Appointed Commander of Motor Launch 283, Hoare was in action at the First Ostend Raid on 23 April 1918. Throughout the operation, the launch conducted duties of rescuing officers and men from HMS "Sirius" and HMS "Brilliant". Praised for "exercising the utmost coolness and judgement" during the engagement, Hoare was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. His citation records that he went alongside HMS "Sirius" under heavy fire and took off 50 of her crew and then went alongside HMS "Brilliant" and took off 16 of that ship's crew. The notification of the award was published in a supplement to the "London Gazette" on 23 July 1918. His acting rank was also confirmed as a further reward for his success in this operation. He was invested with his DSO and DSC by King George V in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 31 July 1918.