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
The Nore is a long bank of sand and silt running along the south-centre of the final narrowing of the Thames Estuary, England. Its south-west is the very narrow Nore Sand. Just short of the Nore's easternmost point where it fades into the cha ...
is a sandbank at the mouth of the
Thames Estuary
The Thames Estuary is where the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea, in the south-east of Great Britain.
Limits
An estuary can be defined according to different criteria (e.g. tidal, geographical, navigational or in terms of salini ...
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
Harwich is a town in Essex, England, and one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the north-east, Ipswich to the north-west, Colchester to the south-west and Clacton- ...
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
Isaac Townsend ( – 21 November 1765) was an admiral in the British Royal Navy and a Member of Parliament.
A post-captain from 1720, Townsend commanded various ships. As captain of HMS Shrewsbury he took part in the expedition against Cartage ...
, Admiral of the Blue
The Admiral of the Blue was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank Admiral of the White (see order of precedence below). From 1688 to 1805 this rank was in order of precedence third; after 1805 ...
, 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, 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 ...
, built as part of the renewal of Sheerness Dockyard
Sheerness Dockyard also known as the Sheerness Station 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.
Location
In the Age of Sail, the Roy ...
. 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 Devonport may refer to:
* Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England
** HMNB Devonport, naval base/dockyard
** Plymouth Devonport (UK Parliament constituency), parliamentary constituency formerly known as Devonport
* Devonport, New Zealand, a suburb of A ...
and the Portsmouth Division
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most densel ...
. 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, 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 ...
. The Dover Patrol
The Dover Patrol and later known as the Dover Patrol Force was a Royal Navy command of the First World War, notable for its involvement in the Zeebrugge Raid on 22 April 1918. The Dover Patrol formed a discrete unit of the Royal Navy based at Dove ...
, Harwich Force
The Harwich Force originally called Harwich Striking Force was a squadron of the Royal Navy, formed during the First World War and based in Harwich. It played a significant role in the war.
History
After the outbreak of the First World War, a p ...
, and Humber Force
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 between t ...
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
No. 16 Group RAF was a Royal Air Force Group (military aviation unit), groups. It has existed over two periods in to different roles. First, No. 16 Group was a Military education and training, training group from 1918 to 1920 that had been tran ...
, Coastal Command, and their respective staffs; similar headquarters were built close to the other Royal Dockyard
Royal Navy Dockyards (more usually termed Royal Dockyards) were state-owned harbour facilities where ships of the Royal Navy were built, based, repaired and refitted. Until the mid-19th century the Royal Dockyards were the largest industrial ...
s. 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
Harwich is a town in Essex, England, and one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the north-east, Ipswich to the north-west, Colchester to the south-west and Clacton- ...
, Humber, London (not including the Admiralty), Lowestoft, 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 ...
, 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
Allied Command Channel (ACCHAN) was one of three major North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commands from 1952 to 1994. Commander-in-Chief Channel was a Major NATO Commander (MNC).
The Command was established in 1952 to defend the sea areas a ...
.
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
The Admiralty Board is the body established under the Defence Council of the United Kingdom for the administration of the Naval Service of the United Kingdom. It meets formally only once a year, and the day-to-day running of the Royal Navy is ...
, 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
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 ...
was a Dockyard located on the 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 ...
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, 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 ...
(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 3 January 1906 – 3 January 1907; and Frank Finnis 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
Sheerness Dockyard also known as the Sheerness Station 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.
Location
In the Age of Sail, the Roy ...
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
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Stafford Fairborne (1666 – 11 November 1742) was a Royal Navy officer and Whig politician. As a captain he saw action in command of various ships at the Battle of Beachy Head, at the Battle of Barfleur and at the Bat ...
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
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Chaloner Ogle KB (1681 – 11 April 1750) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. After serving as a junior officer during the Nine Years' War, a ship he was commanding was captured by three French ships off Ostend i ...
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
Admiral Edward Vernon (12 November 1684 – 30 October 1757) was an English naval officer. He had a long and distinguished career, rising to the rank of admiral after 46 years service. As a vice admiral during the War of Jenkins' Ear, in 1 ...
(1775–1776)
* Vice-Admiral Robert Roddam
Robert Roddam (1719 – 31 March 1808) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence. He survived to see the French Revolutionary and ...
(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
Vice Admiral Sir George Collier (11 May 1732 – 6 April 1795) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars. As commander of the fourth-rate sh ...
(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
Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, 1st Baronet (2 March 1734 – 29 November 1808) was a senior and highly experienced British Royal Navy officer of the eighteenth century, who served with distinction at numerous actions of the Seven Years' War, Americ ...
(1798–1799)
* Vice-Admiral Alexander Graeme
Admiral Alexander Graeme (9 December 1741 – 5 August 1818) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
Naval career
Born at ''Graemeshall'' in Orkney, Graeme became commanding officer of the sloop HMS ''Kingfisher'' in ...
(1799–1803)
* Vice-Admiral Lord Keith (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
Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, 1st Baronet, GCH, KCB (28 December 1770 – 17 December 1832), whose memorial is in Killyleagh Parish Church, was a British sailor.
Early life
Blackwood was the fourth son of Sir John Blackwood, 2nd Baronet, ...
(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
Admiral Hon. Charles Elphinstone Fleeming (18 June 1774 – 30 October 1840) was a British officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He commanded a succession of smaller vessels during the ea ...
(1834–1837)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Otway
Admiral Sir Robert Waller Otway, 1st Baronet, GCB (26 April 1770 – 12 May 1846) was a senior Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century who served extensively as a sea captain during the Napoleonic War and later supported the Brazilia ...
(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 (1866–1869)
* Vice-Admiral Richard Warren
Richard Warren (c. 1585c.1628) was one of the passengers on the Pilgrim ship ''Mayflower'' and a signer of the Mayflower Compact.
Early life
Richard Warren married Elizabeth Walker, at Great Amwell, Hertfordshire, on 14 April 1610. Elizabe ...
(1869–1870)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Elliot
Admiral Sir Charles Elliot (15 August 1801 – 9 September 1875) was a British Royal Navy officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first Administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief ...
(1870–1873)
* Vice-Admiral George Hastings (1873–1876)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Chads
Admiral Sir Henry Chads (27 October 1819 – 29 June 1906) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
Naval career
Born the son of Admiral Sir Henry Ducie Chads, Henry Chads joined the Royal Navy in 1832 and we ...
(1876–1877)
* Vice-Admiral Sir William King-Hall
Admiral Sir William King-Hall, (11 March 1816 – 29 July 1886) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore from 1877 to 1879.
Naval career
King-Hall joined the Royal Navy in 1829, and took part in operations off the ...
(1877–1879)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Macdonald (1879–1882)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Rice (1882–1884)
* Vice-Admiral Sir John Corbett
John Joseph Corbett Jr. (born May 9, 1961) is an American actor and country music singer. On television, he is best known for his roles as Chris Stevens on ''Northern Exposure'' (1990–1995), Aidan Shaw on ''Sex and the City'' (2000–2003), ...
(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
Admiral Sir Algernon Charles Fieschi Heneage (19 March 1833 – 10 June 1915) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Dubbed "Pompo," he was known for his immaculate dress and his white-glove inspections of the ...
(1892–1894)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Wells (1894–1896)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Nicholson (1896–1897)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Hotham
Sir Charles Hotham, KCB, RN (14 January 180631 December 1855)B. A. Knox,Hotham, Sir Charles (1806–1855), ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 4, MUP, 1972, pp 429-430.
was Lieutenant-Governor and, later, Governor of Victoria, ...
(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
Richard Poore or Poor (died 15 April 1237) was a medieval English bishop best known for his role in the establishment of Salisbury Cathedral and the City of Salisbury, moved from the nearby fortress of Old Sarum. He served as Bishop of Chic ...
(1911–1915)
* Admiral Sir George Callaghan
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Astley Callaghan (21 December 1852 – 23 November 1920) was an officer in the Royal Navy. During the Boxer Rebellion he served as commander of a naval brigade sent ashore to form an element of a larger expediti ...
(1915–1918)
* Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, 1st Baronet (9 June 18597 May 1925) was a Royal Navy officer. After training as a torpedo officer, he commanded two different cruisers and then three different battleships before becomi ...
(1918–1921)
* Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas (1921–1924)
* Vice Admiral Sir William Goodenough
Admiral Sir William Edmund Goodenough (2 June 1867 – 30 January 1945) was a senior Royal Navy officer of World War I. He was the son of James Graham Goodenough.
Naval career
Goodenough joined the Royal Navy in 1882. He was appointed Comman ...
(1924–1927)
* Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair
Admiral Sir Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, (born Alexander; 12 December 1865 – 13 November 1945) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer, notable for firing the first shots of the Battle of Jutland, and for leading a squadron of light c ...
(1927–1930)
* Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet, (; 10 May 1870 – 30 May 1951) was a Royal Navy officer. During the First World War he served as commander of the Harwich Force. He led a supporting naval force of 31 destroyers ...
(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-lieutenan ...
(January 1939 – December 1939)
* Admiral Sir Reginald Plunkett
Admiral Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL ( Plunkett; 28 August 1880 – 16 October 1967), commonly known as Reginald Plunkett or Reginald Drax, was an Anglo-Irish admiral. The younger son of the 17th B ...
(1939–1941)
* Admiral Sir George Lyon (1941–1943)
* Admiral Sir John Tovey
Admiral of the Fleet John Cronyn Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey, (7 March 1885 – 12 January 1971), sometimes known as Jack Tovey, was a Royal Navy officer. During the First World War he commanded the destroyer at the Battle of Jutland and then c ...
(1943–1946)
* Admiral Sir Harold Burrough
Admiral Sir Harold Martin Burrough (4 July 1889 – 22 October 1977) was a senior Royal Navy officer and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff to the Royal Navy during World War II.
Early career
Born the tenth son of Rev. Charles Burrough and his wi ...
(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
Admiral Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt (translated to Chinese as zh , t= 夏 慤 , j=haa6 kok3 , labels=no; 11 April 1892 – 19 December 1959) was a British naval officer. He was the ''de facto'' governor of Hong Kong as commander-in-ch ...
(1950–1952)
* Admiral Sir Cyril Douglas-Pennant
Admiral The Honourable Sir Cyril Eustace Douglas-Pennant KCB CBE DSO DSC (7 April 1894 – 3 April 1961) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
Naval career
Born the son of Frank Douglas-Pennant, 5th Baro ...
(1952–1953)
* Admiral Sir Geoffrey Oliver
Admiral Sir Geoffrey Nigel Oliver (22 January 1898 – 26 May 1980) was a Royal Navy officer during the Second World War.
Early career
The oldest son of a botanist, Professor Francis Wall Oliver, Geoffrey Oliver was educated at Durnford Prepa ...
(1953–1955)
* Admiral Sir Frederick Parham (1955–1958)
* Admiral Sir Robin Durnford-Slater (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