Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord, until 1904 officially Second Naval Lord, and after 1917 Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, was a member the Board of Admiralty responsible for the personnel of the British Royal Navy. He was in charge of manning the ships, and training and educating the men.
History
The position of Second Sea Lord was summarily abolished by Hugh Childers upon becoming First Lord of the Admiralty in December, 1868, and Rear-Admiral George Seymour, a previous Third Sea Lord, was appointed to assist the First Naval Lord with the workload. In January, 1869, Captain George Willes succeeded Seymour and was appointed as "Chief of the Staff", with the same pay as the Junior Naval Lord, and the task of superintending the Coastguard, Royal Naval Reserve, and the manning of the Fleet.[1] By Order-in-Council of 14 January, 1869, the position of Second Naval Lord officially ceased to exist and his duties were nominally given to the First Naval Lord, assisted by the Junior Naval Lord. The other Naval Lords were also given an increase in pay.[2]
The office of Second Naval Lord was re-established on 19 April, 1872, by Order-in-Council of 19 March of that year. His salary was fixed at £1,200 a year. His duties were not specified as part of the distribution of Admiralty business[3]
The First Naval Lord, the Second Naval Lord, and the Junior Naval Lord to be responsible to the First Lord of the Admiralty for the Administration of so much business relating to the "Personnel" of the Navy, and to the movement and condition of your Majesty's Fleet, as shall be assigned them, from time to time, by the First Lord.[4]
Up to 1904, the Second Naval Lord was responsible for a large number of details:[5]
- Manning of the Fleet.
- Mobilisation of the Fleet and of Reserves so far as relates to personnel.
- Appointments of—
Lieutenants, except to Commands.
Sub-Lieutenants.
Midshipmen and Naval Cadets.
Navigating Officers—except to Commands.
Engineer Officers.
Chaplains and Naval Instructors.
Medical Officers.
Paymasters.
Assistant Paymasters, Clerks and Assistant Clerkes.
Chief and other Warrant Officers.
And General Questions connected with the Staff the above. - Royal Marine Light Infantry and Royal Marine Artillery.
- Medical Service afloat and on shore, Nursing Staff.
- Fleet Reserve—as regards Officers and Men.
- Training Establishments.
- Naval Colleges.
- Education and Training of Officers, Men, and Boys of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
- Coastguard, except Buildings.
- Royal Naval Reserve.
- Royal Naval Volunteers.
- Interpreters.
- Medals.
- Deserters.
- Character Conduct, and Badge Questions.
- Naval Prisons.
- Minor Collisions.
Upon Admiral Sir John A. Fisher becoming First Sea Lord on 20 October, 1904, the distribution of business of the Board was completely changed, and the Second Sea Lord, as the Second Naval Lord became, was responsible for:[6]
- Manning and Training of the Fleet, which includes Complements, Barracks, Training and Educational Establishments; also all Mobilization Regulations for the Personnel.
- Service and Appointments of Officers of all Branches (except as reserved to First Lord).
- Royal Marines.
- Coastguard and Reserve Forces.
- Hospitals.
- Discipline.
- Signals.
By Order-in-Council of 23 October, 1917, the Second Sea Lord's title was altered to "Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel."[7]
Dates of appointment given in all instances:
- Rear-Admiral Arthur W. A. Hood, 15 January, 1877.[8]
- Rear-Admiral Richard James Meade, Fourth Earl of Clanwilliam, 6 December, 1879.[9]
- Vice-Admiral Lord John Hay, 13 May, 1880.[10]
- Admiral Lord Alcester, 6 March, 1883.[11]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Anthony H. Hoskins, 2 July, 1885.[12]
- Admiral Sir Richard V. Hamilton, 31 December, 1888.[13]
- Rear-Admiral Henry Fairfax, 26 October, 1889.[14]
- Admiral Sir Frederick W. Richards, 23 May, 1892.[15]
- Vice-Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, 1 November, 1893.[16]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick G. D. Bedford, 27 May, 1895.[17]
- Vice-Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, 1 May, 1899.[18]
- Vice-Admiral Archibald L. Douglas, 14 August, 1899.[19]
- Admiral Sir John A. Fisher, 13 May, 1902.[20]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Charles C. Drury, 31 July, 1903.[21]
Second Sea Lords, 1904–1924
- Admiral Sir William H. May, 20 March, 1907.[22]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Francis C. B. Bridgeman 25 March, 1909.[23]
- Vice-Admiral Sir George Le C. Egerton, 25 March, 1911.[24]
- Vice-Admiral H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg, 5 December, 1911.[25]
- Vice-Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, 9 December, 1912.[26]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick T. Hamilton, 31 July, 1914.[27]
- Vice-Admiral (Acting) The Honourable Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe, 30 June, 1916.[28]
- Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, 4 December, 1916.[29]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn E. Wemyss, 6 September, 1917.[30]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert L. Heath, 27 September, 1917.[31]
- Admiral Sir Montague E. Browning, 31 March, 1919.[32]
- Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver, 30 September, 1920.[33]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bart., 15 August, 1924.[34]
- Vice-Admiral The Honourable Sir Hubert G. Brand, 22 April, 1925.[35]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Michael H. Hodges, 16 August, 1927.[36]
Footnotes
- ↑ The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. [Naval Staff.] pp. 11-12.
- ↑ Hamilton. Naval Administration. pp. 189-190.
- ↑ Hamilton. Naval Administration. p. 192.
- ↑ Quoted in Hamilton. p. 192.
- ↑ Quoted in Statement Showing Present Distribution of the Board of Admiralty. p. 4.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Order-in-Council of 23 October, 1917.
- ↑ Naval Staff. p. 119.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Naval Staff. p. 125.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Naval Staff. p. 119.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
Bibliography
