Hugo Tyrrell was born on 27 February 1891 at Brompton, London, the eldest son of Sir William and Lady Tyrrell. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on 15 September 1903. He was promoted to Midshipman on 15 May 1908 and then served in HMS ALBERMARLE, HMS DREADNOUGHT, HMS BOADICEA, HMS VANGUARD, HMS INVINCIBLE and HMS HECLA (for Torpedo Boat Destroyers). He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 30 July 1911, and then served in HMS BLACK PRINCE and HMS AEOLUS, being promoted to Lieutenant on 30 September 1913. He was appointed to HMS VIVID on 14 April 1914 to qualify (E) at Keyham College. After briefly serving in HMS VICTORIOUS, he was appointed to the battleship HMS BENBOW on 25 August 1914. This was followed by a further appointment to HMS BOADICEA on 3 August 1916.

Hugo Tyrrell was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN for HMS K17 as Engineering Officer on 17 May 1917. He died overnight 31 January/1 February 1918, when K17 was sunk after a collision with the HMS FEARLESS during the ‘Battle of May Island’. Hugo Tyrrell is commemorated on the Chatham Naval  Memorial on Panel No 28 and on the War Memorial in St Mary’s Churchyard at Storrington, Sussex.