The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, was an operational commander of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Nore Station or Nore Command.

The Nore The Nore is a long bank of sand and silt running along the south-centre of the final narrowing of the Thames Estuary, England. Its south-west is the very narrow Nore Sand. Just short of the Nore's easternmost point where it fades into the cha ...

is a sandbank at the mouth of the

Thames Estuary The Thames Estuary is where the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea, in the south-east of Great Britain. Limits An estuary can be defined according to different criteria (e.g. tidal, geographical, navigational or in terms of salinit ...

and

River Medway The River Medway is a river in South East England. It rises in the High Weald AONB, High Weald, West Sussex and flows through Tonbridge, Maidstone and the Medway conurbation in Kent, before emptying into the Thames Estuary near Sheerness, a to ...

.Area Combined Headquarters Chatham & HMS Wildfire
/ref> In due course the Commander-in-Chief became responsible for sub-commands at Chatham,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

(less the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong * Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Tra ...

Sheerness Sheerness () is a port town and civil parish beside the mouth of the River Medway on the north-west corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 13,249, it is the second largest town on the island after the nearby ...

Harwich Harwich is a town in Essex, England, and one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the north-east, Ipswich to the north-west, Colchester to the south-west and Clacton-o ...

and the

Humber The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Trent, Trent. From there to the North Sea, it forms ...

History

The origins of the Commander-in-Chief's post can be traced to

Stafford Fairborne Admiral of the Fleet Sir Stafford Fairborne (1666 – 11 November 1742) was a Royal Navy officer and Whig politician. As a captain he saw action in command of various ships at the Battle of Beachy Head, at the Battle of Barfleur and at the Ba ...

, who in 1695 was appointed as captain of and "Commander in Chief of his Majesty's shipps in the River of Thames and the Medway". Thereafter, and for most of the eighteenth century, appointments were only made irregularly, and often just for limited periods of time (ranging between seven and thirty days). The appointment only became permanent with the posting of Commodore George Mackenzie in 1774. In the early 18th century the post holder was usually known as ''Commander-in-Chief in the Thames and Medway''. In 1711 the office began to be known as ''Commander-in-Chief in the Thames, Medway and Nore''. In 1742 Sir

Charles Hardy Admiral Sir Charles Hardy ( – 18 May 1780) was a Royal Navy officer, politician and colonial administrator who sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain between 1764 and 1780. He served as governor of New York from 1755 to 1757. Early ...

was appointed "Commander in chief of all the ships of war in the rivers Thames and Medway, and at the buoy of the Nore", and similarly in 1745 Sir

Chaloner Ogle Admiral of the Fleet Sir Chaloner Ogle KB (1681 – 11 April 1750) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. After serving as a junior officer during the Nine Years' War, a ship he was commanding was captured by three French ships off Ostend i ...

Admiral of the Blue Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

, was appointed "Commander-in-Chief of HM Ships and Naval Vessels in the Rivers Thames and Medway and at the Buoy of the Nore" (as indeed was Isaac Townsend in 1752). From 1827 the Commander-in-Chief was accommodated in Admiralty House,

, built as part of the renewal of

Sheerness Dockyard Sheerness Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the Sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the River Medway in Kent. It was opened in the 1660s and closed in 1960. Location In the Age of Sail, the Royal Navy would often establish shore ...

. From 1834 to 1899 his appointment was sometimes known as the ''Commander-in-Chief at Sheerness''; but otherwise by this time he was generally termed ''Commander-in-Chief at The Nore''. After the dissolution of the

Home Fleet The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet. Before the First ...

in 1905, remaining ships at a lesser state of readiness were split between three reserve divisions: Nore Division plus the

Devonport Division Devonport may refer to: * Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England ** HMNB Devonport, naval base/dockyard ** Plymouth Devonport (UK Parliament constituency), parliamentary constituency formerly known as Devonport * Devonport, New Zealand, a suburb of Au ...

and the

Portsmouth Division Portsmouth ( ) is a port city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in England not located primarily on the ...

. In 1909 the division was brought out of reserve status, and became operational as part of the 3rd and 4th Division of the Home Fleet. In 1907 the Commander-in-Chief moved to a new Admiralty House alongside the naval barracks ( HMS ''Pembroke'') in Chatham, the Sheerness house being given over to the Commander-in-Chief,

. The

Dover Patrol The Dover Patrol and later known as the Dover Patrol Force was a Royal Navy command of the First World War, notable for its involvement in the Zeebrugge Raid on 22 April 1918. The Dover Patrol formed a discrete unit of the Royal Navy based at Dov ...

Harwich Force The Harwich Force originally called Harwich Striking Force was a squadron of the Royal Navy, formed during the First World War and based in Harwich. It played a significant role in the war. History After the outbreak of the First World War, it ...

, and Humber Force operated in the Channel during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, but were responsible to the Admiralty in London; the Nore was effectively a provider of shore support rather than a command with operational responsibilities. In 1938 an underground Area Combined Headquarters was built close to Admiralty House to accommodate the Commander-in-Chief together with the Air Officer Commanding No. 16 Group RAF, Coastal Command, and their respective staffs; similar headquarters were built close to the other

Royal Dockyard Royal Navy Dockyards (more usually termed Royal Dockyards) were state-owned harbour facilities where ships of the Royal Navy were built, based, repaired and refitted. Until the mid-19th century the Royal Dockyards were the largest industrial c ...

s. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the Nore assumed great importance: it was used to guard the east coast convoys supplying the ports of North Eastern England. During the Second World War, the Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, at Chatham, included eight sub commands, each of which usually commanded by a Flag Officer either a Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral. They included

Brightlingsea station Brighlingsea Naval Base was an installation of the British Royal Navy located at Brightlingsea, Essex, on the East Coast of England. In both wars it was part of the Nore Command, which had its HQ at Chatham, and in the Second was part of Harwic ...

, Humber, London (not including the Admiralty), Lowestoft,

, Southend and Yarmouth. These sub-commands were then sub-divided into Base areas usually commanded by a ''Naval Officer in Charge (NOIC)'' or a ''Residential Naval Officer (RNO)'' these included HM Naval Bases at Boston, Burnham-on-Crouch, Felixstowe, Gravesend, Grimsby, Immingham, and Queensborough. With the onset of the

Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...

, the Nore diminished in importance as the navy decreased in size. Between 1952 and 1961 the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore was double-hatted as Commander, Nore Sub-Area, of NATO's

Allied Command Channel Allied Command Channel (ACCHAN) was one of three major North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commands from 1952 to 1994. Commander-in-Chief Channel was a Major NATO Commander (MNC). The Command was established in 1952 to defend the sea areas a ...

. Cecil Hampshire writes that the appointment of Commander-in-Chief finally lapsed as part of the "Way Ahead" economies. The closing ceremony took place on 24 March 1961, when the station's Queen's Colour was formally laid up in the presence of members of the

Admiralty Board The Admiralty Board is the body established under the Defence Council of the United Kingdom for the administration of the Naval Service of the United Kingdom. It meets formally only once a year, and the day-to-day running of the Royal Navy is ...

, several former Commanders-in-Chief, other civilian and military figures, "..and the Commander-in-Chief of the Netherlands Home Station flying his flag in the new Dutch destroyer ''Limburg'' who had been invited to attend." The Commander-in-Chief's appointment was finally discontinued on 31 March 1961. Cecil Hampshire writes that from 1 April 1961, the area was divided between the Commander-in-Chief Portsmouth and the

Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland The Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland (FOSNI) was a senior post in the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It was based at HM Naval Base Clyde, and the holder of the post was the Royal Navy's senior officer in Scotland. The post of FOSNI ...

, the demarcation line being "roughly at

The Wash The Wash is a shallow natural rectangular bay and multiple estuary on the east coast of England in the United Kingdom. It is an inlet of the North Sea and is the largest multiple estuary system in the UK, as well as being the largest natural ba ...

." For purposes of administration from that date onward, the Admiral Superintendent Chatham also took the title of Flag Officer Medway. The underground headquarters went on to serve as , a Royal Naval Reserve training and communications centre, from 1964 to 1994.

Installations

Chatham

Chatham Dockyard Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. Established in Chatham, Kent, Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham, Kent, Gillingham; at its most extens ...

was a Dockyard located on the

in Kent. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham. At its most extensive, in the early 20th century, two-thirds of the dockyard lay in Gillingham, one-third in Chatham. The senior officer was a Captain-Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard or the

Admiral-superintendent Chatham Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham; at its most extensive (in the early 20th century) ...

In the early 20th century the Rear Admiral Commanding, Chatham Sheerness Reserve Division, was established and became responsible eventually to the Commander-in-Chief,

(s). Post holders included Rear Admirals

Walter Hodgson Bevan Graham Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Walter Hodgson Bevan Graham (13 October 1849 – August 1931) was a British Royal Navy officer who was Captain Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard from 1902 until 1904. Naval career Graham joined the Royal Navy in t ...

, 3 January 1905 – 3 January 1906; Charles H. Adair 3 January 1906 – 3 January 1907; and Frank Finnis 3 January 1907 – 4 January 1909. The

Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham The Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, also known as HMS ''Pembroke'', was a UK naval barracks that was built between the Victorian Steam Yard and Brompton Barracks from 1897 to 1902. It was built on the site of a prison built in 1853 to house ov ...

were purpose-built to provide accommodation and training facilities for the men of the reserve fleet who were waiting to be appointed to ships. Designed by Colonel Henry Pilkington, construction of the barracks began in 1897 and completed in December 1902.

Sheerness Dockyard

was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the Sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the River Medway in Kent. It was opened in the 1660s and closed in 1960. It was directed by the Admiral-Superintendent, Sheerness.

Sub-areas during First and Second World Wars

At various times during the First and Second World Wars, up to nine sub-areas were established. These were usually administered by either a retired vice or rear admiral, or an active captain, who were appointed as Senior Naval Officers or Flag Officers. Other installations:

Seagoing formations

Various units that served in this command included:

Commanders-in-Chief

Commanders-in-Chief have included:
= died in post

Commander-in-Chief Thames (1695–1696)

* Commodore

1695 * Commodore

James Gother Commodore James Gother (died 1696) was a Royal Navy officer who briefly served as Commander-in-Chief, The Thames from 7 April 1696 to 15 April 1696. Naval career Promoted to captain in May 1689, Gother commanded, successively, the fourth-rate , ...

1696

Commander-in-Chief, Medway (1698–1699)

* Captain John Jennings (1698) * Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (1698–1699)

Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway (1706–1711)

* Captain Robert Fairfax (1706) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Jennings (1708)

Commander-in-Chief, Thames, Medway and Nore (1711–1747)

* Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy (1711–1712) * Captain

George St Lo George St Lo (sometimes written as St Loe; 19 April 1655 – 20 September 1718) was a British naval officer and politician. An officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. His care ...

(1712–1714) * Captain

John Balchen Admiral of the White Sir John Balchen (2 February 1670 – 4 October 1744) was a Royal Navy officer with a long and distinguished career during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In the course of his service at sea, Balchen saw action in ...

(1716) * Rear-Admiral William Caldwell (1717) * Captain

Nicholas Haddock Admiral Nicholas Haddock (1686 – 26 September 1746) was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Commander-in-Chief of Britain's naval forces in the Mediterranean between 1738 and 1742. Despite an active and successful early and middle career, his repu ...

(1732) * Admiral

Sir George Walton ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as part o ...

(1734–1735) * Commodore Charles Brown (1741) * Commodore Christopher O'Brien (1742–1743) * Commodore

Charles Cotterell Sir Charles Cotterell (7 April 1615 – 7 June 1701), was an English courtier and translator knighted in 1644, after his appointment as master of ceremonies to the court of King Charles I in 1641, a post he held until the execution of Charle ...

(1744–1745) * Commodore Thomas Smith (1745) * Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle (1745–1746) * Commodore

Edward Boscawen Admiral of the Blue Edward Boscawen, Privy Council (United Kingdom), PC (19 August 171110 January 1761) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He is known principally for his various naval commands during the 18th century and the engagements ...

(1746) * Vice-Admiral Perry Mayne (1746–1747)

Commander-in-Chief, Medway and at the Nore (1747–1797)

* Rear-Admiral Henry Osborn (1747–1748) * Commodore

Temple West Vice-Admiral Temple West (1713 – 9 August 1757) was a British naval officer, best known for his role as second-in-command to Admiral John Byng during the Battle of Minorca in 1756. Early career West was a younger son of Rev. Dr. Richard West ...

(1748) * Commodore George Townshend (1748–1749) * Admiral Isaac Townsend (1752) * Commodore Francis Geary (1757–1758) * Commodore William Boys (1759–1761) * Commodore William Gordon (1762–1765) * Commodore William Saltern Willett (1766–1769) * Commodore Christopher Hill (1770) * Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Denis (1771) * Commodore George Mackenzie (1774–1775) * Commodore Sir Edward Vernon (1775–1776) * Rear-Admiral John Campbell (1778) * Vice-Admiral

Robert Roddam Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral of the Red Robert Roddam (1719 – 31 March 1808) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence. He surviv ...

(1778–1783) * Commodore Sir Walter Stirling (1783–1785) * Commodore Sir Andrew Hamond (1785–1788) * Vice-Admiral Richard Edwards (1788) * Commodore Skeffington Lutwidge (1788–1789) * Commodore

Thomas Pasley Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, 1st Baronet (2 March 1734 – 29 November 1808) was a senior and highly experienced British Royal Navy officer of the eighteenth century, who served with distinction at numerous actions of the Seven Years' War, America ...

(1789–1791) * Commodore William Locker (1792) * Commodore George Murray (1792–1793) * Vice-Admiral John Dalrymple (1793–1795) * Vice-Admiral Sir George Collier (1795) * Vice-Admiral Charles Buckner (1795–1797)

Commander-in-Chief, Nore (1797–1834)

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge (1797–1798) * Vice-Admiral Sir

(1798–1799) * Vice-Admiral

Alexander Graeme Admiral Alexander Graeme (9 December 1741 – 5 August 1818) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Born at ''Graemeshall'' in Orkney, Graeme became commanding officer of the sloop HMS ''Kingfisher'' in ...

(1799–1803) * Vice-Admiral Lord Keith (1803–1807) (formed part of North Sea Command) * Vice-Admiral Thomas Wells (1807–1810) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Stanhope (1810–1811) * Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Williams (1811–1814) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Rowley (1815–1818) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Gore (1818–1821) * Vice-Admiral Sir Benjamin Hallowell (1821–1824) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Robert Moorsom Admiral Sir Robert Moorsom KCB (8 June 1760 – 14 April 1835) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. His very active service career was especia ...

(1824) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Henry Blackwood Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, 1st Baronet (28 December 1770 – 13 December 1832), whose burial site and memorial are in Killyleagh Parish Church, was an Irish officer of the British Royal Navy. Early life Blackwood was the fourth son of ...

(1827–1830) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Beresford (1830–1833) * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard King (1833–1834)

Commander-in-Chief, Sheerness (1834–1899)

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral

Charles Elphinstone Fleeming Charles Elphinstone Fleeming (18 June 1774 – 30 October 1840) was a British admiral of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He commanded a succession of smaller vessels during the early years of t ...

(1834–1837) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Robert Otway Admiral Sir Robert Waller Otway, 1st Baronet, GCB (26 April 1770 – 12 May 1846) was a senior Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century who served extensively as a sea captain during the Napoleonic War and later supported the Brazilian ...

(1837–1840) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Digby (1840–1841) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Edward Brace Vice Admiral Sir Edward Brace (''bap.'' 2 June 1770 – 26 December 1843) was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Most of his career was spent as a successful independent captain, ...

(1841–1843) * Vice-Admiral Sir John White (1844–1845) * Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Durnford King (1845–1848) * Vice-Admiral Sir George Elliot (1848–1851) * Vice-Admiral Josceline Percy (1851–1854) * Vice-Admiral William Gordon (1854–1857) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Edward Harvey Admiral Sir Edward Harvey, (1783 – 4 May 1865) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and continued in the service during the first half of the nineteenth century during which he participated ...

(1857–1860) * Vice-Admiral Sir William Hope-Johnstone (1860–1863) * Vice-Admiral Sir George Lambert (1863–1864) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Talbot (1864–1866) * Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker (1866–1869) * Vice-Admiral

Richard Warren Richard Warren () was one of the passengers on the Pilgrim ship ''Mayflower'' and a signer of the Mayflower Compact. Early life Richard Warren married Elizabeth Walker, at Great Amwell, Hertfordshire, on 14 April 1610. Elizabeth Walker was ...

(1869–1870) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Charles Elliot Admiral Sir Charles Elliot (15 August 1801 – 9 September 1875) was a British Royal Navy officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first Administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief Su ...

(1870–1873) * Vice-Admiral George Hastings (1873–1876) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Henry Chads Admiral Sir Henry Chads (27 October 1819 – 29 June 1906) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Born the son of Admiral Sir Henry Ducie Chads, Henry Chads joined the Royal Navy in 1832 and w ...

(1876–1877) * Vice-Admiral Sir

William King-Hall Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Sir William King-Hall, (11 March 1816 – 29 July 1886) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore from 1877 to 1879. Naval career King-Hall joined the Royal Navy in 1829, and took p ...

(1877–1879) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Reginald Macdonald Admiral Sir Reginald John James George Macdonald (19 October 1820 – 15 December 1899) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station. Early life Macdonald was born in Westminster, the son of Reginald Ge ...

(1879–1882) * Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Rice (1882–1884) * Vice-Admiral Sir

John Corbett John Joseph Corbett Jr. (born May 9, 1961) is an American actor and country music singer. On television, he is best known for his roles as Chris Stevens on ''Northern Exposure'' (1990–1995), Aidan Shaw on ''Sex and the City'' (2000–2003), ...

(1884–1885) * Vice-Admiral The Prince of Leiningen (1885–1887) * Vice-Admiral Charles Waddilove (1887–1888) * Vice-Admiral Thomas Lethbridge (1888–1890) * Vice-Admiral Charles Curme (1890–1892) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Algernon Heneage Admiral Sir Algernon Charles Fieschi Heneage (19 March 1833 – 10 June 1915) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Dubbed "Pompo", he was known for his immaculate dress and his white-glove inspections of the ...

(1892–1894) * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Wells (1894–1896) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Nicholson (1896–1897) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Charles Hotham Captain Sir Charles Hotham (14 January 180631 December 1855)B. A. Knox,Hotham, Sir Charles (1806–1855), ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 4, MUP, 1972, pp 429-430. was Lieutenant-Governor and, later, Governor of Victoria, A ...

(1897–1899)

Commander-in-Chief, Nore (1899–1961)

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral Sir

Nathaniel Bowden-Smith Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith (21 January 1838 – 28 April 1921) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Bowden-Smith joined the Royal Navy in 1852. He took part in the S ...

(1899–1900) * Vice-Admiral Sir William Kennedy (1900–1901) * Vice-Admiral Sir Albert Markham (1901–1903) * Admiral Sir

Hugo Pearson Admiral Sir Hugo Lewis Pearson, KCB (30 June 1843 – 12 June 1912) was a Royal Navy officer who served as both Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station and Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Hugo Lewis Pearson joined the Royal Navy in 185 ...

(1903–1907) * Admiral Sir Gerard Noel (1907–1908) * Admiral Sir

Charles Drury Brigadier-General Charles Mills "Bud" Drury (17 May 1912 – 12 January 1991) was a Canadian military officer, lawyer, civil servant, businessman and politician.Richard Poore Richard Poore or Poor (died 15 April 1237) was a medieval English bishop best known for his role in the establishment of Salisbury Cathedral and the City of Salisbury, moved from the nearby fortress of Old Sarum. He served as Bishop of Chic ...

(1911–1915) * Admiral Sir

George Callaghan Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Astley Callaghan (21 December 1852 – 23 November 1920) was an officer in the Royal Navy. During the Boxer Rebellion he served as commander of a naval brigade sent ashore to form an element of a larger expeditio ...

(1915–1918) * Admiral Sir

Doveton Sturdee Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, 1st Baronet, (9 June 18597 May 1925) was a Royal Navy officer. After training as a torpedo officer, he commanded two different cruisers and then three different battleships before becom ...

(1918–1921) * Admiral Sir

Hugh Evan-Thomas Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas, (27 October 1862 – 30 August 1928) was a British Royal Navy officer. During World War I he commanded the 5th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet, flying his flag in , and fought at the Battle of Jutland on 31 ...

(1921–1924) * Vice Admiral Sir

William Goodenough Admiral Sir William Edmund Goodenough (2 June 1867 – 30 January 1945) was a senior Royal Navy officer of World War I. He was the son of James Graham Goodenough. Naval career Goodenough joined the Royal Navy in 1882. He was appointed Comman ...

(1924–1927) * Admiral Sir

Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair Admiral Sir Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, (born Alexander; 12 December 1865 – 13 November 1945) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer, notable for firing the first shots of the Battle of Jutland, and for leading a squadron of light crui ...

(1927–1930) * Admiral Sir

Reginald Tyrwhitt Admiral of the Fleet Sir Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet, (; 10 May 1870 – 30 May 1951) was a Royal Navy officer. During the First World War he served as commander of the Harwich Force. He led a supporting naval force of 31 destroyers an ...

(1930–1933) * Vice Admiral Sir Hugh Tweedie (1933–1935) * Vice Admiral Sir Edward Evans (1935–1939) * Admiral Sir

Studholme Brownrigg Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Sir Henry John Studholme Brownrigg, Order of the British Empire, KBE, Order of the Bath, CB, Distinguished Service Order, DSO (3 September 1882 – 24 January 1943) was a Royal Navy officer who was Commander-in-Chief ...

(January 1939 – December 1939) * Admiral Sir

Reginald Plunkett Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL ( Plunkett; 28 August 1880 – 16 October 1967), commonly known as Sir Reginald Plunkett or Sir Reginald Drax, was an Anglo-Irish admiral. The younger son of the 17th ...

(1939–1941) * Admiral Sir George Lyon (1941–1943) * Admiral Sir

John Tovey Admiral of the Fleet John Cronyn Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey, (7 March 1885 – 12 January 1971), sometimes known as Jack Tovey, was a Royal Navy officer. During the First World War he commanded the destroyer at the Battle of Jutland and then co ...

(1943–1946) * Admiral Sir

Harold Burrough Admiral Sir Harold Martin Burrough, (4 July 1889 – 22 October 1977) was a senior Royal Navy officer and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff to the Royal Navy during World War II. Early career Born the tenth son of Rev. Charles Burrough and his w ...

(1946–1948) * Admiral Sir

Henry Moore Henry Spencer Moore (30 July 1898 – 31 August 1986) was an English artist. He is best known for his semi-abstract art, abstract monumental Bronze sculpture, bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art. Moore ...

(1948–1950) * Admiral Sir

Cecil Harcourt Admiral Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt (translated to Chinese as zh , t= 夏慤 , j=haa6 kok3 , labels=no; 11 April 1892 – 19 December 1959) was a British naval officer. He was the ''de facto'' governor of Hong Kong as commander-in-chi ...

(1950–1952) * Admiral Sir Cyril Douglas-Pennant (1952–1953) * Admiral Sir

Geoffrey Oliver Admiral Sir Geoffrey Nigel Oliver (22 January 1898 – 26 May 1980) was a Royal Navy officer during the Second World War. Early career The oldest son of a botanist, Professor Francis Wall Oliver, Geoffrey Oliver was educated at Durnford Prepar ...

(1953–1955) * Admiral Sir

Frederick Parham Admiral Sir Frederick Robertson Parham, GBE, KCB, DSO (9 January 1901 – 20 March 1991) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, and the Royal Naval C ...

(1955–1958) * Admiral Sir Robin Durnford-Slater (1958–1961)

Senior staff officers

Flag Captain, the Nore

Post holders supporting the senior naval officer at the Nore included: * Captain William G. Luard: July 1860 – July 1863 * Captain John Fulford: July 1863 – April 1866 * Captain Donald McL. Mackenzie: April 1866 – June 1869 * Captain Thomas Miller: June 1869 – June 1870 * Captain John C. Wilson: June 1870 – January 1872 * Captain George W. Watson: January 1872 – January 1875 * Captain Charles T. Curme: January 1875 – February 1876 * Captain St. George C. D'Arcy-Irvine: February 1876 – September 1877 * Captain Thomas B. Lethbridge: September 1877 – January 1879 * Captain Thomas B. M. Sulivan: January 1879 – July 1881 * Captain John D'Arcy: July 1881 – September 1883 * Captain James A. Poland: September 1883 – September 1886 * Captain Frederick C. B. Robinson: September 1886 – July 1887 * Captain Arthur C. Curtis: July 1887 – July 1890 * Captain Leicester C. Keppel: July 1890 – August 1892 * Captain Henry H. Boys: August 1892 – October 1894 * Captain William H. C. St.Clair: October 1894 – February 1896 * Captain James L. Hammet: February 1896 – January 1898 * Captain William F. S. Mann: January 1898 – July 1899 * Captain Charles Campbell: July–October 1899 * Captain Henry C. Bigge: October 1899 – February 1901 * Captain Archibald Y. Pocklington: February 1901 – December 1902 * Captain Arthur Y. Moggridge: January 1907 – April 1908 * Captain Clement Greatorex: April–December 1908 * Captain Henry J. L. Clarke: December 1908 – August 1911 * Captain

Philip H. Colomb Vice-Admiral Philip Howard Colomb, RN (29 May 1831 – 13 October 1899). Born in Knockbrex, near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, he was a Royal Navy officer, historian, critic and inventor. He was the son of General Geor ...

: August 1911 – January 1915 * Captain Ernest A. Taylor: January 1915 – May 1916 * Captain William Bowden-Smith: May–July 1916 * Captain Alexander V. Campbell: July 1916 – April 1918 * Captain Cecil M. Staveley: April–October 1918

Chief of Staff, the Nore

Post holders supporting the CINC, Nore included: * Captain Theobald W. B. Kennedy: October 1918 – May 1921 * Captain

Wilfred Tomkinson Vice Admiral Wilfred Tomkinson, (15 November 1877 – 7 October 1971) was a Royal Navy officer who served as commander of the Battlecruiser Squadron from 1931 to 1934. Naval career Tomkinson joined the Royal Navy in 1891 and served in the destro ...

: May 1921 – June 1923 * Captain Herbert W.W. Hope: June 1923 – December 1924 * Captain the Hon. William S. Leveson-Gower: December 1924 – May 1927 * Captain the Hon. E. Barry S. Bingham: May 1927 – May 1929 * Captain Douglas B. Le Mottee: May 1929 – May 1931 * Captain Reginald V. Holt: May 1931 – August 1933 * Captain Hector Boyes: August 1933 – November 1934 * Captain Robert B. Ramsay: November 1934 – December 1935 * Captain Reginald B. Darke: December 1935 – August 1937 * Captain

Philip Esmonde Phillips Philip, also Phillip, is a male name derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularized the n ...

: August 1937 – July 1938 * Captain the Hon. George Fraser: July 1938 – May 1940 * Rear-Admiral Alfred H. Taylor: May 1940 – March 1943 * Commodore George H. Creswell: March–October 1943 * Commodore Robert G. H. Linzee: October 1943 – April 1946 * Captain Albert L. Poland: April 1946 – July 1948 * Captain Lennox A. K. Boswell: July 1948 – May 1949 * Captain Arthur M. Knapp: May 1949 – June 1951 * Captain Herbert F. H. Layman: June 1951 – January 1953 * Captain Ronald E. Portlock: January 1953 – December 1954 * Captain John A. W. Tothill: December 1954 – July 1956 * Captain William A. F. Hawkins: July 1956 – December 1957 * Captain Roger B. N. Hicks: December 1957 – April 1960 * Captain Barry J. Anderson: April 1960 – March 1961

Offices under the Chief of Staff

Included:

Notes

External links

* Unit Histories
RN Nore

{{Royal Navy fleets N Military units and formations established in 1752 Military units and formations disestablished in 1961 Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War I Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II