View source for 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 {{UK-Lion}} from her position as flagship of the [[Battle Cruiser Force]] and adding her to the most modern of the battlecruisers from the {{UK-BCS|1}}, which was, in fact, the only B.C.S. still extant.

==Composition==

===May, 1919===
Upon its creation, the Battle Cruiser Squadron was comprised of:{{SMNLMay19|p. 10}}
* {{UK-Lion}} [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]]
* {{UK-PrincessRoyal}} (which then paid off in June)
* {{UK-Renown}}
* {{UK-Repulse}} (paid off)
* {{UK-Tiger}}

This roster held through at least July, 1919.{{SMNLJun19|p. 10}}{{SMNLJul19|p. 10}}

==In Command==
Dates of appointment given:
<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Rear-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Roger John Brownlow Keyes, First Baron Keyes|nick=Sir Roger J. B. Keyes, Bart.|appt=8 April, 1919<ref>Keyes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 291.</ref>|end=31 March, 1921<ref>Keyes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 291.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet|nick=Sir Walter H. Cowan, Bart.|appt=31 March, 1921<ref>Cowan Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  p. 249.</ref>|end=15 May, 1923<ref>Cowan Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  p. 249.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Frederick Laurence Field|nick=Sir Frederick L. Field|appt=15 May, 1923<ref>Field Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  p. 247.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron|end=13 October, 1924<ref>Field Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  p. 247.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Cyril Thomas Moulden Fuller|nick=Cyril T. M. Fuller|appt=30 April, 1925<ref>"Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 30 April, 1925.  Issue '''43949''', col E, p. 10.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron|end=21 May, 1927<ref>Fuller Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 215.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Frederic Charles Dreyer|nick=Frederic C. Dreyer|appt=21 May, 1927<ref>"Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 21 May, 1927.  Issue '''44587''', col G, p. 9.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron|end=21 May, 1929<ref>Dreyer Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}} f. 156.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound|nick=A. Dudley P. R. Pound|appt=21 May, 1929<ref>"Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 21 May, 1929.  Issue '''45208''', col D, p. 23.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron|end=24 April, 1931<ref>Pound Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 294.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Wilfred Tomkinson|nick=Wilfred Tomkinson|appt=24 April, 1931<ref>"Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 24 April, 1931.  Issue '''45805''', col G, p. 6.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=William Milbourne James|nick=William M. James|appt=15 August, 1932<ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 13 August, 1932.  Issue '''46211''', col E, p. 13.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Sidney Robert Bailey|nick=Sidney R. Bailey|appt=15 August, 1934<ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 14 August, 1934.  Issue '''46832''', col F, p. 7.</ref>|end=23 November, 1936<ref>Bailey Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/15.|}} f. 218.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Geoffrey Blake|nick=Sir Geoffrey Blake|appt=12 August, 1936<ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 29 July, 1936.  Issue '''47439''', col D, p. 17.</ref>|end=3 July, 1937<ref>Blake Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.}}  f. 349.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Andrew Browne Cunningham, First Viscount Cunningham|nick=Sir Andrew B. Cunningham|appt=3 July, 1937<ref>"Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 3 July, 1937.  Issue '''47727''', col F, p. 14.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron|end=21 August, 1938<ref>Cunningham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 286.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Geoffrey Layton|nick=Geoffrey Layton|appt=23 July, 1938<ref>Layton Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/134.|D7604233}} f. ?.</ref>|ass=21 August, 1938<ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 23 July, 1938.  Issue '''48054''', col A, p. 17.</ref>|end=January, 1939<ref>Layton Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/134.|D7604233}} f. ?.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=William Jock Whitworth|nick=William J. Whitworth|appt=1 June, 1939<ref>"The Services" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 1 June, 1939.  Issue '''48320''', col E, p. 9.</ref><ref>Whitworth Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49/232.|D7576669}} f. 224.</ref>|end=11 March, 1940}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=James Fownes Somerville|nick=Sir James F. Somerville|appt=28 June, 1940<ref>Somerville Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47.|}} f. 292.</ref>|end=10 August, 1940{{CN}}}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=William Jock Whitworth|nick=William J. Whitworth|appt=10 August, 1940|end=7 May, 1941<ref>Whitworth Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49/232.|D7576669}} f. 224.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{ViceRN}}|name=Lancelot Ernest Holland|nick=Lancelot E. Holland|appt=7 May, 1941<ref>Holland Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/51/23.|D7576694}} f. 23.</ref>|end=24 May, 1941<ref>Holland Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/51/23.|D7576694}} f. 23.</ref>|succBy=Command Abolished|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Other Personnel==
===Squadron Gunnery Officer===

<div name=fredbot:officeFGO otitle="Squadron Gunnery Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''G''')|name=Edward Owen Cochrane|nick=Edward O. Cochrane|appt=9 May, 1919{{NLDec19|p. 801}}|end=}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''G''')|name=Lionel Victor Wells|nick=Lionel V. Wells|appt=16 January, 1921<ref>Wells Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49/181.|D7604279}}, f. 97.</ref>{{NLJan23|p. 768}}|end=15 May, 1923<ref>Wells Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49/181.|D7604279}}, f. 97.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Frederick Arthur Buckley|nick=Frederick A. Buckley|appt=15 May, 1923{{NLApr25|p. 246}}|end=27 July, 1925}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Geoffrey David Taylor|nick=Geoffrey D. Taylor|appt=27 July, 1925<ref>Taylor Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/52/160.|}} f. 517.</ref>|end=30 March, 1926<ref>Taylor Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/52/160.|}} f. 517.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''G''')|name=Robert Mends|nick=Robert Mends|appt=30 March, 1926{{NLJul27|p. 246}}|end=25 July, 1928{{FC}}}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''G''')|name=Wilfrid Rupert Patterson|nick=Wilfrid R. Patterson|appt=10 June, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 245}}|end=}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''G''')|name=Robert Don Oliver|nick=Robert D. Oliver|appt=24 April, 1931<ref>Oliver Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/117/58.|}}  f. 58.</ref>{{NLJan33|p. 246}}|end=24 April, 1933<ref>Oliver Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/117/58.|}}  f. 58.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''G''') ('''I''', ''It'')|name=Thomas Lubbock Beevor|nick=Thomas L. Beevor|appt=24 April, 1933{{NLJul34|p. 247}}|end=}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''G''')|name=Hugh Dalrymple-Smith|nick=Hugh Dalrymple-Smith|appt=30 August, 1933{{NLJul34|p. 247}}|end=July, 1935}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''G''')|name=Henry Alexander King|nick=Henry A. King|appt=19 July, 1935{{NLOct35|p. 247}}|end=}}
</div name=fredbot:officeFGO>

===Squadron Torpedo Officer===

<div name=fredbot:officeFTO otitle="Squadron Torpedo Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''T''')|name=Walter Neville Lapage|nick=Walter N. Lapage|appt=4 March, 1919{{NLDec19|p. 801}}|end=31 March, 1921|precBy=New Formation}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''T''')|name=Francis Hugh Sandford|nick=Francis H. Sandford|appt=8 August, 1922{{NLJan23|p. 768}}|end=15 May, 1923}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''T''')|name=Reginald Henry Portal|nick=Reginald H. Portal|appt=21 May, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 245}}|end=21 May, 1929}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''T''')|name=Quintin Dick Graham|nick=Quintin D. Graham|appt=7 April, 1931{{NLJul31|p. 263}}<ref>Graham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/117/136.|}} f. 136.</ref>|end=14 December, 1932<ref>Graham Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/117/136.|}} f. 136.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''T''')|name=Peter Skelton|nick=Peter Skelton|appt=21 November, 1932{{NLOct35|p. 247}}|end=}}
</div name=fredbot:officeFTO>

===Squadron W/T Officer===

<div name=fredbot:officeFWO otitle="Squadron W/T Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{MajRM}}|name=Edward Gillespie|nick=Edward Gillespie|appt=14 March, 1919{{NLDec19|p. 801}}|end=|precBy=New Formation}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LieutRN}} ('''S''')|name=Charles Saumarez Daniel|nick=Charles S. Daniel|appt=10 April, 1922<ref>Daniel Service Record.  {{TNA|196/56/148.|}} f. 150.</ref>{{NLJan23|p. 768}}|end=14 November, 1923<ref>Daniel Service Record.  {{TNA|196/56/148.|}} f. 150.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Philip Weyland Bowyer-Smyth|nick=Philip W. Bowyer-Smyth|appt=14 November, 1923<ref>Bowyer-Smyth Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/56/63.|}} f. 65.</ref>{{NLApr25|p. 246}}|end=14 April, 1926<ref>Bowyer-Smyth Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/56/63.|}} f. 65.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Philip Foster Glover|nick=Philip F. Glover|appt=14 April, 1926<ref>Glover Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/56/66.|}} f. 68.</ref>{{NLJul27|p. 246}}|end=3 June, 1928<ref>Glover Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/56/66.|}} f. 68.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}}|name=William Geoffrey Barnard Hartley|nick=William G. B. Hartley|appt=3 April, 1928{{NLFeb29|p. 245}}|end=}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Basil Rupert Willett|nick=Basil R. Willett|appt=16 April, 1930{{NLJul31|p. 263}}|end=15 December, 1931<ref>Robinson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/123/4.|}} f. 4.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Charles Vernon Robinson|nick=Charles V. Robinson|appt=15 December, 1931<ref>Robinson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/123/4.|}} f. 4.</ref>{{NLJan33|p. 246}}|end=24 November, 1933<ref>Robinson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/123/4.|}} f. 4.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=John Peter Lorne Reid|nick=John P. L. Reid|appt=15 August, 1932{{NLJul34|p. 247}}|end=1934}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Charles Frederick William St. Quintin|nick=Charles F. W. St. Quintin|appt=14 August, 1934{{NLOct35|p. 247}}|end=|note=and as Signal Officer}}
</div name=fredbot:officeFWO>

===Squadron Signal Officer===

<div name=fredbot:officeFSO otitle="Squadron Signal Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{LieutRN}} ('''S''')|name=Roden Henry Victor Buxton|nick=Roden H. V. Buxton|appt=9 September, 1919<ref>Buxton Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/53/26.|}} f. 25.</ref>|end=31 March, 1921<ref>Buxton Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/53/26.|}} f. 25.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LieutRN}} ('''S''')|name=Claud Boothby Graham-Watson|nick=Claud B. Graham-Watson|appt=31 March, 1921<ref>Graham-Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/56/82.|}} f. 84.</ref>{{NLJan23|p. 768}}|end=15 May, 1923<ref>Graham-Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/56/82.|}} f. 84.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Clifford Caslon|nick=Clifford Caslon|appt=15 May, 1923{{NLApr25|p. 246}}|end=30 April, 1925}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Basil Rupert Willett|nick=Basil R. Willett|appt=30 April, 1925{{NLFeb26|p. 246}}|end=15 May, 1927}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LieutRN}} ('''S''')|name=John Harvey Forbes Crombie|nick=John H. F. Crombie|appt=21 May, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 245}}|end=1929{{FC}}}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=James Parrington Gornall|nick=James P. Gornall|appt=24 April, 1931{{NLJul31|p. 262}}|end=late 1931}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=John Peter Lorne Reid|nick=John P. L. Reid|appt=15 August, 1932{{NLJul34|p. 247}}|end=}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} ('''S''')|name=Charles Frederick William St. Quintin|nick=Charles F. W. St. Quintin|appt=14 August, 1934{{NLOct35|p. 247}}|end=|note=and as W/T Officer}}
</div name=fredbot:officeFSO>

===Squadron Navigating Officer===

<div name=fredbot:officeFNO otitle="Squadron Navigating Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}} ('''N''')|name=John Henry Dacres Cunningham|nick=John H. D. Cunningham|appt=5 July, 1918{{NLDec19|p. 801}}|end=|precBy=New Formation}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=Neville Brevoort Carey Brock|nick=Neville B. C. Brock|appt=31 March, 1921<ref>Brock Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/31.|}} f. 434.</ref>{{NLJan23|p. 768}}|end=28 July, 1923<ref>Brock Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/48/31.|}} f. 434.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=John Guy Protheroe Vivian|nick=John G. P. Vivian|appt=28 July, 1923<ref>Vivian Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/54.|}} f. 56.</ref>{{NLApr25|p. 246}}|end=31 July, 1925<ref>Vivian Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/51/54.|}} f. 56.</ref>|note=and as Staff Officer (Operations)}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=William Hope Gell|nick=William H. Gell|appt=27 July, 1925{{NLJan26|p. 246}}|end=|note=and as Staff Officer (Operations)}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=Geoffrey John Audley Miles|nick=Geoffrey J. A. Miles|appt=15 November, 1927{{NLFeb29|p. 245}}|end=1929|note=and as Staff Officer (Operations)}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=William Gordon Benn|nick=William G. Benn|appt=8 June, 1929{{NLJul31|p. 263}}|end=June, 1931{{INF}}}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=Charles Henry Champness|nick=Charles H. Champness|appt=11 June, 1931{{NLJan33|p. 246}}|end=|note=and as Staff Officer (Operations)}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=Eric Vernon Lees|nick=Eric V. Lees|appt=30 August, 1933{{NLOct35|p. 247}}|end=February, 1936{{INF}}|note=and as Staff Officer (Operations)}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} ('''N''')|name=Eric Douglas Brooke|nick=Eric D. Brooke|appt=15 February, 1936{{NLJul37|p. 248}}|end=}}
</div name=fredbot:officeFNO>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlecruiser_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)}}
{{refend}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}

{{RNBattleCruiserSquadrons|sort=B}}
[[Category:Pages with Offices]]