The Rear-Admiral, Alexandria was an administrative shore based appointment of the British Royal Navy. The post was established during the Second World War, subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet then later the Commander-in-Chief, Levant.[1]
| Rear-Admiral, Alexandria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1939–1944 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Part of | Mediterranean Fleet (1939–1943) Commander-in-Chief, Levant (1943–1944) |
| Garrison/HQ | HMS Nile, Alexandria, Egypt |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Rear-Admiral Allan Poland |
The Navy List for 1940, 1941, and 1943 locates the admiral at Alexandra.[2][3][4]
The post of Rear-Admiral, Alexandria was created during the Second World War, responsible for administering the shore establishment of HMS Nile (borne in Maidstone II) at Ras el-Tin Point, Alexandria.[5] The post existed from 1939 to 1945.[1] From November 1939 until February 1943 it was part of the Mediterranean Fleet until the Fleet was divided. After February 1943 the Rear-Admiral Alexandria came under the command of the new Commander-in-Chief, Levant, until January 1944 when the Mediterranean Fleet was reunified once more.[6]
Incumbent admirals
edit
The Rear-Admiral, Alexandria reported to the C-in-C, Mediterranean Fleet from November 1939 to February 1943, and then was resubordinated to the C-in-C, Levant until December 1943. Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Admiral, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Rear Admiral |  |
F. Elliott | November, 1939 – February, 1941 | [7][1] Also Playfair, Vol. I., Annex 9, p. 478. |
| 2 | Rear Admiral | |
George H. Creswell | February, 1941 – August, 1942 | [1][8] |
| 3 | Rear Admiral | |
Allan Poland | November, 1942 – October, 1944 | elevated to Acting Vice-Admiral and Knighted[9][1][10] |
Headquarters staff
editBase HQ was HMS Nile, borne in HMS Maidstone II.
Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria
edit| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Acting-Captain |  |
R.D. Binney | 25 January 1940 – 12 January 1941 | (retd)[1] |
| 2 | Captain | |
B.C.B. Brooke | 12 January 1941 – August 1942 | [1] |
| 3 | Flag Captain | |
C.H. Rolleston | 16 November 1942 – October 1943 | (retd)[1] |
| 4 | Captain | |
D. Young-Jameson | October – December 1943 | [1] |
Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria
editPost holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Captain | |
W.Y. La R. Beverley | 14 August 1940 – April, 1942 | [1] |
| 2 | Captain | |
C. Coppinger | April, 1942 – December, 1943 | [1][11] |
Levant Area
editThe Senior Naval Officer, later Commander, Levant Area, was originally styled as Naval Officer-in-Charge, Haifa. His title was later changed to SNO Levant Area and his headquarters transferred to Beirut.[12]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander, Levant Area | |||||
| 1 | Captain | |
J.A.V. Morse | October 1941 – 1 April 1942 | as SNO Levant Area[13] |
| 2 | Commodore |  |
D. Young-Jameson | June – December 1943 | as COMM, Levant Area [1] |
Cyprus Area
editNaval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports
editPost holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports | |||||
| 1 | Captain | |
M.H.S. Macdonald | 18 November 1941 – December, 1943 | [1] |
Notes
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Houterman, Jerome N..; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939–1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1940). "Flag Officers in Commission, Officers Commanding Squadrons, Senior Naval Officers". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 936.
- ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1941). "Flag Officers in Commission, Officers Commanding Squadrons, Senior Naval Officers". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 936.
- ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (February 1943). "Flag Officers in Commission, Officers Commanding Squadrons, Senior Naval Officers". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 1421.
- ^ Navy List October 1944 p.2262
- ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. December 1940. p. 873.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2018). "A/Rear-Admiral George Hector Creswell, DSO, DSC of the Royal Navy (RN) - Allied Warship Commanders of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "FIFTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of FRIDAY, the 17th of DECEMBER, 1943" (PDF). The London Gazette. 17 December 1943. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. October 1944. p. 2262.
- ^ The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. December 1942. p. 1276.
- ^ Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.I: September 1939 – October 1940. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 7. ISBN 9781135281540.
- ^ Kindell, Don (16 January 2012). "Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
References
edit- Bertke, Donald A.; Kindell, Don; Smith, Gordon (2012). World War II Sea War, Volume 3 Donald A Bertke, Gordon Smith. ISBN 9781937470012.
- Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2018). "Allied Warship Commanders of WWII – uboat.net". uboat.net.
- Houterman, Jerome N..; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939–1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes, Netherlands.
- Playfair, Major-General I.S.O.; Stitt, Commander G.M.S.; Molony, Brigadier C.J.C.; Toomer, Air Vice-Marshal S.E. (2004) [1954 HMSO]. Butler, J.R.M (ed.). Mediterranean and Middle East Volume I: The Early Successes Against Italy (to May 1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-065-3.
- Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.