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This is a rèsumè of David Ware Hoyle’s time serving in the Royal Navy from July 1942 to October 1946 in his own words.

Joining Royal Navy July 1942, trained ten weeks at H.M.S. Collingwood, thence to Egypt, back to Gibraltar joining H.M.S. Princess Beatrix late October for North African landings in November. The Ship then did ferrying troops along the North African coast known as “Moonlight Squadron” along with two other ships. Constant dive bombings by Stukas based in Sicily. — Sicily landings back to Malta the repairs at Ferry Ville N.A. prior to Salerno and Anzio Landings. Several Commando Support for Tito raids in Adriatic. “Beatrix” carried 8 L.C.A’s landing craft for infantry generally first waves we were able to land approximately 320 combat troops per trip. Much running about carrying different nationalities of troops from Africa to Italy. Being referred to as “ D.Day Dodgers” we landed troops in Southern France before brief trip back to U.K. for refit. This amounted to installation of larger fems for the Far East climate. Arriving Bombay April 1945 for approximately three weeks witnessing Aga Khan being weighed own weight in diamonds! Carried regular trips, troops from Madras to Akyat in Burma until assembled in Trimcomaler for Mountbatten’s force for landings on Malaya. Waited in Nicobars until Japs accepted Unconditional Surrender after which our skipper accepted Jap garrisons surrender at Penang. Sent down to Java with troops to relieve Japs second trip to Sourabaya to bring Dutch ladies (very emaciated) for flight back to Netherlands from Singapore. Christmas in Bataria, ship’s company mutinated after 1st Lieutenants refusal to allow acceptance of troop’s hospitality ashore. Back to Singapore where I was called as Lower Deck representative at Court of Inquiry re muting. Resulting in dismissal of 1st Lieutenant! Drafted to H.M.S. Cavendish as Beatrix was bound fro U.K. “Cavendish showed the Flag” to New Guinea, Halmatera and Philipinnes, Sumatra, Celebes. Then to return the “White Rajah” to Kuching in Sarawak. “various visits courtesy” before sailing for U.K. for foreign service leave. Portsmouth barracks for 5 weeks prior to demob where six of us conducted the public around H.M.S. Victory on first opening after War.
Demob October 1946.

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