Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield

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Admiral of the Fleet THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield, P.C., G.C.B., O.M. (27 September, 1873 – 15 November, 1967) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War. He acted as Flag Captain to David Beatty, First Earl Beatty for six years before service at the Admiralty and fleet command. He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1933 to 1938 and started the critical buildup of the Navy as the military and naval threat from Germany emerged.

Early Life & Career

Chatfield was confirmed in the rank Sub-Lieutenant dated 27 September, 1892, and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant dated 27 March, 1894.[1]

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1909.[2]

He was appointed in command of the battleship battleship Albemarle on 26 August, 1909.[3]

On 8 February, 1910, he was appointed in command of the heavy cruiser London.[4]

He was appointed command of the light cruiser Southampton on 24 September, 1912.[5]

Rear-Admiral Charles E. Madden apparently asked Chatfield to be his Flag Captain in the Third Cruiser Squadron, an offer he evidently declined.[6]

Great War

In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, Chatfield was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.).[7]

On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) for his services at Jutland, dated 31 May.[8]

Post-War

On 26 January, 1920 he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George V.[9] On 31 July he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Goodenough.[10]

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 March, 1926.[11]

He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 April, 1930, vice Watson.[12]

On 8 May, 1935, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet, vice Keyes.[13]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ London Gazette: no. 26508. p. 2510. 1 May, 1894.
  2. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28263. p. 4857. 25 June, 1909.
  3. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  4. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 31 January, 1910. Issue 39183, col B, pg. 17.
  5. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  6. ↑ Chatfield to Sir Vincent W. Baddeley. Letter of 10 January, 1946. NMRN, Portsmouth: MSS 264.
  7. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29608. p. 5553. 2 June, 1916.
  8. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9071. 15 September, 1916.
  9. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31791. p. 2189. 24 February, 1920.
  10. ↑ London Gazette: no. 32017. p. 8408. 13 August, 1920.
  11. ↑ London Gazette: no. 33139. p. 1650. 5 March, 1926.
  12. ↑ London Gazette: no. 33596. p. 2327. 11 April, 1930.
  13. ↑ London Gazette: no. 34159. p. 3048. 10 May, 1935.

Bibliography

  • Beatty, Admiral of the Fleet David, First Earl Beatty (1993). Ranft, Bryan McL.. ed. The Beatty Papers. Volume II. London: Navy Records Society. ISBN 0859678067.
  • Chatfield, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield (1942). The Navy and Defence: The Autobiography of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield. London: William Heinemann Ltd.
  • Chatfield, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield (1947). It Might Happen Again. London: William Heinemann Ltd.

Service Records

Template:ApptCaptTemplate:ApptCaptTemplate:ApptCaptTemplate:ApptCaptTemplate:ApptCapt
Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Arthur A. M. Duff 		Captain of
H.M.S. Lion
1913 – 1916 		Succeeded by
Roger R. C. Backhouse
Preceded by
Frederic C. Dreyer 		Captain of
H.M.S. Iron Duke
1916 – 1917 		Succeeded by
Eustace La T. Leatham
Preceded by
Hugh Henry Darby Tothill 		Fourth Sea Lord
1919 – 1920 		Succeeded by
Algernon Boyle
Preceded by
Sir Frederick L. Field 		First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
1933 – 1938 		Succeeded by
Sir Roger R. C. Backhouse
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