View source for Seventh Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)

The '''Seventh Battle Squadron''' was a [[Royal Navy]] battle squadron composed of second-rate British warships mobilised during the [[First World War]].

==History==

In 1912 Vice-Admiral [[Henry Bradwardine Jackson|Sir Henry B. Jackson]] took command of the squadron for the annual manœuvres.  He hoisted his flag in [[H.M.S. Illustrious (1896)|''Illustrious'']] on 2 July, 1912.<ref>Jackson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  p. 682.</ref>  The event was unique in that Jackson, his Flag Captain, his Flag Commander, and his navigating officer were all on the staff of the [[Royal Naval War College]].<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 22 June, 1912.  Issue '''39932''', col A, p. 4.</ref>  Rear-Admiral [[Charles Hope Dundas|Charles Dundas of Dundas]] was selected as Jackson's Second-in-Command, hoisting his flag on 2 July in the {{UK-PrinceGeorge}}.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 2 July, 1912.  Issue '''39940''', col D, p. 6.</ref>  

At Devonport on 13 July, 1914, Vice-Admiral [[Alexander Edward Bethell|Sir Alexander E. Bethell]] hoisted his flag in the {{UK-PrinceGeorge}}, and Rear-Admiral [[Cecil Fiennes Thursby|Cecil F. Thursby]] hoisted his flag in the {{UK-Hannibal}}.<ref>"Naval Mobilization" (News).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 14 July, 1914.  Issue '''40575''', col G, p. 16.</ref>  Thursby struck his flag on 27 July.<ref>Thursby Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20.}}  p. 658.</ref>

On 8 August the Seventh Battle Squadron was merged into the {{UK-BS|8}}.{{UKNSMonoIII|p. 10}}

===December, 1912===
Handwritten on stationery from {{UK-PrincessRoyal|f=p}}, Albert Francis Barclay Bridges recorded the order of battle for the Grand Fleet, whose contents are found on articles for the various formations.  The Fleet flagship was noted as being {{UK-1Neptune}}, which was not part of any Battle Squadron.<ref>The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum.  [BRG 1/1]</ref>

*{{UK-Caesar}}
*{{UK-Hannibal}}
*{{UK-Illustrious}}
*{{UK-Magnificent}}
*{{UK-Majestic}}
*{{UK-Mars}}
*{{UK-PrinceGeorge}}
*{{UK-Victorious}}

===December, 1913===
Part of the [[Third Fleet (Royal Navy)|Third Fleet]], the roster is the same as it was the previous year.<ref>The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum.  [BRG 1/1]</ref>

*{{UK-Caesar}}
*{{UK-Hannibal}}
*{{UK-Illustrious}}
*{{UK-Magnificent}}
*{{UK-Majestic}}
*{{UK-Mars}}
*{{UK-PrinceGeorge}}
*{{UK-Victorious}}

===5-8 August, 1914===
The squadron was based at Devonport on 5 August, 1914 along with with {{UK-BS|8}}.  {{UK-Jupiter}} may have been transferred in from the other Battle Squadron between 5 and 8 August.{{UKNSMonoX|p. 110}}{{DittColl|p. 15}}

*{{UK-PrinceGeorge}}  [[File:VAdm.png|border|30px]]
*{{UK-Caesar}}
*{{UK-Illustrious}}
*{{UK-Jupiter}}
*{{UK-Majestic}}

Attached: {{UK-Sapphire|f=t}}

===September, 1914===
The Squadron is in the [[Channel Fleet]] with the {{UK-BS|5}}.
{{UK-Goliath}} joined from the {{UK-BS|8}} and {{UK-Vengeance}} from the {{UK-BS|6}}, the latter ship becoming the flagship.  In return, {{UK-Illustrious}} was sent off to provide "detached services".  The attached cruiser also changed to {{UK-Proserpine}}, joining from the {{UK-BS|8}}.{{SMNLSep14|pp. 9, 11}}{{UKNSMonoIII|p. 51}}

*{{UK-Vengeance}}  [[File:VAdm.png|border|30px]]
*{{UK-PrinceGeorge}}
*{{UK-Caesar}}
*{{UK-Goliath}}
*{{UK-Majestic}}
*{{UK-Jupiter}}

Attached:  {{UK-Proserpine|f=t}}

The Squadron would seemingly be abolished after September, as it appears in no later Navy Lists.

===October, 1914===
The ships have been sent to other commands.  {{UK-PrinceGeorge}}, {{UK-Caesar}} and {{UK-Majestic}} went to provide "detached services", {{UK-Vengeance}} and {{UK-Goliath}} to the East Indies,{{SMNLOct14|p. 16}} and {{UK-Jupiter}} to serve as a guardship at the Nore.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Jupiter_(1895) Wikipedia].</ref>

==Admirals in Command==
<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Vice-Admiral Commanding, Seventh Battle Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{ViceRN}}|name=Henry Bradwardine Jackson|nick=Sir Henry B. Jackson|appt=2 July, 1912<ref>Jackson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  p. 682.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{ViceRN}}|name=Alexander Edward Bethell|nick=Sir Alexander E. Bethell|appt=13 July, 1914<ref>"Naval Mobilization" (News).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 14 July, 1914.  Issue '''40575''', col G, p. 16.</ref>|end=8 August, 1914{{UKNSMonoIII|p. 10}}|succBy=Command merged into {{UK-BS|8}}{{UKNSMonoIII|p. 10}}}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Seconds-in-Command==

<div name=fredbot:office1 otitle="Rear-Admiral Second-in-Command, Seventh Battle Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Charles Hope Dundas|nick=Charles Dundas of Dundas|appt=2 July, 1912<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 2 July, 1912.  Issue '''39940''', col D, p. 6.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Cecil Fiennes Thursby|nick=Cecil F. Thursby|appt=13 July, 1914<ref>"Naval Mobilization" (News).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 14 July, 1914.  Issue '''40575''', col G, p. 16.</ref> &ndash; 27 July, 1914<ref>Thursby Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/20.}}  p. 658.</ref>|succBy=Command merged into {{UK-BS|8}}{{UKNSMonoIII|p. 10}}}}
</div name=fredbot:office1>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{UKNSMonoIII}}
*{{UKNSMonoX}}
{{refend}}

{{RNBattleSquadrons|sort=7}}