Personal info
- Name: Edward Courtney BOYLE
- D.O.B: 23rd Mar, 1883
- D.O.A: 18th May, 1915
- D.O.D: 16th Dec, 1967
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Lieutenant Commander, HM Submarine E14, Royal Navy
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Sea of Marmara, Turkey 27 April-18 May 1915
27 April-18 May 1915
The Gallipoli Campaign 25 April 1915–9 January 1916
In April 1915, inspired by the success of Lieutenant N D Holbrook VC in the Straits in HM Submarine B11 in December 1914, the Allies determined to send submarines into the Sea of Marmara itself. HM Submarine AE2 passed through the Dardanelles on 25 April 1915 and early on 27 April HM Submarine E14, under Lieutenant Commander E C Boyle, followed her. The Turks spotted and fired on her but she was able to sink the torpedo gunboat Paykisevkei and enter the Sea of Marmara. On 1 May she sank the Nour el Bahr, a Turkish minelayer. The presence of a British submarine caused the Turks to reroute many of their troops for Gallipoli by land and paralysed all shipping in the Sea. After various exploits, on 10 May E14 torpedoed the former White Star liner Guj Djemal, carrying over 6,000 troops and a battery of artillery bound for Gallipoli. On 17 May, with her supplies running low, she was ordered to return and, fighting off several Turkish attacks, rejoined the fleet on 18 May. Boyle was awarded the VC, his two officers the DSC and the members of his crew the DSM.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery, in command of Submarine E. 14, when he dived his vessel under the enemy’s minefields and entered the Sea of Marmora on the 27th April, 1915. In spite of great navigational difficulties from strong currents, of the continual neighbourhood of hostile patrols, and of the hourly danger of attack from the enemy, he continued to operate in the narrow waters of the Straits and succeeded in sinking two Turkish gunboats and one large military transport.