The Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland (C) was an appointment of the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. His headquarters were at the
stone frigate
A stone frigate is a naval establishment on land.
"Stone frigate" is an informal term that has its origin in Britain's Royal Navy after its use of Diamond Rock, an island off Martinique, as a 'sloop of war' to harass the French in 1803–04. ...
HMS Baldur, based at Hvitanes, in
Hvalfjörður
Hvalfjörður (, "whale fjord") is situated in the west of Iceland between Mosfellsbær and Akranes. The fjord is approximately 30 km long and 5 km wide.
The origin of the name Hvalfjörður is uncertain. Certainly today there is no pr ...
fjord, on the west coast of
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
. It was initially administered by the Admiral Commanding, Iceland (C), then as the Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland (C), from 1942 to 1945.
History
Following the
German invasion of Denmark
The German invasion of Denmark (german: Operation Weserübung – Süd), was the German attack on Denmark on 9 April 1940, during the Second World War. The attack was a prelude to the invasion of Norway (german: Weserübung Nord, 9 April – 10 ...
in April 1940, Iceland, then in personal union with Denmark, declared neutrality throughout the rest of the war. Iceland's location was of strategic importance to the British who decided to station naval forces at a naval base called HMS Baldur at Hvitanes following the
invasion of Iceland
The invasion of Iceland (codenamed Operation Fork) by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines occurred on 10 May 1940, during World War II. The invasion took place because the British government feared that Iceland would be used by the Germans, who ...
in May 1940. In addition it also established an accounting and accommodation shore base called HMS Baldur II. Iceland was an important base for North Atlantic convoys, patrol and anti-submarine duties.
The Admiralty appointed a flag officer to administer the station. On 5 September 1941 Rear-Admiral
Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton
Admiral Sir Frederick Hew George Dalrymple-Hamilton KCB (27 March 1890 – 26 December 1974) was a British naval officer who served in World War I and World War II. He was captain of ''HMS Rodney'' when it engaged the ''Bismarck'' on 27 May ...
was appointed as Admiral Commanding, Iceland, serving until August 1942.
His title changed to Flag officer Commanding, Iceland (C) in 1943. During the war
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...
instructed British officers to refer to the country as Iceland (C) due to someone ordering a ship to go to Ireland instead of Iceland at the beginning of the war.
On 31 October 1943
Bertram Watson
Vice Admiral Bertram Chalmers Watson CB DSO (20 March 1887 – 22 July 1976) was a Royal Navy officer who became Rear Admiral, Submarines.
Naval career
Watson served in the First World War and, after being promoted to captain on 31 December 1 ...
was appointed Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland, where he served in the rank of Rear Admiral until 7 August 1945. The 1945 Navy List records Watson as holding the position in the rank of Vice Admiral.
References
External links
* https://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4201-40RNShips1Home.htm - listing of ships under Iceland Command January 1942, including five anti-submarine groups, a minesweeping group, and the 106th Motor Launch Flotilla (four MLs)
Flag officers of the Royal Navy
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