Commander-in-Chief, The Nore

The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, was an operational commander of the Royal Navy. 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.[1] In due course the Commander-in-Chief became responsible for sub-commands at Chatham, London (less the Admiralty), Sheerness, Harwich and the Humber.[1]

Commander-in-Chief, The Nore
The flagship HMS Royal Sovereign saluting at the Nore
Active1695–1961
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeCommand (military formation)
Garrison/HQChatham, Kent
Commanders
Notable
commanders		John Tovey

History

The origins of the Commander-in-Chief's post can be traced to Stafford Fairborne,[2] who in 1695 was appointed as captain of HMS London and "Commander in Chief of his Majesty's shipps in the River of Thames and the Medway".[3]

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).[4] The appointment only became permanent with the posting of Commodore George Mackenzie in 1774.[5]

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 was appointed "Commander in chief of all the ships of war in the rivers Thames and Medway, and at the buoy of the Nore",[6], and similarly in 1745 Sir Chaloner Ogle, Admiral of the Blue, was appointed "Commander-in-Chief of HM Ships and Naval Vessels in the Rivers Thames and Medway and at the Buoy of the Nore"[7] (as indeed was Isaac Townsend in 1752).[8]

HMS Trafalgar lying off the Royal Dockyard at Sheerness (by Robert Strickland Thomas, 1845). The large house on the right with the smoking chimney is Admiralty House, Sheerness.

From 1827 the Commander-in-Chief was accommodated in Admiralty House, Sheerness, built as part of the renewal of Sheerness Dockyard. 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.[9]

After the dissolution of the Home Fleet 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.[10] 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.[11]

In 1907 the Commander-in-Chief moved to a new Admiralty House alongside the naval barracks (HMS Pembroke) in Chatham,[12] the Sheerness house being given over to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet.[13] The Dover Patrol, Harwich Force, and Humber Force operated in the Channel during the First World War, but were responsible to the Admiralty in London; the Nore was effectively a provider of shore support rather than a command with operational responsibilities.[14]

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;[15] similar headquarters were built close to the other Royal Dockyards. During the Second World War, the Nore assumed great importance: it was used to guard the east coast convoys supplying the ports of North Eastern England.[1]

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, Sheerness, Southend and Yarmouth.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

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."[19] The Commander-in-Chief's appointment was finally discontinued on 31 March 1961.[20] 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." For purposes of administration from that date onward, the Admiral Superintendent Chatham also took the title of Flag Officer Medway.[21]

The underground headquarters went on to serve as HMS Wildfire, a Royal Naval Reserve training and communications centre, from 1964 to 1994.[1]

Installations

Chatham
The Admiral's Offices, Chatham Dockyard

Chatham Dockyard was a 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, 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

In the early 20th century the Rear Admiral Commanding, Chatham Sheerness Reserve Division, was established and became responsible eventually to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet(s). Post holders included Rear Admirals Walter Hodgson Bevan Graham, 3 January 1905 – 3 January 1906; Charles H. Adair 3 January 1906 – 3 January 1907; and Frank Finnis 3 January 1907 – 4 January 1909.[22]

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.[23]

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.[24]

Sub-AreaFlag Ship or Ships borne inFlag Officers/Officers commandingDatesRef
BrightlingseaHMS Wallaroo; HMS City of Perth then HMS NemoSenior Naval officer, Brighlingsea1914–1945[25][26][27]
DoverHMS NemoNaval Officer-in-Charge, Dover & CO HMS Lynx1945–1946[28]
HarwichHMS BadgerFlag Officer-in-Charge, Harwich1914–1944
HumberHMS BeaverFlag Officer-in-Charge, Humber1939–1946[26]
LondonHMS YeomanFlag Officer-in-Charge, London1938–1946Rear Admiral Edward Courtney Boyle[29] 1939–42
Admiral Martin Dunbar-Nasmith 1942–46
LowestoftHMS MinosNaval Officer-in-Charge, Lowestoft1914–1918,[26] 1942–1946
SouthendHMS LeighCommander-in-Charge, Southend1914–1918,[26] 1942–1946
YarmouthHMS WatchfulFlag Officer-in-Charge, Yarmouth1942–1945[26]

Other installations:

FacilityBased atDateNotes
HM Naval Base, ImminghamImmingham1914–1918chain of command was to the SNO/FO, Humber Station
RNTE ShotleyChatham1914–1918Shotley Training Establishment

Seagoing formations

Various units that served in this command included:[30][31][32]

Naval UnitsBased atDateNotes
Reserve FleetChatham1900–19054 protected cruisers
Reserve FleetChatham1906–-191413 cruisers from the Aeolus, Arrogant, Astraea, Diadem, Eclipse, Edgar classes.
Reserve FleetChatham1939inc: 6 cruisers, 15 destroyers, and 5 minesweepers
3rd Battle SquadronChathamMay 1916 – April 1918ex Grand Fleet
2nd Cruiser SquadronChatham1939–1940
5th Cruiser SquadronChatham1908–1909
7th Cruiser SquadronChatham1912
HMS Curacoa (D41)Chatham1939C-class cruiser (light)
HMS London (69)Chatham1939County-class cruiser
1st Destroyer FlotillaHarwichDecember 1939 – June 1940
4th Destroyer FlotillaHumberAugust – December 1916
5th Destroyer FlotillaChatham1939–1940
7th Destroyer FlotillaHumber/ChathamAugust 1914 – November 1918, 1939–1940WWI part of AOPs
8th Destroyer FlotillaChatham1911–19141 cruiser leader, 2 scout cruisers and 24 torpedo boat destroyers
9th Destroyer FlotillaNore1911–19141 cruiser leader, 2 scout cruisers and 27 destroyers
16th Destroyer FlotillaHarwichJune 1940 – May 1945
18th Destroyer FlotillaHarwichJune–December, 1940disbanded
19th Destroyer FlotillaChathamSeptember–October, 1939transferred to Dover Command
20th Destroyer FlotillaImmingham1914–1918, 1941
21st Destroyer FlotillaSheernessJuly 1940 – May 1945formed the southern force for the escort of east coast convoys
22nd Destroyer FlotillaHarwichNovember–December, 1939inc: renamed 1st Destroyer Flotilla
Nore FlotillaHarwich1895–190943 torpedo boat destroyers
Nore Local FlotillaHarwich1912–1914was a Destroyer Flotilla
20th Minelaying Destroyer FlotillaHarwich1939–1940
4th Minesweeper FlotillaHarwichSeptember 1939 – July 1942
5th Minesweeper FlotillaHarwichSeptember 1939 – April 1941absorbed into 4MSF
6th Minesweeper FlotillaHarwichMay–September 1940
7th Minesweeper FlotillaHarwichMarch 1944 – January 1945
8th Minesweeper FlotillaChatham1939
10th Minesweeper FlotillaChathamApril 1945
11th Minesweeper FlotillaChathamApril 1945
15th Minesweeper FlotillaChathamFebruary 1944
18th Minesweeper FlotillaChathamMay 1943
40th Minesweeper FlotillaHarwich1945
44nd Minesweeper FlotillaHarwichAugust 1944
117 Minesweeper FlotillaSheerness1944
133 Minesweeper FlotillaSheerness1944
140 Minesweeper FlotillaSheerness & Harwich1944divided between two naval bases
163 Minesweeper FlotillaLowestoft1944
202 Minesweeper FlotillaLowestoft1944
203 Minesweeper FlotillaHarwich1944
5th Motor Torpedo Boat FlotillaImmingham1939–1941
11th Motor Torpedo Boat FlotillaFelixstowe1944
21st Motor Torpedo Boat FlotillaFelixstowe1944
22nd Motor Torpedo Boat FlotillaFelixstowe1944
29th Motor Torpedo Boat FlotillaFelixstowe1939
2nd Submarine FlotillaImminghamAugust 1916 – February 1917coastal defence C Class
3rd Submarine FlotillaImmingham/Humber/HarwichSeptember 1916 – 1918, October 1939 – May 1940
4th Submarine FlotillaShernessAugust 1916 – September 1917Disbanded
5th Submarine FlotillaShernessAugust 1914 – August 1916renamed 4th Submarine Flotilla
6th Submarine FlotillaHumberAugust 1914 – August 1916

Commanders-in-Chief

Commanders-in-Chief have included:[33][34][35]
NoN = died in post

Commander-in-Chief Thames (1695–1696)

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

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

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

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

Commander-in-Chief, Nore, (1797–1834)

Post holders included:[9]

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

Post holders included:[47]

Commander-in-Chief, Nore, (1899–1961)

Post holders included:[48]

Senior staff officers

Flag Captain, the Nore

Post holders supporting the senior naval officer at the Nore included:[49]

  • 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:[49]

  • Captain Theobald W.B. Kennedy: October 1918 – May 1921
  • Captain Wilfred Tomkinson: 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:[50]

  • Deputy Chief of Staff
  • Assistant Secretary
  • Duty Staff Officer
  • Flag Lieutenant-Commander
  • Secretary to Chief of Staff
  • Staff Officer (Minesweeping)
  • Staff Officer A/P & Deputy Staff Officer (Minesweeping)
  • Staff Officer (Convoys)
  • Staff Officer (Intelligence)
  • Staff Officer (LD)
  • Staff Officer (Operations)
  • Staff Officer (Plans)
  • Staff Signal Officer
  • Staff Torpedo Officer
  • Maintenance Captain

Notes
  1. Area Combined Headquarters Chatham & HMS Wildfire
  2. Rodger, N. A. M. (2006). The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain 1649–1815. Penguin Books Limited. p. 88. ISBN 9780141915906.
  3. Fairborne's journal, quoted in Fraser, Edward (1908). The Londons of the British Fleet. J. Lane. p. 234.
  4. "Naval Affairs". The Naval Review. XLVI (2): 222. April 1958.
  5. "George Mackenzie (d.1780)". Three Decks. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  6. "Preferments". The Scots Magazine. IV: 47. January 1742.
  7. Fearne, Charles (1746). Minutes of the Proceedings of a Court-Martial, assembled on the 23rd of September, 1745. London: Published with His Majesty's Royal Privilege and Licence.
  8. A. Cecil Hampshire, 1975, 207.
  9. Donnithorne, Christopher. "Naval Biographical Database: Commander-in-Chief, Nore, 1797–1834". www.navylist.org. The National Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth) Library. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  10. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900–1914: January 1905 – February 1907". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  11. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900–1914: March 1909 – April 1912". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  12. Royal Naval events
  13. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 17 December 1906. Issue 38205, col D, p. 10
  14. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  15. "Subterranea Britannica: Sites:HMS Wildfire". Subbrit.org.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  16. Niehorster, Dr. Leo. "Nore Command, Royal Navy, 06.06.1944". www.niehorster.org. L. Niehorster, 14 June 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  17. "Vice Admiral Commanding, 18th Cruiser Squadron: War Diary: 1st – 15th June 1940". Retrieved 9 August 2020. At the request of the Naval Officer in Charge, Immingham, parties were landed to assist in the work of preparing demolitions at this port.
  18. "Navy Notes". Royal United Services Institution Journal. 106 (623): 415–417. 1961. doi:10.1080/03071846109420711. Retrieved 9 August 2020. Admiral Sir Geoffrey Oliver, Commander, Nore Sub-Area
  19. A. Cecil Hampshire (1975). The Royal Navy Since 1945. London: William Kimber & Co. Ltd. pp. 206–07. ISBN 0718300343.
  20. "Sea Your History". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  21. Cecil Hampshire, 1975, 208.
  22. Mackie 2017.
  23. "History of Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham" (PDF). campus.medway.ac.uk. University of Medway, p,2, 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  24. Niehorster, Dr. Leo. "Nore Command, Royal Navy, 06.06.1944". niehorster.org. Dr Leo Niehorster, 14 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  25. Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939–1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  26. The Navy List. London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. January 1919. p. 2255.
  27. The Navy List. London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. January 1920. p. 693.
  28. Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939–1945: Dover". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Kloppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  29. "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945 – B".
  30. Niehorster, Dr. Leo. "Nore Command, Royal Navy, 06.06.1944". www.niehorster.org. L. Niehorster, 14 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  31. Niehorster, Dr. Leo. "Nore Command, Royal Navy, 3.09.39". www.niehorster.org. L. Niehorster, 1 May 2001. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  32. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945: Nore Command". naval-history.net. G. Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  33. Whitaker's Almanacks 1869 – 1961
  34. William Loney RN
  35. "Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1975". Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  36. Stewart, William (2009). Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present. Jefferson, NC, USA: McFarland. p. 181. ISBN 9780786438099.
  37. The Georgian Era: Military and naval commanders. Judges and barristers. Physicians and surgeons. London, England: Vizetelly, Branston and Company. 1833. p. 152. Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway.
  38. Laughton, John Knox (1890). "Hardy Thomas (1666–1732)". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900. Smith, Elder & Co, 1885–1900. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  39. Elder.), Charles FEARNE (the (1746). Minutes of the proceedings of a court-martial, assembled on the 23d of September, 1745 ... to enquire into the conduct of Admiral Mathews, Vice-Admiral Lestock, and several other officers ... Containing the proceedings upon the opening of the court, and the trials at large of the lieutenants of the Dorsetshire, and of Captain Burrish. London, England: HM Government. pp. 3–4.
  40. Charnock, John (1797). Biographia Navalis: Or, Impartial Memoirs of the Lives and Characters of Officers of the Navy of Great Britain, from the Year 1660 to the Present Time; Drawn from the Most Authentic Sources, and Disposed in a Chronological Arrangement. London, England: R. Faulder. p. 301.
  41. Woodard, David (1804). The narrative of captain David Woodard and four seamen, who ... surrendered themselves up to the Malays, in the island of Celebes [&c. Ed. by W. Vaughan]. Oxford, England: Johnson. p. 176. Commander-in-Chief, Medway and Nore Edward Vernon.
  42. Schomberg, Isaac (1802). Naval Chronology, Or an Historical Summary of Naval and Maritime Events from the Time of the Romans, to the Treaty of Peace 1802: With an Appendix. London, England: C, Roworth. p. 235.
  43. The Literary Panorama: Biographical Memoirs Roddam. London, England: Cox Son and Baylis. 1808. p. 1330.
  44. The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England). London, England: F. Jefferies. 1828. p. 569.
  45. (hon.), Thomas Keppel; (visct.), Augustus Keppel (1842). "XI". The life of Augustus, viscount Keppel. London, England: Henry Colburn. p. 289.
  46. The Annual Register: World Events .... 1797. London, England: R. Gilbert and Sons. 1797. p. 394.
  47. Donnithorne, Christopher. "Naval Biographical Database: Commander-in-Chief, Sheerness, 1834–1899". www.navylist.org. The National Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth) Library. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  48. Donnithorne, Christopher. "Naval Biographical Database: Commander-in-Chief, Nore, 1899–1955". www.navylist.org. The National Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth) Library. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  49. Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. G. Mackie, pp.77–78, June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  50. Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939–1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes, 2010–2014. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
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