Lieutenant-Commander Frank Eyers DSO, RNR
Frank Eyers was born on 7th January 1869 in Kensington, London. He was a son to Henry Robert Eyers and Mary Ann Walsh and one of three children to them. Frank was baptised in the parish of St. Stephens Paddington on 17th February 1869 by John Jacob, the Curate of the church. His parents were listed as Henry Robert and Mary Ann Eyers of Aubrey Road Notting Hill and Henry was a Professor of Music. Henry had been born in Portsmouth in 1843 and married Mary on 7th August 1866 in St Stephens Paddington. Mary had been born in 1841 in Islington. In the 1871 census, they were living at 2 Aubrey Road Kensington (apart from Frank) and Harry was listed as a Professor of Music. In the 1881 census, they were still at the same place, with Harry listed as a musician. Harry was in Scotland during the 1901 census, at the Central Station Hotel in Gordon Street Glasgow, as a Musician R. A. M. Mary passed away in Kensington on 25th August 1910. In the 1911 census, Henry was living at 2 Aubrey Road Kensington, with Emily and three servants. His occupation was listed as Musician with Royal Academy of Music and he was a widower.
In the 1871 census, Frank was living with this Grandfather. Robert Eyers and his wife Ann were living at the Crown Hotel in West Street Blandform, Dorset. Robert was the Hotel Proprietor. Frank was there with his sister Emily Marian, who was 3. In the 1881 census, Frank was a boarder at Hound Street Sherborne in Sherborne School and Boarding House. His occupation was listed as scholar. In the Register of Apprentice’s Indentures book is a listing for Frank Eyers, who was 17 years old when bound with Henderson brothers at Glasgow on 21st December 1886. They were the owners of the shipping company known as the Anchor Line. He was bound for 4 years, until 1890. By the 1891 census, he was back with his mother, sister and brother at 2 Aubrey Lodge, Aubrey Road, Kensington. He was listed as 22 years old, and a Second Mate Mercantile Marine (Seas). His sister and brother had no occupation listed, nor did his mother (apart from being listed as wife). Frank was issued with a Certificate of Competency as Second Mate of a foreign-going steamship in the Merchant Service on 19th March 1891. The Board of Trade issued Frank with a Certificate of Competency as First Mate in the Merchant Service on 24th August 1894. On 6th November 1897, he was issued a Certificate of Competency as a Master. He was issued a Certificate of Competency as an Extra Master on 20th November 1897, as he was qualified to fulfil the duties of a Master of a foreign-going ship in the Merchant Service. Frank cannot be found in the 1901 census.
In 1905 Frank arrived on the Glenarm Head, which had departed Glasgow and had arrived in Sydney on 19th August 1905, via Melbourne. Frank was listed as Master, 35 years old and from London. The boat list was just made of crew, there were no passengers on it. Mary Ann Eyers died on 25th August 1910 in Kensington, London.
The London Gazette of 14th August 1914 corrected an error in an earlier publication: “With reference to the Notice which appeared in the London Gazette of the 4th August, 1914, the name of the gentleman to whom a temporary commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve has been issued should be Frank Eyers and not Frank Ewers as therein stated.”
Frank is listed in the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries in the Navy List of December 1914, serving on 687 Carrigan Head as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve with precedence from 7th August 1914. Another page in that list has him as a Lieutenant with seniority as “temporary”. The Carrigan Head had been requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Supply Ship on 4th August 1914 with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
SS Carrigan Head possibly similar to SS Lord Downshire above, 4,893grt, built 1899, owned by the same company. (With thanks to http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-09-HMS_Carrigan_Head.htm )
The Navy List of April 1915 shows him on the same ship and adds that the ship was commissioned on 3rd August 1914. It also show him as a Lieutenant with seniority from “– Aug 14 (tempy.)”. The London Gazette of 26th November 1915 has an entry on page 11757: “Royal Naval Reserve. To be temporary Lieutenant-Commander :- Frank Eyers. Dated 19th November, 1915.” The Globe on Friday 26th November 1915, had an article under Naval Appointments Royal Naval Reserve for “Frank Eyers granted temporary commission as lieut.-commander, to date Nov. 19”.
The Carrigan Head was off Imbros on 3rd March 1915 alongside HMS Inflexible ammunitioning her and then sailed on. She was then ammunitioning HMS Dartmouth in the Gulf of Xeros on 23rd March 1915. On 29th April 1915 at Rabbit Island she was alongside HMS Vengeance ammunitioning her. She was alongside HMS Colne ammunitioning her on 4th May 1915 at Gaba Tepe. On 20th May 1915 she was berthed alongside HMS Usk at the Dardanelles. Frank was involved in a U-Boat surface action on 4th October 1915, where through good control, he escaped and saved his unarmed ship HMS Carrigan Head. She was alongside HMS Colne supplying Naval Stores on 13th October 1915 at Anzac. On 15th November 1915 she met HMS Usk at Mudros. She sailed from Malta for Mudros on 18th December 1915 with TB046 in tow. In very poor weather on 21st December 1915 the Torpedo Boat started to take in water. The crew were taken off with some difficulty and two were injured. The Torpedo boat then struck the side of the Carrigan Head and was further damaged. She was cast adrift and sunk by gunfire. On 24th December 1915 she berthed alongside HMS Usk delivering naval stores an on 2nd April 1916 she became Expeditionary Force Transport G 0186. After Frank left her, she was commissioned as Decoy Ship Q 4 and given alias names and continued to serve throughout the war. She was damaged by gunnery in the western English Channel by U-Boat 18 on 9th September 1916, and between 1917 and 1918 she travelled between the USA and Britain with convoys as an escort ship. She was scrapped in 1934.
In the Third Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday 30th May 1916 is an entry under Admiralty S.W. 31st May 1916 stating: “The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the appointment of the undermentioned Officers to be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of their services whilst employed on Transport duties at the Dardanelles” :- “Lieut.-Cdr. Frank Eyers, R.N.R., M.F.A., “Carrigan Head”. Has performed meritorious service in the Eastern Mediterranean during the past nineteen months, including the saving of his unarmed ship when attacked by an enemy submarine.” The recommendation for the DSO was sent by Vice-Admiral de Roebuck on Lord Nelson on 19th February 1916 with a note saying “in compliance with paragraph 6 of Admiralty letter M – 16115 of 14th January, 1916, I have the honour to forward herewith the accompanying transport service recommendations, which cover the period 25th April, 1915 to date, including the evacuation of Suvla, Anzac and Helles.” The 1919 Navy List records his entry of the DSO and the date awarded.
The October 1916 Navy List has Lieutenant-Commander RNR Frank Eyers DSO on 676 HMS Hazel, an armed boarding steamer, with seniority from 27th February 1916. Hazel was a merchant vessel that had been commissioned on 30th November 1914. Other entries have his rank as temporary with seniority from 19th November 1915. The page detailing his DSO has the date of 31st May 1916. His entry in the August 1917 book was the same, but the number of the Hazel had changed to 1063. In 1916, they went between Mudros and Crete carrying out examination duties at sea.
HMS Hazel
The Navy List of January 1919 shows him as a Lieutenant-Commander (temporary) in the Royal Naval Reserve with seniority from 19th November 1915. He was still on the commissioned merchant vessel Hazel (Ch.). He was on HMS Tuberose, a Royal Navy sloop from 8th January 1919 to 28th November 1919. Frank was demobilised on 5th December 1919.
His service record adds some more details, but some parts are hard to read and others are in abbreviations, so it is not known what they mean. He was first listed as Lieutenant and Master of SSS Carrigan Head. The next entry reads “A.L.Gu 30.9.15 to V.A. East Med. Appln. For promotion refused. Is a T124 Officer.” On 18th October 1915, he was recommended for the manner in which he saved the “Carrigan Head” when fired on by a hostile submarine on 4th Oct. 1915 M. 29800/15=.” He was granted a temporary Commission as Lieutenant-Commander RNR on 19th November 1915. His temporary Commission as a Lieutenant RNR was terminated and on 25th November 1915, he was asked to return his commission as a Lieutenant for cancellation. The next note says “To be returned”. Frank was appointed to Hazel, in command by V. A. Eastern Mediterranean on 22nd February 1916. “Has performed meritorious service in Eastern Medn during the past 19 months including the saving of his unarmed ship when attacked by an enemy submarine.” His DSO was invested at Buckingham Palace on 10th February 1917. In March 1917, Captain Macrorie wrote “Sat, Av, a, reliable & hardworking.” Another entry on 25th August 1917 says “Sat. ab av (b)” Temporary Commander RNR, able, hardworking, excellent work successfully performed, by V. A. A. Throsby. His Commission as Temporary Lieutenant was returned and cancelled on 19th January 1916 to V. A. East Mediterranean. On 28th November 1917, “Relief in ad of Hazel refused = Request for refund of about £11 a month from 1.3.16 refused. Transfer to general service, in rank of Lt Cdr. also refused C.W. 41569. 15.1.18” There is also an entry about the grounding of the Carrigan Head on 23rd November 1914, with something about informing someone on 18th February 1919 and that showed a certain lack of care in navigation of vessel, with the rest of the entry being illegible.
His service record continues on another page with;
18th January 1919 Tuberose in cd Supd 17.7.19
10.12.19 (S20l) Sat. ab. av. (a) Excell. C.O. in every way. Carried out all duties under duty S.M.O. Suda Bay with great zeal and ability Commander Fitzmaurice
28/11/19 Demobilised from 5/12/192?
20.2.20 New commission issued to replace original lost
Statement of service forwarded to Colonial Office.
Drum na Coll Antrim Bond, Belfast 2/20
Henry Robert Eyers passed away on 1919. He was well-respected as is shown here- https://johnirelandmusicpeopleplaces.wordpress.com/tag/manchester/ , an extract of which reads:
“Ethel studied piano with Henry R. Eyers, a well-known and highly regarded teacher at that time, perhaps now best remembered for his many editions of music by such as Clementi and Raff. Eyers died in 1919, by then a man of great authority and seniority, as recalled in a brief tribute:
”
He also left a prize, the Henry R Eyers prize for the highest mark at the Royal Academy of Music’s Special-Level (Post-Advanced) Aural Skills.
After the war, Frank had his service medals were issued to him.
On 1st June 1921 Frank married Alice Evelyne Dykes at St Peters Church in Ealing. Frank was listed as a bachelor, age over 21, a Master Mariner and Alice was a widow, over 21 years. They were both living at 23 Mount Park Road Ealing. Both of their father were deceased, Henry Robert Eyers, a musician and James Garratt, a Bank of Ireland agent. His sister Emily was one of the witnesses who signed the marriage entry. Alice Garratt had been born about 1870 and had previously married William Alston Dykes in October 1896 in Louth, Ireland. William had been born in 1867 in Hamilton, Scotland and appears to have been a career solider. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 20th June 1888, Lieutenant on 16th November 1891, Captain on 10th October 1897 and Major on 5th May 1906, in the Scottish Rifles; as recorded in Hart’s Annual Army List of 1908. In the 1891 census, he was with the 1st Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) quartered in the West Infantry Barracks at Aldershot. He passed away on 28th February 1914 at Hamilton in Scotland of pneumonia. They had a son, William Urquhart Dykes, who had been born on 4th September 1897 in India. He served in WW1 in the 3rd Battalion Scottish Rifles as a Lieutenant, before transferring to the RAF as a Captain. He was entitled to the British War and Victory medals. His war story and picture are here – http://www.brisk.org.uk/rfc/rfc2.html . He passed away in Surrey in 1979. His obituary is here – https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/april-1979/34/bill-urquhart-dykes-his-best-remembered-1250-al .
The Sheffield Daily Telegraph of Monday June 13th 1921 on page 5 has an article under the heading of:
“ON THE HONEYMOON
Naval Commander’s Adventure with a Constable.
Driven in his own motor-car to the police station, Commander Frank Eyers R.N.R., aged 52, who was married on Friday, was at Westminster on Saturday, charged with wilfully obstructing Police-constable Green in the execution of his duty. The constable said that on Friday he stopped a motor-car driven by the defendants chauffeur on the wrong side of two refuges, to the danger of pedestrians crossing. While taking particulars from the driver to report him for a summons, the defendant, who was inside the car with a lady, complained that the delay in writing down the details was “nothing short of insolence”. Asked to go to the station and formulate any complaint, the defendant said he could not, as they had a train to catch. Not wishing to detain the gentleman, the witness asked him for his name and address. The defendant got excited, attracted a crowd, and leaving the car, walked up to the witness saying, “Are you going to worry yourself?” No reply was made. “He then took me by the arm and pushed me about,” said the policeman, “so that eventually I took him into custody. At his request he was driven to the police station in his own car.” The defendant addressing the magistrate, said the constable had told a garbled story. The whole trouble came about owing to the request for the policeman’s number, after his rudeness. Commander Eyers said he had only been married that afternoon, and was going to Crowborough with his wife. The magistrate discharged defendant without comment.”
Debrett’s Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage & Companionage, of 1923 has an entry under the heading Companionage for EYERS, Lieut.-Com. Frank, D.S.O. ; b. 18–; is Lieut.-Com. Roy. Naval Reserve; served in Dardanelles 1915 with Transport (despatches, D.S.O.): m. 1901 Alice Evelyn, widow of Major W. A. Dykes, the Cameronians; cr. D.S.O. 1916.”
His British merchant Seaman record shows he was on the Adriatic from 27th December 1924 as some sort of assistant. His discharge number was 597219. There is a series of numbers and dates on the back of the card, which start from 2nd August 1923 and go to 30th July 1932.
Frank was presented a hallmarked silver case while Captain of SS Baltara, by the Proprietors of Hay’s Wharf in gratitude for help given during the General Strike of 4th to 17th May 1926. The 1926 directory lists Captain Frank Eyers of 61 Mount Park Road in Ealing, Middlesex. In the 1930 street directory, he is listed at the same address.
On 9th September 1937 on Empress of Australia Frank departed Southampton for Quebec, giving his address as 61 Mount Park Road Ealing, his occupation as Master Mariner and he intended to return to England. It is not known when he returned. Another record shows him passing from Canada to USA in 1937 in the Manifests of Passengers Arriving in the St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports.
The 1939 register shows Frank, Alice and two more people living at Ealing. He was born on 7th January 1869, married to Alice E Eyers and was Master Mariner on SS Baltonia. The Baltonia was sunk during WW2, but Frank was not on her.
SS Baltonia
The 1945 Electoral Register showed Frank was living at 3 Harrington Court Kensington.
Frank Eyers of 3 Harrington Court, Harrington Road South Kensington died on 13th July 1945 with probate Llandudno on 3rd January to Alice Evelyn Eyers widow. Effects were £1147 19s 8d.
Alice passed away on 25th December 1951 in Kensington London.
It is not known where they are buried.
His sister Emily Marian Eyers was born on 2nd September 1867 in London, baptised on 30th October 1867 in Paddington St Stephen Westminster, was at 149 Acacia Road in Westminster in the 1929 Electoral Roll and died on 21st February 1948. She did not marry and was buried in St Peter, Ealing on 25th February 1948.
Cyril Eyers was born on 27th September 1878 in Notting Hill, Middlesex. He joined the railway with two entries recorded, January 1895 as a Pm. Apprentice and September 1900 as a Draughtsman; but left on 5th March 1903 voluntarily. His character was very good and his abilities were good. He left Liverpool on 12th October 1929 on Britannia, bound for Bombay as a Supt Scales, with wife Lillie (aged 40 years) and daughter Phyllis Mary (aged 11). In October 1933, he left Bombay for Liverpool by himself, arriving there on 27th November. He was an Engineer and permanently lived in India. Cyril died on 21st January 1959 in Newbridge Hospital Salisbury. He was living at 13 Kingsbury Square, Wilton Wiltshire England and probate went to his daughter, but it has her surname as Nicol and it says she was a single woman. She inherited just under £10000.
His medals are Distinguished Service Order, 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
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