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

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...

. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Nore Station or Nore Command. The Nore is a sandbank at the mouth of the Thames Estuary and

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

.Area Combined Headquarters Chatham & HMS Wildfire
/ref>

History

The origins of the Commander-in-Chief's post can be traced to the first area naval commander, then known as the ''Commander-in-Chief, Thames'' from 1695 to 1696. From 1698 to 1699 the appointment was known as ''Commander-in-Chief, Medway''. In 1707 the post holder was known as ''Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway'' and between 1711 and 1745 the office was known as the ''Commander-in-Chief, Thames, Medway and Nore''. In 1745 the post for the first time was simply called the ''Commander-in-Chief, Nore'' established at Chatham and became responsible for sub-commands at Chatham,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

less the Admiralty,

Sheerness Sheerness () is a 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 11,938, it is the second largest town on the island after the nearby tow ...

, Harwich and

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 Ouse and Trent. From there to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary betw ...

. A. Cecil Hampshire writes that in 1752 Isaac Townsend, Admiral of the Blue, was appointed as "Commander-in-Chief of HM Ships and Naval Vessels in the Rivers Thames and Medway and at the Buoy of the Nore." From 1827 the Commander-in-Chief was accommodated in Admiralty House,

, built as part of the renewal of Sheerness Dockyard. From 1834 to 1899 his appointment was known as the ''Commander-in-Chief, Sheerness''. 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 Fi ...

in 1905, remaining ships at a lesser state of readiness were split between three reserve divisions: Nore Division plus the Devonport Division and the Portsmouth Division. 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, Harwich Force, and Humber Force operated in the Channel during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...

, 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 Dockyards. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, 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, Harwich, 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 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. 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, 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 demarcation line being "roughly at

The Wash The Wash is a rectangular bay and multiple estuary at the north-west corner of East Anglia on the East coast of England, where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire and both border the North Sea. One of Britain's broadest estuaries, it is fed by the river ...

." 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 HMS ''Wildfire'', a Royal Naval Reserve training and communications centre, from 1964 to 1994.

Installations

Chatham

Chatham Dockyard 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 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 centur ...

or the Admiral-superintendent Chatham 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 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 the 1860s. He was promo ...

, 3 January 1905 – 3 January 1906;

Charles H. Adair Admiral Charles Henry Adair (2 July 1851 – 9 March 1920) was a Royal Navy officer in mid-late 19th century and the early 20th century. He retired just prior to the outbreak of World War I. Royal Navy service Adair entered the Royal Navy, and ...

3 January 1906 – 3 January 1907; and

Frank Finnis Admiral Frank Finnis (8 November 1851 – 17 November 1918FINNIS, Adm. Frank’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, online edition, Oxford University Press, 2014) was a British Royal Navy admiral before the First World War. Early life Finnis was born ...

3 January 1907 – 4 January 1909. The Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham 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

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.

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 Stafford Fairborne 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)

* Vice-Admiral Sir John Jennings, 1698–1699

Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway, (1707–1711)

* Vice-Admiral Sir John Jennings, (1707–1711) (promoted to Admiral 1708)

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

* Rear-Admiral

Sir Thomas Hardy Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, 1st Baronet, GCB (5 April 1769 – 20 September 1839) was a British Royal Navy officer. He took part in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in February 1797, the Battle of the Nile in August 1798 and the ...

, 1711–1712 * Rear-Admiral William Caldwell 1717 * Vice Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle 1745–1747

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

* Rear-Admiral Henry Osborn (1747–1748) (V.Adm May 1748) * Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Geary (1757–1758) * Commodore

William Boys William Boys may refer to: * William Boys (MP) (1541–1596), English politician, member of parliament for Queenborough * William Boys (surgeon) (1735–1803), English surgeon and topographer * William Alves Boys (1868–1938), Canadian politician ...

(1760–1761) * Commodore William Gordon (1762–1765) * Commodore Christopher Hill (1770–1771) * Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Denis (1771–1775) * Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon (1775–1776) * Vice-Admiral Robert Roddam (1778–1783) * Vice-Admiral Sir Walter Stirling (1783–1785) * Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Hammond (1785–1788) * Vice-Admiral Richard Edwards (1788–1792) * Vice-Admiral William Locker (1792–1794) * Rear-Admiral John Dalrymple (1794–1795) * 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 Thomas Pasley (1798–1799) * Vice-Admiral Alexander Graeme (1799–1803) * Vice-Admiral

Lord Keith Baron Keith was a title that was created three times in British history, with all three creations in favour of the same person, Admiral the Honourable Sir George Keith Elphinstone. He was the fifth son of Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinsto ...

(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 (1824) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood (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 (1834–1837) * Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Otway (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 captai ...

(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 (1857–1860) * Vice-Admiral Sir

William Hope-Johnstone William is a masculine given name of Norman French origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conques ...

(1860–1863) * Vice-Admiral Sir

George Lambert George Lambert may refer to: Politicians *George Lambert, 1st Viscount Lambert (1866–1958), British MP and peer *George Lambert, 2nd Viscount Lambert (1909–1989), his son, also a British MP and peer * George Lambert (Australian politician) ( ...

(1863–1864) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Talbot (1864–1866) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Baldwin Walker Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, 1st Baronet, (6 January 1802 – 12 February 1876) was Surveyor of the Navy from 1848 to 1861. and was responsible for the Royal Navy's warship construction programme during the 1850s naval arms race and at th ...

(1866–1869) * Vice-Admiral Richard Warren (1869–1870) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Elliot (1870–1873) * Vice-Admiral George Hastings (1873–1876) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Chads (1876–1877) * Vice-Admiral Sir William King-Hall (1877–1879) * Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Macdonald (1879–1882) * Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Rice (1882–1884) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Corbett (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 (1892–1894) * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Wells (1894–1896) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Nicholson (1896–1897) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Hotham (1897–1899)

Commander-in-Chief, Nore, (1899–1961)

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith (1899–1900) * Vice-Admiral Sir William Kennedy (1900–1901) * Vice-Admiral Sir Albert Markham (1901–1903) * Admiral Sir Hugo Pearson (1903–1907) * Admiral Sir Gerard Noel (1907–1908) * Admiral Sir Charles Drury (1908–1911) * Admiral Sir Richard Poore (1911–1915) * Admiral Sir George Callaghan (1915–1918) * Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee (1918–1921) * Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas (1921–1924) * Vice Admiral Sir William Goodenough (1924–1927) * Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair (1927–1930) * Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt (1930–1933) * Vice Admiral Sir

Hugh Tweedie Admiral Sir Hugh Justin Tweedie KCB (5 April 1877 – 20 August 1951) was an officer in the Royal Navy who served in the First and Second World War. Naval career Tweedie was born at Charlton, Kent, the son of General Michael Tweedie of the Roy ...

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

Studholme Brownrigg Admiral Sir Henry John Studholme Brownrigg, KBE, CB, DSO (3 September 1882 – 24 January 1943) was a Royal Navy officer who was Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Brownrigg joined the Royal Navy, was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant ...

(January 1939 – December 1939) * Admiral Sir Reginald Plunkett (1939–1941) * Admiral Sir George Lyon (1941–1943) * Admiral Sir John Tovey (1943–1946) * Admiral Sir Harold Burrough (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 sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art. As well as sculpture, Mo ...

(1948–1950) * Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt (1950–1952) * Admiral Sir Cyril Douglas-Pennant (1952–1953) * Admiral Sir Geoffrey Oliver (1953–1955) * Admiral Sir Frederick Parham (1955–1958) * Admiral Sir

Robin Durnford-Slater Admiral Sir Robin Leonard Francis Durnford-Slater KCB (born Leonard Francis Slater; 9 July 1902 – 28 June 1984) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be the last Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Early life Born as Leonard Francis Slater in 190 ...

(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: 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 des ...

: 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: 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