Dame Evelyn Louisa Elizabeth Hoyer-Millar, (17 December 1910 – 26 February 1984) was a British naval officer who served as Commandant of the

Women's Royal Naval Service The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in 1939 at the ...

from 1958 to 1960.

Naval career

Hoyer-Millar (from a Scottish family, related to the Barons Inchyra), the daughter of Robert Christian Hoyer-Millar (or Hoyer Millar) and Muriel Rosa Lillian ( Foster) Hoyer-Millar, served in the

Voluntary Aid Detachment The Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The most important periods of operation for these units we ...

(VAD) 1939–41, then joined the

(WRNS) in 1942. She was commissioned as a second officer (equivalent to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

) in 1943, and later was in charge of the first party of WRNS to land in Normandy. Hoyer-Millar was promoted to first officer then, in 1945, to acting chief officer (equivalent to

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

). She was superintendent (

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

) of the Air branch and then the Training branch of the WRNS before becoming

commandant Commandant ( or ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ran ...

of the WRNS 1958–60. She was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the

1952 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1952 were appointments by King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire and Commonwealth. They were announced on 1 January 1952 for the British Empire, Austra ...

, and

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the

1960 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1960 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced in supplements to t ...

. She retired to Scotland and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the

County of Angus Angus ( sco, Angus; gd, Aonghas) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. Main industries include agri ...

in 1971.

Later life

In 1960, Hoyer-Millar was among six distinguished women at a

Women of the Year Lunch The Women of the Year Lunch, later known as the Women of the Year Lunch and Awards (WOYLA), is an annual charity lunch for women achievers. The inaugural lunch was held on 29 September 1955 at the Savoy Hotel, and raised money for the Greater L ...

who were asked "If you were not yourself, who would you like to be?" Hoyer-Millar said that she would like to have been

Helen of Troy Helen of Troy, Helen, Helena, (Ancient Greek: Ἑλένη ''Helénē'', ) also known as beautiful Helen, Helen of Argos, or Helen of Sparta, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believe ...

. "

Lady Hamilton Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), generally known as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy men ...

I rather obviously considered," she said, "but I think my career might have been less successful and happy had I had the interests and desires that brought her to fame."Who else would you be? Women of the Year name their choice
''Yorkshire Post'', 7 October 1960 Hoyer-Millar died on 26 February 1984, aged 73.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoyer-Millar, Elizabeth 1910 births 1984 deaths British nurses Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Royal Navy officers of World War II Women's Royal Naval Service officers Deputy Lieutenants of Angus