View source for Combined Force (Royal Navy)

The '''Combined Force''', also known as the '''Southern Force''', was a formation of the [[Royal Navy]] during the early part of the [[First World War]].

==History==
On 13 August 1914, {{RearRN}} [[Arthur Henry Christian|Arthur H. Christian]] was appointed Rear-Admiral in command of a "Special Force", with his flag in {{UK-Euryalus}}.<ref>Christian service record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42/157.}}</ref>  On 14 August Vice-Admiral [[Cecil Burney, First Baronet|Sir Cecil Burney]], Vice-Admiral Commanding, [[Channel Fleet (Royal Navy)|Channel Fleet]], and Rear-Admiral [[Henry Hervey Campbell|Henry H. Campbell]], Rear-Admiral Commanding [[Cruiser Force C]] (Seventh Cruiser Squadron), were informed:

<blockquote>Cruiser Force C will be detached from your command and take a more advanced position under the general orders of Admiral Christian, who will be in command of a combined force, Flag temporarily in {{UK-Sapphire}}.<ref>''Naval Staff Monographs''. '''III'''.  p. 37.</ref></blockquote>

Initially this force consisted of Cruiser Force C, the Harwich Flotilla under Commodore [[Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, First Baronet|Tyrwhitt]] and the {{UK-SF|8}}.<ref>''Naval Staff Monographs'''. '''III'''. p. 12'''n'''.</ref> On 17 August Admiral [[John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|Sir John Jellicoe]], in command of the [[Grand Fleet]], asked the Admiralty "Of what force is Rear-Admiral Christian in command?" The Admiralty replied the following day: "C Cruiser Force. ''Euryalus'', ''Arethusa'' (when ready), [[First Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|1st]] and [[Third Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|3rd]] T.B.D. Flotillas. Oversea submarines."<ref>''Naval Staff Monographs''. '''III'''. p. 41.</ref>

The functions of the force were broadly defined by [[Julian Stafford Corbett|Sir Julian Corbett]] as:

<blockquote>to protect the Belgian coast, to prevent the Schelde being blocked, to keep a general command of our East Coast waters, and to give early notice of any attempt to interrupt our communications with France in the Channel.  In carrying out this general idea the admiral was given a free hand in arranging patrols, subject only to orders from the Admiralty when special operations were required.<ref>Corbett. ''Naval Operations''. '''I'''. pp. 81-82.</ref></blockquote>

The relevant volume of the ''Naval Staff Monographs'' comments:

<blockquote>The command never received an official designation, and although Corbett refers to it as the "Southern Force," this was not its official title, and it is very rarely referred to in this way. The Chief of the War Staff occasionally used the term "combined force".<ref>''Naval Staff Monographs''. '''III'''. p. 112'''n'''.</ref></blockquote>

Rear-Admirals Christian and Campbell struck their flags on 6 October in the wake of the loss of ''Aboukir'', ''Cressy'' and ''Hogue'' on 22 September.<ref>Christian service record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42/157.}}</ref><ref>Campbell service record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42/299.}}</ref>

==Footnotes==
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==Bibliography==
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*{{UKNavalOpsI}}
*{{UKNSMonoIII}}
*{{UKNSMonoX}}
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