The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. The commanders-in-chief were based at premises in High Street, Portsmouth from the 1790s until the end of Sir Thomas Williams's tenure, his successor, Sir Philip Durham, being the first to move into Admiralty House at the Royal Navy Dockyard, where subsequent holders of the office were based until 1969. Prior to World War I the officer holder was sometimes referred to in official dispatches as the Commander-in-Chief, Spithead.

The Command extended along the south coast from Newhaven in East Sussex to Portland in Dorset. In 1889 the Commander-in-Chief took as his flagship.A Chronolgy of HMS Victory Royal Naval Museum

History

In the late 18th century port admirals began to reside ashore, rather than on board their flagships; the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth was provided with a large house at 111 High Street, which was renamed Admiralty House (and which had formerly been home to the Mayor of Portsmouth). In the 1830s Admiralty House was sold to the War Office (as Government House, it went on to house the Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth for the next fifty years). The Commander-in-Chief moved in turn into the former Dockyard Commissioner's house, which still stands within HMNB Portsmouth.

During the Second World War the Command Headquarters was at Fort Southwick.Capel, A.F., Commanding Canadians: the Second World War diaries of A.F.C. Layard, page 310 University of Columbia Press, 2005, Rear Admiral Lancelot Holland, commanding the 3rd Battle Squadron, was briefly tasked also to command the Channel Force, operating from Portland Harbour in September-October 1939, within the Portsmouth command boundaries but responsible directly to the Admiralty. Operation Aerial, the evacuation from western French ports in 1940, was commanded by Admiral William Milbourne James, the Commander-in-Chief. James lacked the vessels necessary for convoys and organised a flow of troopships, storeships and motor vehicle vessels from Southampton, coasters to ply from Poole and the Dutch schuyts to work from Weymouth, while such warships as were available patrolled the shipping routes. Demolition parties sailed in the ships but it was hoped that supplies and equipment could be embarked as well as troops.

During World War II several subordinate commanders along the coast were appointed: Flag Officer-in-Charge Southampton, 1942-45; a Captain as Naval Officer-in-Charge Weymouth, 1941-43; Naval Officer-in-Charge Newhaven, 1942-44, held by two retired vice-admirals; and Commander C.B. Hastings RN (retired) as Naval Officer-in-Charge Poole, 1940-44. Also located at for a time within the C-in-C Portsmouth's command boundaries was the Rear-Admiral in charge of the Royal Navy Coastal Forces. However operational control of the various Coastal Forces flotillas was the responsibility of the local area commander-in-chief rather than Rear-Admiral Coastal Forces. and J.P. Foynes book. Later in the war Coastal Forces HQ was moved to North London.

In 1952 the Commander-in-Chief took up the NATO post of Commander-in-Chief, Channel (CINCHAN). This move added Allied Command Channel to the NATO Military Command Structure. The admiral commanding at Portsmouth had control naval operations in the area since 1949 under WUDO auspices.

The post of Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, was merged with that of Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, in 1969 to form the post of Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command. The posts of Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command were amalgamated in 1994 following the rationalisation of the British Armed Forces following the end of the Cold War.

Units and formations Considered as the most prestigious of the home commands, the Commander-in-Chief was responsible for the central part of the English Channel between Newhaven and the Isle of Portland. Below is a list of units that served under this command.

The Commander-in-Chief had a Chief of Staff serving under him from 1832–1969.

Senior officers included:Watson. 2015

Admiral Commanding Date Notes Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth 1832–1969Portsmouth Dockyard. Renamed Flag Officer, Portsmouth and Admiral Superintendent Senior Naval Officer, Portland 1908–1914 held by a Captain up-to the rank of RAdm. Flag Officer-in-Charge Portland 1914–1958 Commodore RN Barracks, Portsmouth 1898–1969 Possibly renamed Commander, Naval Base Portsmouth from the time Commodore Edward Ellis took command in July 1969.

Flotillas and squadrons Included:Houterman and Koppes. 2004–2005 Naval Units Commanded by Date Notes1st Anti-Submarine Flotilla 1939–1945 1st Destroyer Flotilla Captain (D), 1st Destroyer Flotilla 01/1918-01/1919 1st Destroyer Flotilla Captain (D), 1st Destroyer Flotilla 07/1940-05/1945 4th Destroyer Flotilla Captain (D), 4th Destroyer Flotilla 12/1916-03/1917 12th Destroyer Flotilla Captain (D), 12th Destroyer Flotilla 1939-08/1940 16th Destroyer Flotilla Captain (D), 16th Destroyer Flotilla 1939-08/1940 18th Destroyer Flotilla Captain (D), 18th Destroyer Flotilla 09-10/19394th Minesweeper Flotilla Officer Commanding, 4th Minesweeper Flotilla 04/1944-12/1944 9th Minesweeper Flotilla Officer Commanding, 9th Minesweeper Flotilla 11/1940-05/1945 14th Minesweeper Flotilla Officer Commanding, 13th Minesweeper Flotilla 09/1941-12/1944 2nd Submarine Flotilla Officer Commanding, 2nd Submarine Flotilla08/1914-08/1916 3rd Submarine Flotilla Officer Commanding, 3rd Submarine Flotilla1919–1922 based at Gosport5th Submarine FlotillaOfficer Commanding, 5th Submarine Flotilla 1919–1939 based at Gosport – training & reserve flotilla6th Submarine FlotillaOfficer Commanding, 6th Submarine Flotilla 1919–1939 based at Portland – ASW training & reserve flotillaFishery Protection Flotilla Officer Commanding, Fishery Protection Flotilla 1919–1927 Fishery Protection and Minesweeping Flotilla Captain of Fishery Protection and Minesweeping Flotilla 1923–1945 Fishery Protection Squadron Captain, Fishery Protection Squadron 1945–1969 Newhaven Local Defence Flotilla Officer Commanding, Newhaven Local Defence Flotilla 1914–1918 Portsmouth Escort Flotilla Officer Commanding, Portsmouth Escort Flotilla 01/1916-01/1918 renamed 1st Destroyer FlotillaPortland Local Defence Flotilla Officer Commanding, Portland Local Defence Flotilla 1914–1918 Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla Officer Commanding, Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla 1914–1927

Shore establishments Included:

Other units Commanded by Date NotesHMS Dolphin (shore establishment) 1904–1969 Royal Navy Submarine SchoolHMS Dryad (shore establishment) 1939–1969 Royal Navy's Maritime Warfare SchoolHMS Grasshopper (shore establishment) 1939–1946 Coastal forces base, Weymouth HMS Hornet (shore establishment) 1941–1956 HQ Coastal ForceHMS Marlborough (shore establishment) 1939–1945 Torpedo school, EastbourneHMS Mercury (shore establishment) Captain of Royal Navy Signals School 1941–1969 Royal Navy Signals School and Combined Signals SchoolHMS King Alfred (shore establishment) 1939–1946 RNVR officers training establishment- Sussex Division – Hove Portsmouth Signal School Captain of Portsmouth Signal School 1916–1941 Signal School Superintendent of Signal Schools 1901–1920 HMS St Vincent (shore establishment) 1927–1969 Boys Training School, GosportHMS Sultan (1956 shore establishment) 1914–1969 Mechanical engineering schoolHMS Turtle (shore establishment) 1946–? Combined operations training establishment, based at Poole HMS Vernon (shore establishment) 1876–1969 Torpedo and mining school

Commanders-in-Chief Post holder have included: = died in post

Rear Admiral Sir Robert Holmes April 1667–October 1667 Captain, John Graydon, January – February 1695 Captain James Wishart, February – April 1695 Commodore Basil Beaumont: February–March 1698 Rear Admiral Henry Houghton: March–July 1698 Commodore Thomas Warren: December 1698 Rear Admiral James Wishart, September 1703 – October 1703 Commodore Richard Lestock, 1741 Admiral James Steuart: 1745–1747 Admiral Sir Edward Hawke: 1748–1752 Admiral Sir Edward Hawke: 1755–1756 Admiral Henry Osborn: 1756–1757 Admiral Sir Francis Holburne 1758–1766 Admiral Sir John Moore: 1766–1769 Admiral Sir Francis Geary 1769–1771 Admiral Thomas Pye: 1771–1774 Admiral Sir James Douglas: 1774–1777 Admiral Thomas Pye: 1777–1783 Admiral John Montagu: 1783–1786 Admiral Viscount Hood: 1786–1789 Admiral Robert Roddam: 1789–1792 Admiral Viscount Hood: 1792–1793 Admiral Sir Peter Parker: 1793–1799 Admiral Mark Milbanke: 1799–1803 Admiral Lord Gardner: March – June 1803 Admiral Sir George Montagu: 1803–1809 Admiral Sir Roger Curtis: 1809–1812 Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton: 1812–1815 Admiral Sir Edward Thornbrough: 1815–1818 Admiral Sir George Campbell: 1818–1821 Admiral Sir James Hawkins-Whitshed: 1821–1824 Admiral Sir George Martin: 1824–1827 Admiral Sir Robert Stopford: 1827–1830 Admiral Sir Thomas Foley: 1830–1833 Admiral Sir Thomas Williams: 1833–1836 Admiral Sir Philip Durham: 1836 – March 1839 Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming: April – November 1839 Admiral Sir Edward Codrington: 1839–1842 Admiral Sir Charles Rowley: 1842–1845 Admiral Sir Charles Ogle: 1845–1848 Admiral Sir Thomas Capel: 1848–1851 Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs: 1851–1852 Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane: 1852–1856 Admiral Sir George Seymour: 1856–1859 Admiral Sir William Bowles: 1859–1860 Admiral Sir Henry W. Bruce: March 1860 – March 1863 Admiral Sir Michael Seymour: March 1863 – March 1866 Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, Bt.: March 1866 – February 1869 Admiral Sir James Hope: February 1869 – March 1872 Admiral Sir Rodney Mundy: March 1872 – March 1875 Admiral Sir George A. Elliot: March 1875 – March 1878 Admiral Edward G Fanshawe: March 1878 – November 1879 Admiral Alfred Ryder: November 1879 – November 1882 Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hornby: November 1882 – November 1885 Admiral Sir George Willes: November 1885 – June 1888 Admiral Sir John Commerell: June 1888 – June 1891 Admiral the Earl of Clanwilliam: June 1891 – June 1894 Admiral Sir Nowell Salmon: June 1894 – August 1897 Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bt.: August 1897 – October 1900 Admiral Sir Charles Hotham: October 1900 – August 1903 Admiral Sir John Fisher: August 1903 – March 1904 Admiral Sir Archibald Douglas: March 1904 – March 1907 Admiral Sir Day Bosanque: March 1907 – March 1908 Admiral Sir Arthur Fanshawe: March 1908 – April 1910 Admiral the Hon. Sir Assheton Curzon-Howe: April 1910 – March 1911 Admiral Sir Arthur Moore: March 1911 – July 1912 Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. Sir Hedworth Meux: July 1912 – March 1916 Admiral the Hon. Sir Stanley Colville: March 1916 – March 1919 Admiral Sir Cecil Burney: March 1919 – April 1920 Admiral the Hon. Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe: April 1920 – April 1923 Admiral Sir Sydney Fremantle: April 1923 – April 1926 Admiral Sir Osmond Brock: April 1926 – April 1929 Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes, Bt.: April 1929 – May 1931 Admiral Sir Arthur Waistell: June 1931 – January 1934 Admiral Sir John Kelly: January 1934 – July 1936 Admiral Sir William Fisher: July 1936 – June 1937 Admiral of the Fleet The Earl of Cork and Orrery: July 1937 – June 1939 Admiral Sir William James: June 1939 – October 1942 Admiral Sir Charles Little: October 1942 – February 1945 Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton: March 1945 – May 1947 Admiral The Lord Fraser of North Cape: May 1947 – July 1948 Admiral of the Fleet Sir Algernon Willis: July 1948 – September 1950 Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Power: September 1950 – September 1952 Admiral Sir John Edelsten: September 1952 – September 1954 Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Creasy: September 1954 – July 1957 Admiral Sir Guy Grantham: July 1957 – March 1959 Admiral Sir Manley Power: March 1959 – October 1961 Admiral Sir Alexander Bingley: October 1961 – February 1963