First Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)
History
On 2 November, 1904 Rear-Admiral Edmund S. Poë assumed command of the Cruiser Squadron,[1] which in December, 1904 became the First Cruiser Cruiser Squadron.[2] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral George Neville on 15 July, 1905.[3] Rear-Admiral Sir Percy M. Scott succeeded Neville in command of the First Cruiser Squadron on 15 July, 1907.[4] Sir Rear-Admiral Charles H. Adair succeeded Scott as Rear-Admiral Commanding in September, 1908.[5] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral the Honourable Stanley C. J. Colville on 24 February, 1909,[6] and was relieved by Rear-Admiral Lewis Bayly on 24 February, 1911. He was succeeded in command on 1 March, 1913.[7] Rear-Admiral Ernest C. T. Troubridge took command of the squadron in the Mediterranean on 6 January, 1913, and was relieved in September, 1914.[8]
On 29 November, 1914, Rear-Admiral Sir A. Gordon H. W. Moore hoisted his flag in Leviathan.[9] Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart. assumed command of the squadron on 17 January, 1915.[10] The squadron was destroyed at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May, 1 June, 1916, when both Defence and Duke of Edinburgh were sunk with all hands at the start of the battle fleet action, Black Prince was sunk with all hands during the night, and Warrior sank on the way home after her surviving crew had been taken off. Sir Robert Arbuthnot was killed in action. The First Cruiser Squadron was officially abolished dated 5 June.[11]
In 1917 H.M. Ships Courageous, Glorious and Furious were detached from the Third Light Cruiser Squadron and named the First Cruiser Squadron. It came under the direct command of Vice-Admiral Trevylyan D. W. Napier in his capacity as Vice-Admiral, Light Cruiser Force.[12]
Rear-Admirals Commanding
Dates of appointment given:
- Rear-Admiral Edmund S. Poë, 2 November, 1904.
- Rear-Admiral George Neville, 15 July, 1905.
- Rear-Admiral Sir Percy M. Scott, 15 July, 1907.
- Rear-Admiral Charles H. Adair, September, 1908.
- Rear-Admiral The Honourable Stanley C. J. Colville, 24 February, 1909.
- Rear-Admiral Lewis Bayly, 24 February, 1911.
- Rear-Admiral Ernest C. T. Troubridge, 6 January, 1913.
Squadron disbanded, September, 1914, - January, 1915.
- Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart., 17 January, 1915.
Composition
October, 1908.[13]
June, 1909.[14]
- Defence, Captain Fawcet Wray
- Black Prince, Captain Frederick Gilpin-Brown
- Duke of Edinburgh, Captain Henry Blackett
- Warrior, Captain George Borrett
December, 1914.[17]
17 November, 1917, at Second Battle of Heligoland Bight.[18]
November, 1918.[19]
Footnotes
- ↑ Poë Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 1052.
- ↑ "The Distribution and Mobilization of the Fleet" (News). The Times. Monday, 12 December, 1904. Issue 37575, col D, pg. 4.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 10 July, 1905. Issue 37755, col A, pg. 7.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 15 July, 1907. Issue 38385, col A, pg. 7.
- ↑ "Admiral C. H. Adair" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 11 March, 1920. Issue 42356, col E, pg. 16.
- ↑ Colville Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 292.
- ↑ Bayly Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 84.
- ↑ Troubrudge Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 78.
- ↑ Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
- ↑ Arbuthnot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 202.
- ↑ Branch Acquaint M. 04960. 5 June, 1916. ADM 116/1645. f. 31.
- ↑ Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief Grand Fleet and Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Force. 4 September, 1917. M. 09828. The National Archives. ADM 137/2134. f. 128.
- ↑ The Navy List (October, 1908). p. 269, p. 303.
- ↑ "The Naval Mobilization" (News). The Times. Thursday, 17 June, 1909. Issue 38988, col A, pg. 9.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 16.
- ↑ Corbett. Naval Operations, Volume I, p. 440.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (December, 1914). p. 9.
- ↑ Newbolt. Naval Operations. V. pp. 168-169.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (November, 1918). p. 11.
Bibliography
- Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
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