William Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Cork
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Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cork
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| Born | 30 November 1873 Farnham, Surrey |
| Died | 19 April 1967 (aged 93) London |
| Buried |
Church of St Leonard, Marston Bigot
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1886–1940 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands held | HMS Haughty HMS Skirmisher HMS Fox Red Sea Patrol HMS Repulse HMS Tiger Naval Barracks at Devonport 1st Cruiser Squadron Reserve Fleet Royal Naval College, Greenwich Home Fleet |
| Battles/wars | Boxer Rebellion First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
William Henry Dudley Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork and 12th Earl of Orrery, born on 30 November 1873, was a very important officer in the Royal Navy. He was also a peer, meaning he held a noble title.
Boyle had a long and distinguished career. He served as a young officer during the Boxer Rebellion in China. Later, he played a key role in the First World War, especially in the Dardanelles Campaign and leading the Red Sea Patrol. During this time, he worked closely with T. E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, to support the Arab Revolt.
Between the two World Wars, he held several high-ranking positions, including Commander-in-Chief of the Reserve Fleet and the Home Fleet. In 1934, he inherited the title of Earl of Cork.
When the Second World War began, Boyle was still serving. He helped plan a naval attack in the Baltic Sea called Operation Catherine, though it was later cancelled. He was also supposed to lead a mission to help Finland in the Winter War, but that was called off too. His most famous role in World War II was leading a naval force to try and retake the port of Narvik in Norway from the Germans.
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William Henry Dudley Boyle, sometimes called "Ginger," began his naval training on the ship HMS Britannia in 1887. He quickly moved up the ranks. By 1889, he was a midshipman on the battleship HMS Monarch.
He served on various ships around the world, including the HMS Lizard in Australia. In 1895, he became a lieutenant. He was part of the crew of HMS Daphne on the China Station and saw action during the Boxer Rebellion. This was a conflict in China where foreign powers tried to put down an uprising.
Boyle continued to gain experience, commanding the destroyer HMS Haughty in 1902. He was promoted to commander in 1906 and captain in 1913. Just before World War I, he worked as a naval attaché in Rome, observing the Second Balkan War.
Service in World War I
During the First World War, Boyle first worked as a staff officer during the Gallipoli Campaign. This was a major Allied effort to capture the Dardanelles Strait.
In 1915, he took command of the light cruiser HMS Fox in the Red Sea. The next year, he became the commander of the entire Red Sea Patrol. In this role, he led a six-day attack on the Turkish-held port of Jeddah in June 1916. He also worked closely with T. E. Lawrence, a famous British officer, to support the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. For his efforts, he received awards from Egypt and Jordan.
Later in the war, he became Flag Captain on the battlecruiser HMS Repulse. He was recognized for his bravery and service, becoming a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Between the World Wars
After World War I, Boyle continued to rise in the Royal Navy. He commanded the battlecruiser HMS Tiger and later the naval barracks at Devonport. In 1922, he became a naval aide-de-camp to King George V.
He was promoted to rear admiral in 1923 and then to vice admiral in 1928. He commanded the 1st Cruiser Squadron and later became Commander-in-Chief of the Reserve Fleet. He also served as President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, a prestigious naval training college.
In 1932, he became a full admiral. The next year, he took command of the powerful Home Fleet, flying his flag from the battleship HMS Nelson. In 1934, he inherited the titles of Earl of Cork and Orrery from his cousin. He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet in 1938, the highest rank in the Royal Navy.
Role in World War II
Lord Cork played a part in the early stages of the Second World War. He was in charge of planning Operation Catherine. This was a secret plan by Winston Churchill to send a naval force into the Baltic Sea. The goal was to stop Germany from getting iron ore from Sweden. However, this operation was cancelled in early 1940.
He was then chosen to lead a combined British and French force to help Finland in the Winter War against the Soviet Union. But Finland made peace with the Soviets before the expedition could set sail, so this mission was also called off.
In April 1940, Lord Cork was given command of a naval group tasked with recapturing the important port of Narvik in Norway from the Germans. He used the cruiser HMS Aurora as his main ship. Lord Cork wanted to attack Narvik right away, but the army commander was more cautious. Although Narvik was briefly taken back, all Allied troops eventually had to leave Norway. For his work in Norway, he received the Norwegian Order of St. Olav.
Later Life
After his active service, Lord Cork continued to contribute. He served in the Home Guard during the final years of World War II. He also became President of Shaftesbury Homes and Arethusa, a school that helped homeless boys in London.
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cork passed away in London on 19 April 1967, at the age of 93. He is buried in the graveyard of the Church of St Leonard, Marston Bigot in Somerset. He and his wife, Lady Florence Keppel, did not have any children.
Images for kids
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Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cork
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The light cruiser HMS Fox which Boyle commanded in the Red Sea during the First World War
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The cruiser HMS Aurora which Cork used as his flagship for operations off Norway during the Second World War
