James Hoy (1890-1915)
South Shields man served with Royal Naval Divison, killed at Gallipoli
James Hoy joined the navy on 14 September 1914. He was deployed to one of the new Royal Naval Division (RND) battalions which had been created by Winston Church, then First Lord of the Admiralty. The battalions were named after naval commanders and James joined the Nelson battalion. The RND was mainly formed of naval reservists and new recruits who were surplus to requirements aboard ship and were to act as light infantry battalions.
The Nelson battalion served in Gallipoli and James went missing. presumed dead, during the battle of Achi Baba Nullah.
James had five brothers, three of whom also served in the armed forces during the war: Matthew with the 9th Border Regiment; Patrick with the 3rd West Yorkshire Regiment and 14th Battalion Machine Gun Corps; Frederick William with the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment. Arthur had emigrated to New South Wales in 1913 and Thomas worked at Harton Colliery.
The First World War, Day by Day website, description of the battle of Achi Baba Nullah on the day James was believed to have been killed:
https://makersley.com/diseased-bagpipes-13-jul-1915/
Civil Parish: South Shields
Birth date: 06-Jul-1890
Death date: 13-Jul-1915
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 10 Alnwick Road, Tyne Dock, South Shields (1911 census and RND service record)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Employment: Coal miner, putter (1911 census)
Miner (RND service record)
Family: Parents: Matthew Hoy, Ann Hoy (née Donnelly), married at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Chapel, Sunderland, 20 August 1883
Brothers: Matthew Hoy, Patrick Hoy, Frederick William Hoy, Arthur Hoy, Thomas Hoy
Military service:
Joined up: 14 September 1914
Able Seaman Z/135
Joined Nelson Battalion: 2 November 1914
Reported missing: 30 July 1915
Assumed killed in action on 13 July 1915
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
1915 Star
Memorial(s): Helles Memorial. Panel 8 to 15. (Turkey)
Gender: Male
Contributed by Peter Hoy
