Orkneys and Shetlands

The Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands was the Royal Navy officer charged with the administration of the naval defences of the Orkneys and Shetlands Islands.

History

The duties of the Admiral Commanding were laid down as being:

responsible, under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, for administration of naval defences, naval establishments, and shore duties generally in the Orkneys and Shetlands.

The Rear-Admiral, Scapa served under him, with a position similar to that of an Admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port. Directly under his orders were the Shetlands Patrols; the Officer Commanding Troops, Orkney; the Officer Commanding Troops, Shetlands; the Admiralty Port Officer, Kirkwall; Rear-Admiral, Swarbuck Minns; the local minefields, and the officers responsible for the extended defences, the local defence flotilla, and the Orkney Trawler Patrols. He was responsible for the patrolling of the area from Wick to Cape Wrath.

Admirals Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands

Dates of appointment given:

• Admiral The Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. Colville, 7 September, 1914 – 19 January, 1916
• Admiral Sir Frederic E. E. Brock, 20 January, 1916 – 11 March, 1918
• Admiral Sir Herbert E. King-Hall, 28 January, 1918 – 1 March, 1919
• Vice-Admiral Sir Robert J. Prendergast, 1 March, 1919 – 9 January, 1920
• Vice-Admiral Wilfred F. French, 25 August, 1939 – 20 December, 1939
• Vice-Admiral Thomas H. Binney, 20 December, 1939 – 7 January, 1942
• Vice-Admiral Lionel V. Wells, 7 January, 1942 – 15 April, 1944
• Vice-Admiral Henry H. Harwood, 15 April, 1944 – 2 March, 1945