- Extended Description
- Nathan HOY. Able Seaman 186080, Royal Navy on HMS Empress of India
Born 25 May 1880 at East Mersea, Essex to William Henry and Myra Hoy, nee Dowsing.
1881 with his siblings and patents at 08 Shop Lane, East Mersea, Essex.
1891 with his siblings, and remarried mother, stepbrother and stepfather, George Alfred Boyden at East Mersea Road, East Mersea
Notes from his service record
Occupation prior to enlistment, farm boy.
Enlisted 01 October 1899 as Boy, 2nd Class on HMS Boscawen.
17 March 1897 as Boy 1st Class on HMS Pembroke from
08 June 1897 as Boy 1st Class on HMS Empress of India.
25 May 1898 for 12 years now aged 18 years and promoted to Ordinary Seaman
01 October 1899 promoted to Able Seaman, still serving on HMS Empress of India
The 14 May 1900 aged 20 years he drowned in attempting to get out of a shore boat on to the gangway of H.M.S. Hibernia. He was returning to his ship after shore leave.
Daily Malta Chronicle and Garrison Gazette Wed 16 May 1900
A number of sailors and marines were about to board the Hibernia on Sunday 13th at 11-30 p.m. their boat capsized and the occupants were thrown into the water. They swam to the ship and shortly after reaching the deck it was found that one person was missing, he was searched for on board but not being found a report was made to the Marine Police who immediately dragged the water and after half an hour a search of a body was brought up and found to be that of the missing man Able Seaman Nathan Hoy, 20 years of age off H.M.Ship, Empress of India. Magistrate Dr. Frendo Azzopardi held the usual inquest.
He was buried with Naval honours at Bighi Cemetery.
Bighi Naval Cemetery was closed about 1966-67. All burials were re-interred and placed into mass graves in Capuccini Naval Cemetery.
