George Hyde (admiral)

Sir George Francis Hyde

Studio portrait of George Francis Hyde
Born 19 July 1877
Southsea, Portsmouth, England
Died 28 July 1937 (1937-07-29) (aged 60)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Allegiance United Kingdom / Australia
Service/branch Royal Navy /
Royal Australian Navy
Years of service 1896 - 1937
Rank Admiral
Commands held First Naval Member & Chief of Staff
HMS Marlborough (1912)
HMS Emperor of India
HMAS Canberra (D33)
HMAS Australia (D84)
HMAS Brisbane (1915)
HMS Adventure (1904)
HMS Shannon (1906)
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Mention in Despatches

Admiral Sir George Francis Hyde KCB, CVO, CBE (19 July 1877 – 28 July 1937) was an Australian admiral, known as a former head of the Royal Australian Navy.

Contents

Early life

Hyde was born in the seaside resort, Southsea, in the city of Portsmouth, England. He was the son of a clerk, Ebenezer Hyde, and Maria, née Alexander. Educated at a private school in Portsmouth, Hyde's desire to attain a high rank in the Royal Navy was strengthened by a love to serve his country, and love for the sea.[1]

Entrance into Britain's Royal Navy

In 1894, Hyde entered the merchant service as an apprentice, hoping to gain a commission into the Royal Naval Reserve. Finishing his apprenticeship after four trips aboard a sailing ship, Mount Stewart, he journeyed as second mate in the barque Amulree. Hyde was commissioned as a midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve in 1896, and served upon His Majesty's Ships (HMS), Magnificent, Victorious, Bacchante, Leviathan and Tribune, as reserve. Promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1901, and lieutenant in 1902, he continued his services to the Naval Reserve until he was gazetted as a lieutenant to the Royal Navy in July 1905. This was due to winning an essay competition about the Russo-Japanese War, in which he was, upon the intervention of Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, "elevated to join the list of Supplementary Lieutenants". The admiral had submitted three applications before Hyde was promoted to the Royal Navy.[1]

Transfer to Australia

After commanding several ships such as Torpedo Boat No.6, a destroyer Rother, and a cruiser Shannon, Hyde travelled to Australia, after being placed on loan to the Commonwealth Naval Forces. After returning to England, Hyde was granted a transfer to the Royal Australian Navy in 1912, and was commissioned the rank of commander. In 1913, he sailed in a Indefatigable class battlecruiser HMAS Australia, to Australia.[1]

World War I to the 1920s

In July 1915, Hyde was appointed by the Admiralty, to command the light cruiser, HMS Adventure, into the Coast of Ireland Command. He remained in Adventure after he reached the Command, acting as captain of the fleet to Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly. Between 24 April and 29 April 1916, during the Irish Easter Rebellion, after fears of international communication problems between the British Army's commander-in-chief of Ireland, Adventure was sent as communication aid and general assistance. Vice Admiral Bayly reported back to the Admiralty on 30 April 1916, when commenting about the incident, that Hyde "performed his duties with great tact and ability".[1]

Promoted to captain on 1 April 1917, Hyde joined the Mercantile Movements Division in the Admiralty, becoming a Senior Naval Officer on 6 June 1918. On 10 August of the same year, he married Alice Marjorie Trefusis, before returning to Australia. He was appointed as Director of the war staff at the Naval Office in Melbourne, remaining at the appointment until August 1919. Upon the personal request of John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, he was attached to Jellicoe's staff in 1919, and became the aide-de-camp to the Governor-General, a post he remained until 1924. Hyde was given command of HMAS Brisbane from 1919 until 1921, and became the second naval member of the Australian Naval Board during 1923-24.[1]

In 1926, Hyde was appointed as commodore, taking command of the Australian Squadron. He was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1926, and a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1927. In 1928, Hyde became the first Australian naval officer to become an honourary aide-de-camp to King George V. On 23 February 1928, he became a rear admiral, taking command of two County class cruisers; HMA Ships Canberra and Australia. On 16 February 1929, after the deterioration of his marriage with his first wife, Alice Trefusis, which ended in divorce in 1928, Hyde married Isla Robertson.[1]

1930s and command of the Royal Australian Navy

For one year after May 1930, Hyde held the Royal Navy's command of the 3rd Battle Squadron of the British Home Fleet. He was given command of two Iron Duke class battleship, HMS Emperor of India, and then HMS Marlborough. After returning to Australia, he became the first naval member of the Australian Naval Board in 20 October 1931, and consequently, the first seagoing officer to become a first naval member. He became a vice admiral in 1932, was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1934, and was promoted to Admiral in 1936.[1]

Taking over as the head of the Royal Australian Navy in 1931, Hyde was particularly concerned with the navy's inadequacy of defence, and lack of funding, following the Great Depression. He attended a naval commander-in-chief conference in Singapore, and traveled to England in 1935, for a technical discussion with the Admiralty. In 1936, while still in England, he acted as adviser to the Australian High Commissioner, Stanley Melbourne Bruce, and was a participant in discussions which led to the formation of the Second London Naval Treaty. As World War II threatened in the mid-1930s, Hyde became responsible, as the first naval member of the Australian Naval Board, for the strengthening of the Royal Australian Navy. He did this by creating close associations and relationships with the Royal Navy.[1]

Personal health

In 1915, Hyde was diagnosed with sub-acute pneumonia. He had an operation for mouth cancer in 1933, before his health started deteriorating in April 1937, after several small falls. On 20 June 1937, Hyde killed a pedestrian whilst driving in his car. Although a coronial inquiry relinquished him of any blame, the incident caused him enormous distress, and led to his death of pneumonia in Melbourne eight days later. In accordance with Hyde's wishes, he was given private funeral services and cremated, instead of a ceremonial naval funeral.[1]

Footnotes

Military offices
Preceded by
Vice Admiral Sir William Munro Kerr
First Naval Member & Chief of Staff
1931 – 1937
Succeeded by
Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin
Preceded by
Commodore Thomas Wardle
as Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Fleet
Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Squadron
1926 – 1929
Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Edward Evans