Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)

The Battle Cruiser Squadron was formed in 1919 to act as a single formation of battlecruisers to serve the Royal Navy's post-war needs.

It was formed by taking Lion from her position as flagship of the Battle Cruiser Force and adding her to the most modern of the battlecruisers from the First Battle Cruiser Squadron, which was, in fact, the only B.C.S. still extant.

Composition

May, 1919

Upon its creation, the Battle Cruiser Squadron was comprised of:

• Lion
• Princess Royal (which then paid off in June)
• Renown
• Repulse (paid off)
• Tiger

This roster held through at least July, 1919.

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

• Rear-Admiral Sir Roger J. B. Keyes, Bart., 8 April, 1919 – 31 March, 1921
• Rear-Admiral Sir Walter H. Cowan, Bart., 31 March, 1921 – 15 May, 1923
• Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick L. Field, 15 May, 1923 – 13 October, 1924
• Vice-Admiral Cyril T. M. Fuller, 30 April, 1925 – 21 May, 1927
• Vice-Admiral Frederic C. Dreyer, 21 May, 1927 – 21 May, 1929
• Vice-Admiral A. Dudley P. R. Pound, 21 May, 1929 – 24 April, 1931
• Vice-Admiral Wilfred Tomkinson, 24 April, 1931
• Vice-Admiral William M. James, 15 August, 1932
• Vice-Admiral Sidney R. Bailey, 15 August, 1934 – 23 November, 1936
• Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Blake, 12 August, 1936 – 3 July, 1937
• Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, 3 July, 1937 – 21 August, 1938
• Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Layton, 23 July, 1938 – January, 1939
• Rear-Admiral William J. Whitworth, 1 June, 1939 – 11 March, 1940
• Rear-Admiral Sir James F. Somerville, 28 June, 1940 – 10 August, 1940^{[Citation needed]}
• Rear-Admiral William J. Whitworth, 10 August, 1940 – 7 May, 1941
• Vice-Admiral Lancelot E. Holland, 7 May, 1941 – 24 May, 1941

Other Personnel

Squadron Gunnery Officer

• Commander (G) Edward O. Cochrane, 9 May, 1919
• Commander (G) Lionel V. Wells, 16 January, 1921 – 15 May, 1923
• Commander Frederick A. Buckley, 15 May, 1923 – 27 July, 1925
• Commander Geoffrey D. Taylor, 27 July, 1925 – 30 March, 1926
• Commander (G) Robert Mends, 30 March, 1926 – 25 July, 1928^{[Fact Check]}
• Commander (G) Wilfrid R. Patterson, 10 June, 1927
• Commander (G) Robert D. Oliver, 24 April, 1931 – 24 April, 1933
• Commander (G) (I, It) Thomas L. Beevor, 24 April, 1933
• Lieutenant-Commander (G) Hugh Dalrymple-Smith, 30 August, 1933 – July, 1935
• Commander (G) Henry A. King, 19 July, 1935

Squadron Torpedo Officer

• Commander (T) Walter N. Lapage, 4 March, 1919 – 31 March, 1921
• Commander (T) Francis H. Sandford, 8 August, 1922 – 15 May, 1923
• Commander (T) Reginald H. Portal, 21 May, 1927 – 21 May, 1929
• Commander (T) Quintin D. Graham, 7 April, 1931 – 14 December, 1932
• Lieutenant-Commander (T) Peter Skelton, 21 November, 1932

Squadron W/T Officer

• Template:MajRM Edward Gillespie, 14 March, 1919
• Lieutenant (S) Charles S. Daniel, 10 April, 1922 – 14 November, 1923
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Philip W. Bowyer-Smyth, 14 November, 1923 – 14 April, 1926
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Philip F. Glover, 14 April, 1926 – 3 June, 1928
• Lieutenant-Commander William G. B. Hartley, 3 April, 1928
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Basil R. Willett, 16 April, 1930 – 15 December, 1931
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Charles V. Robinson, 15 December, 1931 – 24 November, 1933
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) John P. L. Reid, 15 August, 1932 – 1934
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Charles F. W. St. Quintin, 14 August, 1934  (and as Signal Officer)

Squadron Signal Officer

• Lieutenant (S) Roden H. V. Buxton, 9 September, 1919 – 31 March, 1921
• Lieutenant (S) Claud B. Graham-Watson, 31 March, 1921 – 15 May, 1923
• Commander (S) Clifford Caslon, 15 May, 1923 – 30 April, 1925
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Basil R. Willett, 30 April, 1925 – 15 May, 1927
• Lieutenant (S) John H. F. Crombie, 21 May, 1927 – 1929^{[Fact Check]}
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) James P. Gornall, 24 April, 1931 – late 1931
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) John P. L. Reid, 15 August, 1932
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Charles F. W. St. Quintin, 14 August, 1934  (and as W/T Officer)

Squadron Navigating Officer

• Captain (N) John H. D. Cunningham, 5 July, 1918
• Commander (N) Neville B. C. Brock, 31 March, 1921 – 28 July, 1923
• Commander (N) John G. P. Vivian, 28 July, 1923 – 31 July, 1925  (and as Staff Officer (Operations))
• Commander (N) William H. Gell, 27 July, 1925  (and as Staff Officer (Operations))
• Commander (N) Geoffrey J. A. Miles, 15 November, 1927 – 1929  (and as Staff Officer (Operations))
• Commander (N) William G. Benn, 8 June, 1929 – June, 1931^[Inference]
• Commander (N) Charles H. Champness, 11 June, 1931  (and as Staff Officer (Operations))
• Commander (N) Eric V. Lees, 30 August, 1933 – February, 1936^[Inference]  (and as Staff Officer (Operations))
• Commander (N) Eric D. Brooke, 15 February, 1936

See Also

• Wikipedia