The First Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of cruisers that saw service as part of the Grand Fleet during World War I, then later as part of the Mediterranean during the Interwar period and World War II. It was first established in 1904 and existed until 1952.
History
First formation
The squadron was formed in December 1904 when Cruiser Squadron was re-designated the 1st Cruiser Squadron. In March 1909, then consisting of battlecruisers, it was assigned to the 1st Division of the Home Fleet until April 1912. When the First World War began, the squadron was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet where it participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser and the light cruiser . It joined then Grand Fleet in January 1915 where it participated in the battles of Dogger Bank and the Battle of Jutland. It was disbanded after the battle as three of its four ships had been sunk in June 1916. In July 1917 H.M. Ships , and were detached from the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron and named the First Cruiser Squadron, part of the newly formed Light Cruiser Force. It remained part of Light Cruiser Force until April 1919 when it was once again disbanded.
Rear/Vice Admiral commanding Post holders included: Rank Flag Name Term Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral Commanding, 1st Cruiser Squadron 1 Rear-Admiral Edmund S. PoeDecember, 1904 - July, 19052 Rear-Admiral George NevilleJuly, 1905 - July, 19073 Rear-Admiral Sir Percy M. ScottJuly, 1907 - September, 19084 Rear-Admiral Charles H. AdairSeptember, 1908 - February, 19095 Rear-Admiral Hon. Stanley C. J. ColvilleFebruary, 1909 - February, 19116 Rear-Admiral Lewis BaylyFebruary, 1911 - January, 19137 Rear-Admiral Ernest C.T. TroubridgeJanuary, 1913 - September, 19148 Rear-Admiral Sir Archibald G. H.W. MooreNovember, 1914 - January, 19159Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. ArbuthnotJanuary, 1915 - May, 1916squadron disbanded 06/1916 - 06/191710 Vice-Admiral Trevylyan D.W.NapierJuly, 1917 - April, 1919squadron disbanded 1919-1924
Composition, April–May 1907 As per:Sieche, p. 146
Composition, First World War
August 1914 As of:Corbett, I, p. 440 Armoured cruisers - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Ernest C. T. Troubridge. Captain Fawcet Wray - Captain Frederick D. Gilpin-Brown - Captain Henry Blackett - Captain George H. Borrett
Light cruisers
- Captain Sidney R. Drury-Lowe - Captain John D. Kelly - Captain Howard Kelly - Captain William D. Church
24 January 1915 As of:Corbett, II, p. 413 Duke of Edinburgh - Temporary flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot Black Prince Warrior
22 February 1915 As of:Corbett, II, p. 418 Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot Duke of Edinburgh Black Prince Warrior
30 May 1916 As of:Corbett, III, p. 429 Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot. Captain Stanley Venn Ellis Duke of Edinburgh Black Prince Warrior
October 1917 As of:Newbolt, V, p. 152
17 November 1917 As of:Newbolt, V, p. 168 Courageous Glorious
Second formation In October 1924 the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron was re-designated the 1st Cruiser Squadron. This took effect in November 1924 and the squadron was reformed as an enlarged unit of the Mediterranean Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Arthur Waistell.
In June 1942 the squadron under the commander of Rear-Admiral Louis Keppel Hamilton was assigned to provide distant cover for Convoy PQ 17. The squadron consisted of the British cruisers (flagship) and , the American cruisers and and four destroyers, two from the United States Navy. Louis Mountbatten served as commander of the squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet after the war. Having been granted the substantive rank of vice admiral on 22 June 1949, Mountbatten became Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet in April 1950.
Rear/Vice Admiral commanding Post holders included: Rank Flag Name Term Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral Commanding, 1st Cruiser Squadron 1 Rear-Admiral Arthur K.WaistellNovember, 1924 - October, 19262 Rear-Admiral William H.D. BoyleOctober, 1926 - October, 19283 Rear-Admiral Henry W. ParkerOctober, 1928 - March, 19304 Rear-Admiral Joseph Henley C. W. HenleyMarch, 1930 -April 19325 Rear-Admiral George K. ChetwodeApril, 1932 - June, 19336 Vice-Admiral John K. im ThurnJune, 1933 - July, 19357 Vice-Admiral Max K. HortonJuly, 1935 - October, 19368Vice-Admiral Charles E.Kennedy-PurvisOctober, 1936-September, 19389 Vice-Admiral John H. D. Cunningham September, 1938 - December, 194010 Rear-Admiral W. Frederic Wake-WalkerDecember, 1940 - February 194211 Rear-Admiral Louis H.K. HamiltonFebruary 1942 - August, 194312 Vice-Admiral Arthur F.E. PalliserAugust, 1943 - March, 194413 Vice-Admiral Sir Rhoderick R. McGrigorMarch, 1944 - July 194514 Rear-Admiral Harold R.G. KinahanJune, 1946 - June, 194715 Rear-Admiral Richard V. Symonds-TaylerJune, 1947 - October, 194816Vice-Admiral Earl Mountbatten of BurmaOctober, 1948 - May, 195017 Rear-Admiral C.T. Mark PizeyMay, 1950 - July, 195118 Vice-Admiral Ralph A.B. EdwardsJuly, 1951 – 1952
Deployments Included: from to deployed to notes March 1909 April 1912 1st Division, Home Fleet July 1914 January 1915 Mediterranean Fleet January 1915 June 1916 Grand Fleet July 1917 April 1919 Light Cruiser Force November 1924 August 1939 Mediterranean Fleet August 1939 1952 Home Fleet
Footnotes
References
External links