Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland (C)

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 HMS Baldur, based at Hvitanes, in Hvalfjörður fjord, on the west coast of Iceland. It was initially administered by the Admiral Commanding, Iceland (C), then as the Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland (C), from 1942 to 1945.[1][2]

Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland (C)
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Admiralty
Reports toFirst Sea Lord
NominatorFirst Sea Lord
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Formation1941–1945

History

Following the German invasion of Denmark 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[3] at Hvitanes following the invasion of Iceland in May 1940.[4] 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.[5] On 5 September 1941 Rear-Admiral Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton was appointed as Admiral Commanding, Iceland, serving until August 1942.[6]

His title changed to Flag officer Commanding, Iceland (C) in 1943. During the war Winston Churchill 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.[7]

On 31 October 1943 Bertram Watson was appointed Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland, where he served in the rank of Rear Admiral until 7 August 1945.[8] The 1945 Navy List records Watson as holding the position in the rank of Vice Admiral.[9]

References
  1. Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1942). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London England: HM Stationery Office. p. 1337.
  2. Admiralty, Great Britain (July 1945). "Flag Officers in Commission: Stations". Navy List. London England: HM Stationery Office. p. 2349.
  3. "Private Papers of J Harvey". Imperial War Museums. London England: Imperial War Museums. 2003. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  4. Duke, Simon (1989). United States Military Forces and Installations in Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 181. ISBN 9780198291329.
  5. Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1942). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London England: HM Stationery Office. p. 1337.
  6. "Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton". Unit Histories.
  7. "BBC - WW2 People's War - Timeline- Fact File : Britain Garrisons Iceland". www.bbc.co.uk. London England: BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  8. "Bertram Chalmers Watson". Dreadnought Project.
  9. Admiralty, Great Britain (July 1945). "Navy List". digital.nls.uk. National Library of Scotland. p. 2349. Retrieved 26 October 2018.


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