The Flag Officer Portsmouth was created following changes in the naval shore command organisation in the United Kingdom in July 1969. This role merged some of the former duties of

Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. The commanders-in-chief were based at premises in High Street, Portsmouth from the 1790s until the end of Sir Thomas Williams's tenure, his succe ...

and

Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth The Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth was the Royal Navy officer in command of the Naval Dockyard. Portsmouth from 1832 to 1971; prior to this date a resident Commissioner of the Navy Board had had oversight of the yard, since 1649. In May 1971 c ...

into one area commander. First established in May 1971 until July that year when the title was altered to Flag Officer, Spithead. This office was revived again in August 1975 when the former post of Flag Officer Spithead was abolished. The office existed until October 1996 when it too was abolished.

History

On 14 October 1968 it was announced in the House Commons debate on the Ministry of Defence discussing part of the changes in the Naval Shore Command Organisation in the United Kingdom, the duties of

and Admiral-Superintendent Portsmouth will be carried out by one Flag Officer. In July 1969 the HQ of the C-in-C Portsmouth until that post, together with that of C-in-C Plymouth, were subsumed into the post of Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command based in Portsmouth. The two former Commanders-in-Chief were downgraded to area Flag Officers and a third area flag officer was created, the

Flag Officer, Medway 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, ...

. Flag Officer Portsmouth reported to the Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command.

Office Holders

Included: * Rear-Admiral Peter G. La Niece, May 1971 – July 1971 :Post is renamed Flag Officer Spithead. * Rear-Admiral E. James W. Flower, August 1975 – October 1976 * Rear-Admiral Wilfrid J. Graham, October 1976 – January 1979 * Rear-Admiral Paul E. Bass, January 1979–January 1981 * Rear-Admiral Anthony S. Tippet, January 1981 – September 1983 * Rear-Admiral John C. Warsop, September 1983 – November 1985 * Rear-Admiral

Anthony Wheatley Anthony Wheatley (176? - 1838) was an Epsom Derby winning jockey of the 18th century. He won the 1795 Derby riding Spread Eagle, a horse owned and bred by Sir Frank Standish and trained by Richard Prince. Wheatley's son Will also became a su ...

, November 1985 – November 1987 * Rear-Admiral Kenneth J. Eaton, November 1987 – July 1989 * Rear-Admiral Jonathan J. R. Tod, July 1989 – September 1990 * Rear-Admiral David K. Bawtree, September 1990 – October 1993 *

Rear-Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarded ...

Neil E. Rankin, 12 October 1993 – October 1996.

Footnotes

{{Navy Department (Ministry of Defence), state=collapsed P