Harold Owen Joyce
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 He remained in her only briefly as she operated off the Belgian Coast, but by the time he was superseded on 5 November, he had been wounded by a shell.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 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Uboat.net list of WW1 losses, and email from Michael Lowrey, 20201129.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 951a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 393g.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 398n.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 396a.
- ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Friday, Mar 28, 1919; pg. 23; Issue 42060.
- ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Monday, Aug 18, 1919; pg. 14; Issue 42181.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 951a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 269.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 246.
