Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet

The Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet was a senior command appointment of the British Royal Navy from January 1947 to 1958 who also administered the 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron from 1947 to 1951. The appointment was a continuation of the Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station first established in 1861 that underwent a series of name changes due to an expansion of additional duties given to the post holder.

Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet
Active1861-1958
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
Part of
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Vice-Admiral Ralph A. B. Edwards

History

The office holder was originally established as Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station in December 1861 then later Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet. On 18 July 1941 as part of an expansion of duties the post holder was renamed Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet until April 1942. The appointment of the Flag Officer, Air, and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet was created in January 1947 who was additionally responsible for administering the 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron [1] of the Mediterranean Fleet until February 1951 when it was disbanded. The Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet, then became responsible for commanding shore based aviation based at Malta until 1958.[2] HMS Ocean, Theasus and Glory continued to serve in the Mediterranean Fleet until October 1954.[2]

Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet

Included:[3]

Note:The office holder was sometimes styled as "Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station"

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet/Station
1Rear-AdmiralSydney C. DacresDecember 1861-April 1863[3]
2Rear-AdmiralHastings R.H. YelvertonApril 1863-April 1865[3]
3Rear-AdmiralAstley Cooper-KeyMay 1870-August 1872[3]
4Vice-AdmiralEdward A. Inglefield2August 1872-December 1876[3]
5Rear-AdmiralEdward B. RiceMay 1876-July 1877[3]
6Rear-AdmiralSir John E. CommerellJuly 1877-1878[3]
7Rear-AdmiralLord Walter T. KerrApril 1890-April 1892[3]
8Rear-AdmiralAlbert Hastings MarkhamApril 1892-April 1894[3]
9Rear-AdmiralCompton E. DomvileApril 1894-May 1896[3]
10Rear-AdmiralRobert H. HarrisMay 1896-February 1898[3]
11Rear-AdmiralSir Gerard H. U. Noel1February 1898-February 1900[3]
12Rear-AdmiralLord Charles W. De la P. BeresfordFebruary 1900-January 1902[3]
13Rear-AdmiralBurges WatsonJanuary-September 1902[3]
14Rear-AdmiralSir Reginald N. CustanceNovember 1902-November 1904[3]
15Vice-AdmiralSir Harry T. GrenfellNovember 1904-February 1906[3]
16Rear-AdmiralFrancis C. B. BridgemanMarch 1906-February 1907[3]
17Vice-AdmiralPrince Louis of BattenbergFebruary 1907-November 1908[3]
18Rear-AdmiralSir George A. CallaghanNovember 1908-October 1910[3]
19Rear-AdmiralT. Martyn JerramOctober 1910-May 1912[3]
20Vice-AdmiralSir Cecil BurneyJune-October 1913[3]
21Vice-AdmiralSir Michael Culme-SeymourJanuary 1919-September 1920[3]
22Rear-AdmiralRichard WebbSeptember 1920-September 1922[3]
23Rear-AdmiralJohn D.KellySeptember 1922-August 1923[3]
24Rear-AdmiralHugh D. R. WatsonAugust 1923-April 1925[3]
25Vice-AdmiralSir Michael H. HodgesApril 1925-May 1927[3]
26Vice-AdmiralSir John D.KellyMay 1927-April 1929[3]
27Vice-AdmiralW. A. Howard KellyApril 1929-October 1930[3]
28Vice-AdmiralSir William W. FisherOctober 1930-April 1932[3]
29Vice-AdmiralSir Roger R.C. BackhouseApril 1932-May 1934[3]
30Vice-AdmiralSir Charles M. ForbesMay 1934-August 1936[3]
31Vice-AdmiralSir Geoffrey BlakeAugust 1936-July 1937[3]
32Vice-AdmiralSir Andrew B. CunninghamJuly 1937-August 1938[3]
33Vice-AdmiralGeoffrey LaytonAugust 1938-November 1939[3]

Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet

Included:[4]

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet
1Vice-AdmiralJohn C. Tovey18 July, 1940 – 23 October, 1940[3]
2Vice-AdmiralHenry D. Pridham-Wippell24 October, 1940 – 1 April, 1942as acting V Adm. [3]

Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet

Included:[5][2]

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet and Vice-Admiral, Commanding 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron
1Vice-AdmiralSir Cecil H.J. HarcourtJanuary 1947 to January 1948also VADMCOMM, 2ACSQ [2]
2Vice-AdmiralSir Thomas H. Troubridge:January to December 1948ditto[2]
3Vice-Admiralthe Hon. Sir Cyril E. Douglas-PennantDecember 1948 to April 1950ditto[2]
4Vice-AdmiralGuy GranthamApril 1950 to November 1951ditto[2]
5Vice-AdmiralRalph A. B. EdwardsNovember 1951 to December 1951ditto[2]
6Vice-AdmiralRalph A. B. EdwardsDecember 1951 to December 19522nd AC Squadron is disbanded [2]
7Vice-AdmiralWilliam W. DavisDecember 1952 to February 1954
8Vice-AdmiralJ. Peter L. ReidFebruary 1954 to August 1955
9Vice-AdmiralMaxwell RichmondAugust 1955 to October 1956[6]
10Vice-AdmiralSir Robin L.F. Durnford-SlaterOctober 1956 to 1958

Composition 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron

Included:[2]

United Kingdom: 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron; Mediterranean Fleet 1947 to 1951

ShipDatesNotes/Ref
HMS OceanFebruary 1947 to December 1950[2]
HMS TriumphFebruary 1947 to August 1948[2]
HMS TheseusJune 1947 to August 1948[2]
HMS GloryDecember 1949 to December 1950[2]

References
  1. Grove, Eric J. (1987). Vanguard to Trident : British naval policy since World War II: Second Aircraft Carrier Squadron visits Mediterranean ports February 1948. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. p. 470. ISBN 9780870215520.
  2. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  3. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, July 2018. p. 147. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  4. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, July 2018. p. 147. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  5. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, July 2018. p. 205. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  6. Cook, Chris (2012). The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives: Sources since 1945. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 167. ISBN 9781136509629.

Sources
  • Cook, Chris (2012). The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives: Sources since 1945. Cambridge, England: Routledge. ISBN 9781136509629.
  • Grove, Eric J. (1987). Vanguard to Trident : British naval policy since World War II: Second Aircraft Carrier Squadron visits Mediterranean ports February 1948. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9780870215520.
  • Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, July-September 2018.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015.
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