A memorial Anglican chapel to honour the 2435 men and officers who lost their lives at sea in the First and Second World Wars was built at Flinders Naval Depot, Crib Point in the early 1950s. It was designed by Anglican Diocesan architect, Louis R. Williams and held an almost-complete cycle of stained glass designed by David Taylor Kellock (1913-1988) of Ballarat, possibly made by a Melbourne manufacturer. A window in memory of Admiral Sir George Francis Hyde was one of a series of single lights made for the baptistry.
George Francis Hyde was born at Southsea, Portsmouth, England on 19 July 1877. Family circumstances did not allow him to train as a commissioned officer and he joined the merchant service as an apprentice in 1894, which was completed in 1898. He joined the Royal Navy Reserve in 1896, where his brilliance was ultimately recognised and rewarded. In December 1910 he left for Australia on loan to the Commonwealth Naval Forces andtransferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1912, with the rank of Commander as executive officer HMAS Australia (1913-15). He was mentioned in despatches and promoted Captain on 1 April 1917. Over the next twenty years he held important posts with both the RN and RAN including Commodore Commanding and Rear Admiral Australian Squadron; First Naval Member and Chief of Naval Staff 1931-37. It was a testament to his leadership that he discerned the weaknesses in Australia's navy and implemented improvements in ship building, equipment and maintenance, recruiting, training and shore support during the Depression years. The Governal General -in-Council approved his promotion to Admiral to take effect from 12 JUly 1936. He died, on 28 July 1937, only two years before Australia was again at war on the seas.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Honours and Awards; Robert Hyslop, 'Hyde, Sir George Francis (1877-1937), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 9, (MUP), 1983; Sydney Morning Herald, 31 July 1936, p.12.
With thanks to HMAS Cerberus Museum curator Toni Munday
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