1st Battlecruiser Squadron
First Battlecruiser Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1909–1919 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Allegiance | British Empire |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | David Beatty |
The First Battlecruiser Squadron was a
Formation
The first two
On 24 February 1911, Rear-Admiral Lewis Bayly assumed command of the First Cruiser Squadron, which had been joined in February by the new Indefatigable-class battlecruiser Indefatigable. Upon joining on 4 June 1912, Lion became Rear-Admiral Bayly's flagship. Princess Royal joined on 14 November. A reorganisation of the fleet renamed the First Cruiser Squadron to First Battlecruiser Squadron on 1 January 1913.[6] During 1913 gradually all the older battlecruisers left to join the Second Battlecruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet.[1] Rear-Admiral David Beatty was selected to command the squadron and succeeded Bayly on 1 March 1913.[7] The near-sister to the Lion class—Queen Mary—joined on 4 September.[6]
First World War
The First Battlecruiser Squadron at the outbreak of war was composed of the four newest battlecruisers in the Royal Navy. On 3 October, it was joined by the recently completed
The Squadron took part in the
The squadron's losses were made up for by the arrival of the new battlecruisers Repulse and Renown in September 1916 and January 1917 respectively.[6] Brock was replaced by Rear-Admiral Richard F. Phillimore. When Phillimore left to become Rear-Admiral Commanding, Aircraft Carriers,[11] he was superseded by Rear-Admiral Henry Oliver on 14 March 1918.[12]
Composition
March 1909
- Drake. Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral the Honourable Stanley C. J. Colville.
- Minotaur. Captain William O. Boothby.[5]
- Indomitable. Captain Herbert G. King-Hall.[1]
- Inflexible. Captain Henry H. Torlesse.[1]
- Invincible. Captain Mark E. F. Kerr.[1]
July 1909
- Indomitable. Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral the Honourable Stanley C. J. Colville. Captain C. M. de Bartolomé.[1]
- Minotaur. Captain William O. Boothby.
- Inflexible. Captain Henry H. Torlesse.
- Invincible. Captain Mark E. F. Kerr.
August 1914
- A. E. M. Chatfield.[14]
- Princess Royal.[13] Captain Osmond De B. Brock.[15]
- W. R. Hall.[16]
- New Zealand.[13] Captain Lionel Halsey.[17]
Battle of Jutland
- Lion. Flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty. Captain A. E. M. Chatfield.[18]
- Princess Royal Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Osmond De B. Brock. Captain W. H. Cowan.[18]
- Queen Mary. Captain Cecil I. Prowse.[18]
- Tiger. Captain Henry B. Pelly.[18]
January 1918
- Repulse.[19] Flying the Flag of Rear-Admiral Richard F. Phillimore. Captain John S. Dumaresq (Temporary).[20]
- Renown.[19] Captain Michael H. Hodges.[21]
- Princess Royal.[19] Captain Sidney R. Drury-Lowe (Temporary).[22]
- Tiger.[19] Captain Arthur A. M. Duff.[23]
November 1918
- Repulse. Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Henry F. Oliver. Captain William H. D. Boyle.[24]
- Renown. Captain Arthur W. Craig.[25]
- Princess Royal. Captain John D. Kelly.[26]
- Tiger. Captain Arthur A. M. Duff.[27]
Rear-Admirals commanding
Post holders included:[28]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rear-Admiral Commanding, 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron | |||||
1 | Rear-Admiral | Stanley Colville | 24 February 1909 – 24 February 1911 | ||
2 | Rear-Admiral | Lewis Bayly | 24 February 1911 – 1 March 1913 | ||
3 | Rear-Admiral | David Beatty | 1 March 1913 – February 1915 | ||
4 | Rear-Admiral | Osmond Brock | March 1915 – December 1916 | ||
5 | Rear-Admiral | Richard F. Phillimore | December 1916 – 14 March 1918 | ||
6 | Rear-Admiral | Henry Oliver | 14 March 1918 – March 1919 |
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h Roberts. Battlecruiser. p. 122.
- ^ "The North Sea Fleet". News. The Times. No. 38883. London. 15 February 1909. col C, p. 9.
- ^ "Naval and Military Intelligence". Official Appointments and Notices. The Times. No. 38984. London. 15 April 1909. col B, p. 6.
- ^ "Naval and Military Intelligence". Official Appointments and Notices. The Times. No. 38859. London. 18 January 1909. col E, p. 5.
- ^ a b "The Fleet in the Thames". News. The Times. No. 39014. London. 17 July 1909. col A, p. 8.
- ^ a b c d e Roberts. Battlecruiser. p. 123.
- ^ Beatty Papers. Vol. I. p. 57.
- ^ Beatty Papers. Vol. I. pp. 107–110.
- ^ Chalmers. The Life and Letters of David, Earl Beatty. p. 201.
- ^ Brock service record. ADM 196/43. p. 49.
- ^ Beatty Papers. Vol. I. p. 453.
- ^ Oliver service record. ADM 196/42. p. 319.
- ^ a b c d Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ^ Navy List. December 1914. p. 348.
- ^ Navy List. December 1914. p. 375a.
- ^ James. The Eyes of the Navy. p. 20.
- ^ Navy List. December 1914. p. 361.
- ^ a b c d Beatty Papers. Vol. I. p. 323.
- ^ a b c d Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 22.
- ^ Navy List. November 1917. p. 397k.
- ^ Navy List. November 1917. p. 397j.
- ^ Navy List. November 1917. p. 397d.
- ^ Navy List. November 1917. p. 398l.
- ^ Navy List. December 1918. p. 892.
- ^ Navy List. December 1918. p. 891.
- ^ Navy List. December 1918. p. 885a.
- ^ Navy List. December 1918. p. 920.
- ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. pp.203–204. March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
Bibliography
- Beatty, David (1989). Ranft, Bryan McL. (ed.). The Beatty Papers. Vol. I. London: Navy Records Society. ISBN 978-0-85967-807-0.
- Chalmers, W. S. (1951). The Life and Letters of David, Earl Beatty. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
- Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
- Gordon, Andrew (1996). The Rules of the Game: Jutland and British Naval Command. London: John Murray. ISBN 0-7195-5533-7.
- James, William (1956). The Eyes of the Navy: A Biographical Study of Admiral Sir Reginald Hall. London: Methuen & Co.
- Roberts, John Arthur (2003). Battlecruisers. London: Caxton Editions. ISBN 1-84067-530-6.