Archer Posted 25 June , 2007 Share Posted 25 June , 2007 I am not making any headway on the internet trying to put together a description of the shore establishment maintained at Stornoway (HMS Iolaire) during the Great War - esp. the period September 1917-1918. It seems that it was under the command of Rear Admiral RF BOYLE, MVO, RN (Retired) - but I cannot state between which dates with any certainty. NB ... I am not looking for information about the sinking of HMS Iolaire in 1919. That is a different, if tragic, topic. Help please, forumites !! William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhclark Posted 27 June , 2007 Share Posted 27 June , 2007 William, HMS Iolaire, Stornoway, was definitely an Auxiliary Patrol base. In 1915 the depot ship was the Manco. The base was paid off and closed on 19th May 1919 and the task was transferred to President I. Seems to have been the base for the Naval Patrol out of Dundee and for the Southern Force at Granton. (Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy, B. Warlow, page 77.) Not that this tells you much, but I think that the loss of the Iolaire (the renamed Amalthaea) in 1919 is a red herring. I wonder whether the Museum Nan Eilean at Stornaway can help you? It's a maritime museum; the e-mail contact is a Richard Langhorne rlanghorne@cne-siar.gov.uk If Richard cannot help you directly he may be able to point you in some more fruitful directions. Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spithead Posted 27 June , 2007 Share Posted 27 June , 2007 [Not that this tells you much, but I think that the loss of the Iolaire (the renamed Amalthaea) in 1919 is a red herring. Hello Noel Why do you think the Amalthaea is a red herring. She was renamed Iolaire in 11.18 and was the one tragically lost on 1.1.19. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted 27 June , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 June , 2007 Well, John, it's a red herring for me at any rate, because as I said ... I am not looking for information about the sinking of HMS Iolaire in 1919. That is a different, if tragic, topic Noel ... Many thanks for your useful reply and referral. Every little bit helps! William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhclark Posted 28 June , 2007 Share Posted 28 June , 2007 John, I apologise. William's enquiry was about the Auxiliary Patrol shore base at Stornoway, rather than the vessel Iolaire itself, so it was in that context that I made the comment. However, my comment was rather insensitive and unnecessary and I regret any offence caused. Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 28 June , 2007 Share Posted 28 June , 2007 "HMS Iolaire, Stornoway, was definitely an Auxiliary Patrol base. In 1915 the depot ship was the Manco. The base was paid off and closed on 19th May 1919 and the task was transferred to President I. Seems to have been the base for the Naval Patrol out of Dundee and for the Southern Force at Granton. (Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy, B. Warlow, page 77.)" HMS Iolaire was the parent ship for the Naval Base at Stornaway which controlled the Auxiliary Patrol in Area One, this is on the Isle of Lewis some 30 miles of the west coast of Scotland. Dundee and Granton are on the east coast in Area Six controlled by HMS Gunner the parent ship for the shore base at Granton. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhclark Posted 28 June , 2007 Share Posted 28 June , 2007 Charles, I quoted from Ben Warlow's book. Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted 28 June , 2007 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2007 Thanks for the extra detail, folks. Does Admiral Boyle's name ring any bells? Cheers ! William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 28 June , 2007 Share Posted 28 June , 2007 Noel, G'day, "I quoted from Ben Warlow's book." I think on this occasion Ben Warlow is wrong, he is 300 miles and a landmass out. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spithead Posted 28 June , 2007 Share Posted 28 June , 2007 Noel, no problem, thanks for your post. Thanks for the extra detail, folks. Does Admiral Boyle's name ring any bells? Cheers ! William William From the 1918 Navy List. IOLAIRE (Yacht) Rear Admiral Hon. Robert F.Boyle MVO 10/3/16. Seniotity 25/4/14. This was the original Iolaire that gave its name to the Shore Establishment. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted 29 June , 2007 Author Share Posted 29 June , 2007 Many thanks, John ... that was one of the things I was looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhclark Posted 1 July , 2007 Share Posted 1 July , 2007 William, have you heard anything from the Museum? Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted 2 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 2 July , 2007 Oops !! I haven't written yet ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopag Posted 4 July , 2007 Share Posted 4 July , 2007 Yes I can help with the Iolaire. It was tragic. She left Stornoway on New Year's Day with a complement of people going on leave, families and so on. She foundered less than 50 yards from the shore and only 10% of those aboard actually made it to shore. She wasn't actually a shore station or warship but a luxury yacht which had been donated by her owners for the war effort. She was used on a sort of milk run round the Western Isles. Some links for you: http://www.c-e-n.org/iolaire2.htm http://iolaire.quickseek.com/ http://www.culturehebrides.com/heritage/iolaire/ http://heritage.scotsman.com/diagrams.cfm?...amp;id=40512005 http://tartans.com/mesgboard/viewtopic.php...01c683f1d83dfef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopag Posted 4 July , 2007 Share Posted 4 July , 2007 An RNR Battery was established at Inaclete Point, Stornoway, in 1878 and was the largest RNR Battery and Training Depot in Great Britain. Many thousands of men (Fishermen) from Lewis, Harris and Wester Ross received their training for service in the Royal Navy. HMS Flirt had provided training when berthed at Stornoway 1876-78. During WW1 the base was known as HMY Iolaire and offices were set up in Stornoway Town Hall (burned down after a fire broke out in the Naval canteen in 1918) and the Imperial Hotel (site of the present Arts Centre). The latter hotel was the HQ for Admiral Tupper and Admiral Boyle who were the the two CO's during the war. Both presented golf trophies to Stornoway Golf Club. Tupper's trophy is still played for and Boyle's was won outright and is in Canada. The base closed down in 1919. Two six inch guns are sited at what is now called Battery Point in Stornoway with a plaque detailing their history (1882 Armstrong Ordnance Co). Both Admirals can be found on the web - surprised nobody found Boyle. The Stornoway Historical Society website gives details of all those lost when the Iolaire sank (she did not leave Stornoway as stated earlier in the postings) but from Kyle of Lochalsh. I hope that some of this is of help. Malcolm Macdonald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted 4 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 4 July , 2007 Thank you, Malcolm, for a most interesting reply. Just one thing, though ... you say Both Admirals can be found on the web - surprised nobody found Boyle. It seems that my usually adequate google skills have let me down. Can you supply the references, please ? Many thanks William P.S. The fire which destroyed Stornoway Town Hall was on 2 March 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhclark Posted 4 July , 2007 Share Posted 4 July , 2007 Thank you, Malcolm, for a most interesting reply. Just one thing, though ... you say It seems that my usually adequate google skills have let me down. Can you supply the references, please ? Many thanks William P.S. The fire which destroyed Stornoway Town Hall was on 2 March 1918. You're not alone, William. I found a few mentions of Boyle on the web, but nothing substantial at all. Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopag Posted 5 July , 2007 Share Posted 5 July , 2007 You're not alone, William. I found a few mentions of Boyle on the web, but nothing substantial at all. Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopag Posted 5 July , 2007 Share Posted 5 July , 2007 I just used engines 2 go and selected Google, then entered Admiral Tupper. Same for Admiral Boyle. Admiral Sir Reginald Godfrey Otway Tupper (1859-45) and Vice Admiral Sir William Henry Dudley Boyle KCB (he was the 12th Earl of Cork and can be found on Peerage sites). Tupper can be found under Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted 5 July , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 July , 2007 Thanks, Malcolm Just a small correction - the Boyle in question was actually Vice Admiral the Hon. Robert Francis Boyle, MVO (1863-1922) (the third son of the 5th Earl of Shannon). He succeeded Tupper in command at Stornoway in April 1916. [His obituary in The Times says he was appointed to command of the 'Marne Patrol Area' in April 1915 - but that seems to be a misprint.] Cheers William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopag Posted 5 July , 2007 Share Posted 5 July , 2007 Thanks to you for that correction. I should have used Boyle's Law when identifying the right man! Regards Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopag Posted 1 November , 2007 Share Posted 1 November , 2007 Thanks, Malcolm Just a small correction - the Boyle in question was actually Vice Admiral the Hon. Robert Francis Boyle, MVO (1863-1922) (the third son of the 5th Earl of Shannon). He succeeded Tupper in command at Stornoway in April 1916. [His obituary in The Times says he was appointed to command of the 'Marne Patrol Area' in April 1915 - but that seems to be a misprint.] Cheers William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopag Posted 1 November , 2007 Share Posted 1 November , 2007 With regard to Rear Admiral Tupper - he left Stornoway on 28 February 1916 (source - Highland News). This fits in with Rear Admiral RF Boyle and the April 1916 arrival to take over the Marine Patrol Area. Regards Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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