BYRNE, ERL STANLEY FREDERIC, Midshipman. Royal Naval Reserve, eldest s. of Lient. Col. Stanley Cesnola Byrne, 11th London Regt.. of Elmira. Ribblesdale Road. Hornsey, N., by his wife. Evelyn Robertson, dau. of Charles George Yates King: b. London. 1 March, 1899; educ. Tollington School. Muswell Hill. N., and on H.M. Training Ship Worcester. off Greenhithe gazetted Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve 1 Jan. 1917: served on H.M.S. Excellent and H.M.S. Amphitrite: appointed to H.M.D. Torrent the following Feb., and was lost at sea when that ship was blown up in the North Sea 23 Dec. 1917, by a mine or enemy torpedo. He was mentioned in Despatches for coolness under fire during action in June. 1917, when an enemy destroyer was sunk. Midshipman Byrne was at one time put in charge of a captured enemy steamship with a small crew, and brought the ship into an English port, though it necessitated standing over the enemy stokers for a time with a loaded revolver. During a gale in Nov. he was washed overboard, and as all the boats were stove in it was impossible to attempt a rescue, but another wave washed him on beard again:
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5