William Henry Dudley Boyle, Twelfth Earl of Cork and Orrery

Admiral of the Fleet William Henry Dudley Boyle, Twelfth Earl of Cork and Orrery (30 November 1873 – 19 April 1967) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

After commanding Haughty and Hardy, Boyle spent some time at Defiance studying gunnery and torpedoes before being sent to the second class protected cruiser Astræa to be first and gunnery officer on 25 February, 1904 through 19 September, 1906. Promotion to the rank of Commander soon followed on 31 December, 1906.

On 2 January, 1907, he went to Hibernia to serve under Captain Cecil F. Lambert for just more than two years, leaving her in January, 1905 to attend more gunnery and torpedo instruction at Portsmouth where his performance was "excellent in every way". On 16 February, 1911 he was appointed to Good Hope to ply his skills, remaining in her until 21 December. On 16 February, 1912, he was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Skirmisher, to remain there until mid-April, 1913.

Boyle was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1913.

On 7 February, 1917, Boyle replaced Lancelot Napier Turton in command of the Royal India Marine ship H.M.S. Northbrook. They would swap back and forth a few times in the year.

He was appointed command of the Repulse on 6 November, 1917.

He was appointed command of the Tiger on 22 March, 1919.

The battlecruiser Tiger slightly damaged the moored battleship Royal Sovereign as she entered Portland Harbour on 24 November 1920 under Boyle's command. He was subjected to a Court Martial and successfully defended himself against a charge of having hazarded the ship.

He was appointed Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command of First Battle Squadron on 3 May, 1924.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Edward Walker	Captain of H.M.S. Starfish 20 Jun, 1902 – 28 Aug, 1902	Succeeded by Robert M. Groves
Preceded by Harry C. J. R. West	Captain of H.M.S. Haughty 28 Aug, 1902 – 8 Oct, 1903	Succeeded by Henry W. Parker
Preceded by Frederick B. Noble	Captain of H.M.S. Hardy 9 Oct, 1903 – 14 Oct, 1903	Succeeded by Arthur S. Chambers
Preceded by James U. Farie	Captain of H.M.S. Skirmisher 16 Jan, 1912 – 18 Apr, 1913	Succeeded by John B. Sparks
Preceded by Arthur C. Stewart	Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Rome 24 Jun, 1913 – 27 Sep, 1915	Succeeded by Dennis A. H. Larking
Preceded by Francis W. Caulfeild	Captain of H.M.S. Fox 27 Sep, 1915 – mid Oct, 1916	Succeeded by Henry P. Ritchie
Preceded by Henry P. Ritchie	Captain of H.M.S. Fox 14 Oct, 1916 – 24 Sep, 1917	Succeeded by Arthur G. Craufurd
Preceded by Lancelot N. Turton	Captain of H.M.S. Northbrook 7 Feb, 1917 – 13 Aug, 1917	Succeeded by Lancelot N. Turton
Preceded by John S. Dumaresq	Captain of H.M.S. Repulse 6 Nov, 1917	Succeeded by A. Dudley P. R. Pound
Preceded by Hugh F. P. Sinclair	Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Force 27 Dec, 1918 – 22 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Arthur A. M. Duff	Captain of H.M.S. Tiger 29 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by John E. Cameron
Preceded by William A. H. Kelly	Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron 3 May, 1924 – 3 May, 1924	Succeeded by Renamed as Second Battle Squadron
Preceded by Arthur K. Waistell	Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron Oct, 1926 – Oct, 1928	Succeeded by Henry W. Parker
Preceded by Hugh D. R. Watson	Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet Dec, 1928 – Apr, 1929	Succeeded by Percival H. Hall Thompson
Preceded by John W. L. McClintock	President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich late 1929[Citation needed]	Succeeded by Barry Edward Domvile
Preceded by Sir William W. Fisher	Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Station 3 Jul, 1937	Succeeded by Sir William M. James