was appointed to Tana, additional, soon to take command and as Maintenance Captain on Staff of Flag Officer, East Africa and Zanzibar, vice Faulkner, being granted the acting rank of Captain while holding this appointment. Other difficult to read African appointments ensued.

Hoyle reverted to the Retired List as medically unfit on 3 September, 1943, but asked to be employed again in January, 1944. He was told this was unlikely.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by James R. C. Cavendish	Captain of H.M. T.B. 049 3 Apr, 1911 – 4 Mar, 1912	Succeeded by Joseph Wilkinson
Preceded by Edward Brooke	Captain of H.M. T.B. 33 4 Mar, 1912 – 18 Mar, 1913	Succeeded by Reginald W. Blake
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Azalea 1 Oct, 1915 – 25 Jul, 1917	Succeeded by Harold S. Gillett
Preceded by Reginald T. Amedroz	Captain of H.M.S. Grasshopper Oct, 1917 – 9 Jan, 1918	Succeeded by John M. Smith
Preceded by Kenneth F. Sworder	Captain of H.M.S. Pelican 9 Jan, 1918 – 5 Oct, 1918	Succeeded by Maurice A. Brind
Preceded by George E. Matthews	Captain of H.M.S. Sable 22 Oct, 1918 – 12 Mar, 1920	Succeeded by Ralph Kerr