Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth | |
---|---|
HMS Victory, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth | |
Active | 1667–1969 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Type | Fleet |
Garrison/HQ | Dockyard Commissioner's house, Portsmouth |
The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Portsmouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the post. The commanders-in-chief were based at premises in High Street, Portsmouth from the 1790s until the end of Sir Thomas Williams's tenure, his successor, Sir Philip Durham, being the first to move into Admiralty House at the Royal Navy Dockyard, where subsequent holders of the office were based until 1969. Prior to World War One the officer holder was sometimes referred to in official dispatches as the Commander-in-Chief, Spithead.[1]
Contents
1 History
2 Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
3 Portsmouth Command
3.1 Main units
3.2 Naval units
3.3 Shore units
4 References
History
The Command extended along the south coast from Newhaven in East Sussex to Portland in Dorset.[2] In 1889 the Commander-in-Chief took HMS Victory as his Flagship.[3]
In the late 18th century port admirals began to reside ashore, rather than on board their flagships; the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was provided with a large house at 111 High Street, which was renamed Admiralty House (and which had formerly been home to the Mayor of Portsmouth).[4] In the 1830s Admiralty House was sold to the War Office (as Government House, it went on to house the Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth for the next fifty years).[5] The Commander-in-Chief moved in turn into the former Dockyard Commissioner's house, which still stands within HMNB Portsmouth.[4]
During the Second World War the Command Headquarters was at Fort Southwick.[6]Operation Aerial, the evacuation from western French ports in 1940, was commanded by Admiral William Milbourne James, the Commander-in-Chief. James lacked the vessels necessary for convoys and organised a flow of troopships, storeships and motor vehicle vessels from Southampton, coasters to ply from Poole and the Dutch schuyts to work from Weymouth, while such warships as were available patrolled the shipping routes. Demolition parties sailed in the ships but it was hoped that supplies and equipment could be embarked as well as troops.[7]
In 1952 the Commander-in-Chief took up the NATO post of Commander-in-Chief, Channel (CINCHAN). This move added Allied Command Channel to the NATO Military Command Structure. The admiral commanding at Portsmouth had control naval operations in the area since 1949 under WUDO auspices.[8]
The post of Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was merged with that of Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth in 1969 to form the post of Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command.[9] The posts of Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command were amalgamated in 1994 following the rationalisation of the British Armed Forces following the end of the Cold War.[10] In 2012, however, all distinct Commander-in-Chief appointments were discontinued, with full operational command being vested instead in the First Sea Lord; he now flies his flag from HMS Victory.[11]
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Post holder have included:[12][13]
- Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Holmes September 1667-?[14]
- Captain, John Graydon, January - February 1695[15]
- Captain James Wishart, February - April 1695[16]
- Vice-Admiral John Neville: 1696[17]
- Rear-Admiral Henry Houghton: March-July 1698[18]
- Commodore Thomas Warren: December 1698[19][20]
- Commodore Basil Beaumont: February-March 1698[21]
- Rear-Admiral James Wishart, September 1703 – October 1703[22]
- Admiral James Steuart: 1745 – 1747
- Admiral Sir Edward Hawke: 1748 – 1752
- Admiral Sir Edward Hawke: 1755 – 1756
- Admiral Henry Osborn: 1756 – 1757
- Admiral Sir Francis Holburne 1758 – 1766
- Admiral Sir John Moore: 1766 – 1769
- Admiral Sir Francis Geary 1769 – 1771
- Admiral Thomas Pye: 1771 – 1774
- Admiral Sir James Douglas: 1774 – 1777
- Admiral Thomas Pye: 1777 – 1783
- Admiral John Montagu: 1783 – 1786
- Admiral Viscount Hood: 1786 – 1789
- Admiral Robert Roddam: 1789 – 1792
- Admiral Viscount Hood: 1792 – 1793
- Admiral Sir Peter Parker: 1793 – 1799
- Admiral Mark Milbanke: 1799 – 1803
- Admiral Lord Gardner: March – June 1803
- Admiral Sir George Montagu: 1803 – 1809
- Admiral Sir Roger Curtis: 1809 – 1812
- Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton: 1812 – 1815
- Admiral Sir Edward Thornbrough: 1815 – 1818
- Admiral Sir George Campbell: 1818 – 1821
- Admiral Sir James Hawkins-Whitshed: 1821 – 1824
- Admiral Sir George Martin: 1824 – 1827
- Admiral Sir Robert Stopford: 1827 – 1830
- Admiral Sir Thomas Foley: 1830 – 1833
- Admiral Sir Thomas Williams: 1833 – 1836
- Admiral Sir Philip Durham: 1836 – March 1839
- Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming: Apr – Nov 1839
- Admiral Sir Edward Codrington: 1839 – 1842
- Admiral Sir Charles Rowley: 1842 – 1845
- Admiral Sir Charles Ogle: 1845 – 1848
- Admiral Sir Thomas Capel: 1848 – 1851
- Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs: 1851 – 1852
- Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane: 1852 – 1856
- Admiral Sir George Seymour: 1856 – 1859
- Admiral Sir William Bowles: 1859 – 1660
- Admiral SirHenry W. Bruce:– March 1860-March 1863
- Admiral Sir Michael Seymour:– March 1863-March 1866
- Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, Bt.:– March 1866-February 1869
- Admiral Sir James Hope:– February 1869-March 1872
- Admiral Sir Rodney Mundy:– March 1872-March 1875
- Admiral Sir George A. Elliot:– March 1875-March 1878
- Admiral Edward G Fanshawe:– March 1878-November 1879
- Admiral Alfred Ryder:– November 1879-November 1882
- Admiral Sir Geoffrey T.Phipps Hornby:– November 1882-November 1885
- Admiral Sir George O.Willes:– November 1885-June 1888
- Admiral Sir John E. Commerell:– June 1888-June 1891
- Admiral the Earl of Clanwilliam:– June 1891-June 1894
- Admiral Sir Nowell Salmon Salmon:– June 1894-August 1897
- Admiral Sir MMichael Culme-Seymour, Bt.: August 1897-October 1900
- Admiral Sir Charles F. Hotham: October 1900-August 1903
- Admiral Sir John A. Fisher: August 1903-March 1904
- Admiral Sir Archibald L. Douglas: March 1904-March 1907
- Admiral Sir Day H.Bosanque: March 1907-March 1908
- Admiral Sir Arthur D. Fanshawe: March 1908-April 1910
- Admiral the Hon. Sir Assheton G.Curzon-Howe: April 1910-March 1911
- Admiral Sir Arthur W. Moore: March 1911-July 1912
- Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. Sir Hedworth Meux: July 1912-March 1916
- Admiral the Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville : March 1916-March 1919
- Admiral Sir Cecil Burney: March 1919-April 1920
- Admiral the Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe: April 1920-April 1923
- Admiral Sir Sydney R. Fremantle: April 1923-April 1926
- Admiral Sir Osmond de B. Brock: April 1926-April 1929
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger J. B. Keyes, Bt.: April 1929-May 1931
- Admiral Sir Arthur K. Waistell: June 1931-January 1934
- Admiral Sir John D. Kelly: January 1934-July 1936
- Admiral Sir William W. Fisher: July 1936-June 1937
- Admiral of the Fleet The Earl of Cork and Orrery: July 1937-June 1939
- Admiral Sir William M. James: June 1939-October 1942
- Admiral Sir Charles J. C. Little: October 1942-February 1945
- Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton: March 1945-May 1947
- Admiral The Lord Fraser of North Cape: May 1947-July 1948
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Algernon U. Willis: July 1948-September 1950
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur J. Power: September 1950-September 1952
- Admiral Sir John H. Edelsten: September 1952-September 1954
- Admiral of the Fleet Sir George E. Creasy: September 1954-July 1957
- Admiral Sir Guy Grantham: July 1957-March 1959[23]
- Admiral Sir Manley L. Power: March 1959-October 1961
- Admiral Sir Alexander N. C. Bingley: October 1961-February 1963
- Admiral Sir Wilfrid J.W. Woods: February 1963-August 1965
- Admiral Sir Varyl C. Begg: August 1965-March 1966
- Admiral Sir Frank H. E. Hopkins: March 1966-November 1967
- Admiral Sir John B. Frewen: November 1967-1969
Portsmouth Command
Considered as the most prestigious of the home commands, Portsmouth Command was responsible for the central part of the English Channel between Newhaven and Isle of Portland.[24][25][26] Below is a list of units that served under this command.
Main units
Included:[27][28]
Main Units | Commanded by | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
HM Yachts Command | Vice-Admiral Commanding HM Yachts | ||
Newhaven Sub-Command | Naval Officer-in-Charge Newhaven | held by a Flag Officer usually retired | |
Poole Naval Area | Naval Officer-in-Charge Poole | held by a Flag Officer usually retired | |
Portsmouth Dockyard | Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth | 1832-1969 | renamed Flag Officer, Portsmouth and Admiral Superintendent |
Portsmouth Command HQ | Chief of Staff to CinC, Portsmouth | 1832-1969 | Flag Officer, in Charge of Headquarters Staff |
Portland Naval Base | Senior Naval Officer, Portland | 1908-1914 | held by a Captain up-to the rank of RAdm. |
Portland Sub-Command | Flag Officer-in-Charge Portland | 1914-1958 | |
Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth | Commodore RN Barracks,Portsmouth | 1898-1969 | renamed Commander, Naval Base Portsmouth |
Southampton Sub-Command | Flag Officer-in-Charge Southampton | ||
Weymouth Naval Area | Naval Officer-in-Charge Weymouth | held by a Flag Officer usually retired |
Included:[29][30][31]
Naval Units | Commanded by | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1st Anti-Submarine Flotilla | 1939-1945 | ||
3rd Battle Squadron | Rear-Admiral, Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron | 1939-1942 | Component of Channel Force, 1939 |
1st Destroyer Flotilla | Captain (D), 1st Destroyer Flotilla | 01/1918-01/1919 | |
1st Destroyer Flotilla | Captain (D), 1st Destroyer Flotilla | 07/1940-05/1945 | |
4th Destroyer Flotilla | Captain (D), 4th Destroyer Flotilla | 12/1916-03/1917 | |
12th Destroyer Flotilla | Captain (D), 12th Destroyer Flotilla | 1939-08/1940 | |
16th Destroyer Flotilla | Captain (D), 16th Destroyer Flotilla | 1939-08/1940 | |
18th Destroyer Flotilla | Captain (D), 18th Destroyer Flotilla | 09-10/1939 | |
4th Minesweeper Flotilla | Officer Commanding, 4th Minesweeper Flotilla | 04/1944-12/1944 | |
9th Minesweeper Flotilla | Officer Commanding, 9th Minesweeper Flotilla | 11/1940-05/1945 | |
14th Minesweeper Flotilla | Officer Commanding, 13th Minesweeper Flotilla | 09/1941-12/1944 | |
2nd Submarine Flotilla | Officer Commanding, 2nd Submarine Flotilla | 08/1914-08/1916 | |
3rd Submarine Flotilla | Officer Commanding, 3rd Submarine Flotilla | 1919-1922 | based at Gosport |
5th Submarine Flotilla | Officer Commanding, 5th Submarine Flotilla | 1919-1939 | based at Gosport - training & reserve flotilla |
6th Submarine Flotilla | Officer Commanding, 6th Submarine Flotilla | 1919-1939 | based at Portland - ASW training & reserve flotilla |
Channel Force | Rear-Admiral Commanding, Channel Force | September-October, 1939 | based at Portland |
Fishery Protection Flotilla | Officer Commanding, Fishery Protection Flotilla | 1919-1927 | |
Fishery Protection and Minesweeping Flotilla | Captain of Fishery Protection and Minesweeping Flotilla | 1923-1945 | |
Fishery Protection Squadron | Captain, Fishery Protection Squadron | 1945-1969 | |
Newhaven Local Defence Flotilla | Officer Commanding, Newhaven Local Defence Flotilla | 1914-1918 | |
Portsmouth Escort Flotilla | Officer Commanding, Portsmouth Escort Flotilla | 01/1916-01/1918 | renamed 1st Destroyer Flotilla |
Portland Local Defence Flotilla | Officer Commanding, Portland Local Defence Flotilla | 1914-1918 | |
Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla | Officer Commanding, Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla | 1914-1927 | |
Reserve Fleet | Flag Officer Commanding, Reserve Fleet | 1700–1960 | |
Royal Navy Coastal Forces | Rear-Admiral, Coastal Forces | 1914-1918, 1939-1968 | |
Royal Navy Submarine Service | Chief of the Submarine Service | 1919-1929 | |
Royal Navy Submarine Service | Rear Admiral Submarines | 1929-1944 | |
Royal Navy Submarine Service | Flag Officer, Submarines | 1944-1969 |
Shore units
Included:[32][33]
Other Units | Commanded by | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
HMS Dolphin (shore establishment) | 1904-1969 | Royal Navy Submarine School | |
HMS Dryad (establishment) | 1939-1969 | Royal Navy's Maritime Warfare School | |
HMS Grasshopper (establishment) | 1939-1946 | Coastal forces base, Weymouth | |
HMS Hornet (shore establishment) | 1941-1956 | HQ Coastal Force | |
HMS Marlborough (shore establishment) | 1939-1945 | Torpedo school, Eastbourne | |
HMS Mercury (shore establishment) | Captain of Royal Navy Signals School | 1941-1969 | Royal Navy Signals School and Combined Signals School |
HMS King Alfred (shore establishment) | 1939-1946 | RNVR officers training establishment- Sussex Division - Hove | |
Portsmouth Signal School | Captain of Portsmouth Signal School | 1916-1941 | |
Signal School | Superintendent of Signal Schools | 1901-1920 | |
HMS St Vincent (shore establishment) | 1927-1969 | Boys Training School, Gosport | |
HMS Sultan (establishment) | 1914-1969 | Mechanical engineering school | |
HMS Turtle (establishment) | 1946-? | Combined operations training establishment, based at Poole | |
HMS Vernon (shore establishment) | 1876-1969 | Torpedo and mining school |
References
^ McLynn, Frank (2015). "5: Revolutionary Attempts". Invasion: From The Armada to Hitler. London, England: Crux Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781909979314..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
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ISBN 978-0-7748-1193-4
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^ Lincoln, Margarette (2016). British Pirates and Society, 1680-1730. Abingdon, England: Routledge. p. 167. ISBN 9781317171676.
^ Harrison, Simon. "Basil Beaumont (1669-1703) from National Archives UK, ADM 6/5 Commission and Warrent Book 1698 28 Jan.-1699 1 June". threedecks.org. Simon Harrison, 2010-2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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^ Watson. 2015
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