Third Sea Lord

The Third Sea Lord was an officer of the Royal Navy with a position on the Board of Admiralty with responsibility for procuring and equipping the fleet.

History

The pay of the Third Sea Lord until 1868 had been £1,000. At the end of that year, formalised by Order in Council of 14 January, 1869, the Third Sea Lord technically disappeared entirely when the position of Second Naval Lord was abolished, and the Controllership of the Navy, although vested in a naval officer, was known as the Third Lord and Controller of the Navy. In 1872 the Controller ceased to be a Board member once more, the office of Second Naval Lord was restored, and technically the Third Naval Lord became the Junior Naval Lord. This state of affairs continued for a decade, until 1882 when the "Comptroller" of the Navy became an "Additional Naval Lord". In a distribution of business of 24 April of that year he is styled simply Controller of the Navy, but as the Junior Naval Lord retained his title the Controller was already in effect Third Sea Lord. In subsequent distributions of business he was styled as Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy.

By Order in Council of 21 December, 1906, the emoluments of the Third Sea Lord and Controller were raised from £1,500 a year to £1,750 a year, in addition to Naval Half Pay. The Controller then became £250 a year better off than the Second Sea Lord.

The title of Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy was changed to Third Sea Lord with effect from 12 June, 1912.

The office of Third Sea Lord received the designation Third Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Materiel by Order in Council of 23 October, 1917.

The office of Controller was merged with that of Third Sea Lord on 25 June, 1918, and became once again Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy.

Duties

July, 1866.
Medical Department.
Hospitals and Hospital Ships.
Appointment of Medical Officers.
Hydrographic Department.
Pensions.
Greenwich Hospital, as regards Officers and Men.
Prize and Admiralty Courts.
General Salvage Questions.
Collisions at Sea.
Full Pay of Officers and Seamen.
Officers' Table Money.
Officers' Half-Pay of All Ranks.
Officers' Debts.
Allowances for Lodging and Travelling.
Compensation for Losses by Officers and Seamen.
Compassionate Fund.
Charitable Institutions.
Good Conduct Medals.
Human Society's Medals.
Removal of R.
Pirates—Bounty.
Pilotage.

December, 1868.
As Third Lord and Controller.
Steam Reserve.
Dockyards.
Dockyard Craft.
Shipbuilding.
Constructor's Department.
Inventions and Experiments in Steam and Ships.
Gunnery and Returns.
Store Department.
Appointments of Engineers.

24 April, 1882.
Duties shared with Additional Civil Lord.
1.—Dockyards.
2.—Steam Reserves.—as regard Ships.
3.—Ship-building.
4.—Constructor's Department.
5.—Store Department.
6.—Dock-yard Craft.
7.—Inventions and Experiments in Ships and Steam.
8.—Gunnery as relates to Materiel.
9.—Promotions and transfers of Professional Officers and Workmen in the Dockyards.

1885.
1. Dockyards.
2. Steam Reserves—as regards matériel.
3. Construction and repair of Ships and Machinery.
4. Purchase of Ships.
5. Loan of Ships, Tugs, &c.
6. Inventions—relating to Ships, Machinery, Ordnance and Torpedo matériel, &c.
7. Models at Greenwich.
8. Dockyard Craft, personnel and matériel.
9. Dockyard Police.
10. Dockyard and Victualling Yard Machinery and Caissons.
11. Electric Lights.
12. Ordnance and Torpedo matériel and Stores.
13. Gun Mountings.
14. Naval Store Department at the Admiralty and Dockyards, including coals for Dockyards and Factories and Stores for the Fleet.
15. Moorings.
16. Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.
17. Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, and Subordinate Officers and Workmen—promotions, transfers and leave.

1888.
1. Dockyards.
2. Steam Reserves—as regards matériel.
3. Construction and repair of Ships and Machinery.
4. Purchase of Ships.
5. Loan of Ships, Tugs, &c.
6. Inventions—relating to Ships, Machinery, Ordnance and Torpedo matériel, &c.
7. Models at Greenwich.
8. Dockyard Craft, personnel and matériel.
9. Dockyard Police.
10. Dockyard and Victualling Yard Machinery and Caissons.
11. Electric Lights.
12. Naval Ordnance Department (including Torpedoes)—matériel and Stores.
13. Naval Store Department at the Admiralty and Dockyards, including coals for Dockyards and Factories and Stores for the Fleet.
14. Moorings.
15. Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.
16. Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, and Subordinate Officers and Workmen—promotions, transfers and leave.
17. Armed Cruisers—Engagement of.

1890.
1. Dockyards.
2. Steam Reserves—as regards matériel.
3. Construction and repair of Ships and Machinery.
4. Purchase of Ships.
5. Loan of Ships, Tugs, &c.
6. Inventions—relating to Ships, Machinery, Ordnance and Torpedo matériel, &c.
7. Models at Greenwich.
8. Dockyard Craft, personnel and matériel.
9. Dockyard Police.
10. Dockyard and Victualling Yard Machinery and Caissons.
11. Electric Lights.
12. Naval Ordnance Department (including Torpedoes)—matériel and Stores.
13. Naval Store Department at the Admiralty and Dockyards, including coals for Dockyards and Factories and Stores for the Fleet.
14. Moorings.
15. Royal Corps of Naval Constructors—Promotions, Transfers and Leave (except Promotion of Officers above rank of Constructor).
16. Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, and Subordinate Officers and Workmen—promotions, transfers and leave.
17. Armed Cruisers—Engagement and Fitting of.

16 April, 1908.
1.—The entire administration of the Dockyards and Dockyard Reserve, Dockyard Craft, control of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Dockyards, Superintendent of Contract Work, Naval Stores, and Expense Accounts; also control of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, and of all Dockyard Foremen, Inspectors, Subordinate Officers, and Workmen (except promotion of Officers above the rank of Constructor).
2.—Naval and Technical Inspecting Staff at Contractors' Works.
3.—Naval Ordnance Questions affecting Construction of Ships or involving Structural Alterations in Weights, &c.
4.—Purchase, disposal, salvage, or loan of Vessels, and engagement and fitting of Armed Merchant Cruisers.
5.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
6.—Electric Lighting and Yard Machinery of all Departments, &c., other than those controlled by the Fourth Sea Lord.
7.—Naval Stores for building and repair of Ships and for maintenance of Dockyards, including moorings.

August, 1912.
1.—Design of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their Machinery, Armour, Naval Ordnance and Gun Mountings, Aeroplanes and Airships, and Docking facilities: also alterations and additions to ships which affect design or fighting efficiency. Preparation of Estimates of cost of all new construction falling due in any year under current and prospective programmes. Superintendence of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Naval Ordnance, Superintendent of Equipment and Refits, Director of Air Department, and Superintendent of Compasses.
2.—Design questions affecting vessels proposed to be purchased for the Fleet or to be employed in auxiliary services.
3.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
4.—Salvage of vessels, so far as technical and professional considerations are involved.

7 September, 1912.
1.—Design of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their Machinery, Armour, Naval Ordnance and Gun Mountings, Aeroplanes and Airships, and Docking facilities: also alterations and additions to ships which affect design or fighting efficiency. Preparation of Estimates of cost of all new construction falling due in any year under current and prospective programmes. Superintendence of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Naval Ordnance, Director of Naval Equipment, Director of Air Department, and Superintendent of Compasses.
2.—Design questions affecting vessels proposed to be purchased for the Fleet or to be employed in auxiliary services.
3.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
4.—Salvage of vessels, so far as technical and professional considerations are involved.

August, 1916.
1.—Design of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their Machinery, Armour, Naval Ordnance and Gun Mountings, Aeroplanes and Airships, and Docking facilities: also alterations and additions to ships which affect design or fighting efficiency. Programme of new construction and repairs in H.M. Dockyards and Contractors' Yards, and questions relating to order of priority of work. Important questions arising in connection with repairs of ships and progress in new construction and repairs (see Note under Additional Civil Lord). Preparation of Estimates of cost of all new construction falling due in any year under current and prospective programmes. Superintendence of the Departments of the Director of Naval Construction, Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Naval Ordnance, Director of Naval Equipment, Director of Air Services and Superintendent of Compasses.
2.—Design questions affecting vessels proposed to be purchased for the Fleet or to be employed in auxiliary services.
3.—Selection of vessels for service as Armed Merchant Cruisers or for combatant purposes, and all technical questions in regard to fitting the same (except Yacht and Motor Boat Patrol, dealt with by Fourth Sea Lord).
4.—Inventions relating to Ships, Machinery, &c.
5.—Salvage of vessels, so far as technical and professional considerations are involved.

June, 1917.
Types and quantities of Matériel for the Fleet, including Ships and their machinery, armour, guns and gun mountings, torpedoes, mines, &c., and their respective appliances and stores, also docking facilities.
Design of Matériel as above, including important alterations and additions to completed ships which affect their fighting and sea-going qualities (in conjunction with Controller).
Order of priority of work upon ships for Naval Service, including both new construction and repairs and alterations (in conjunction with Controller).
Selection of vessels for service as Armed Merchant Cruisers or for Fleet purposes as regards general suitability for the Service (in conjunction with Controller).
Inventions relating to ships and other Matériel as above—questions as to their suitability and applicability to the Naval Service.
Salvage Service.
NOTE.—The Heads of the Departments dealing with the above questions will continue under the superintendence of the Third Sea Lord for these purposes. The Director of Naval Equipment and Director of Compasses will work jointly under the Third Sea Lord and Controller.

Appointees

• Captain Robert Hall, 1871 – 1872
• Rear-Admiral Sir William Stewart, 1872 – 1881
• Vice-Admiral Thomas Brandreth, 12 April, 1882
• Vice-Admiral Sir William Graham, 15 February, 1886
• Vice-Admiral John O. Hopkins, 6 August, 1888 – 1 February, 1892
• Vice-Admiral Sir John A. Fisher, 1 February, 1892
• Rear-Admiral Arthur K. Wilson, 23 August, 1897 – March, 1901
• Rear-Admiral William H. May, 17 April, 1901
• Rear-Admiral Sir Henry B. Jackson, 7 February, 1905
• Rear-Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, 16 October, 1908^{[Citation needed]} – December, 1910
• Rear-Admiral Charles J. Briggs, 20 December, 1910 – 11 June, 1912
• Rear-Admiral A. Gordon H. W. Moore, 29 May, 1912
• Rear-Admiral Frederick C. T. Tudor, 11 August, 1914 – 1 June, 1917
• Rear-Admiral Lionel Halsey, 31 May, 1917 – 17 June, 1918
• Rear-Admiral Charles Bartolomé, 17 June, 1918 – 31 June, 1919
• Rear-Admiral Sir William C. M. Nicholson, 1 July, 1919 – 15 April, 1920
• Vice-Admiral (Acting) Sir Frederick L. Field, 15 April, 1920
• Rear-Admiral Cyril T. M. Fuller, 15 May, 1923 – 30 April, 1925
• Rear-Admiral Sir A. Ernle M. Chatfield, 30 April, 1925 – 1 November, 1928
• Vice-Admiral Roger R. C. Backhouse, 1 November, 1928
• Vice-Admiral Charles M. Forbes, 1 March, 1932
• Admiral Sir Reginald G. H. Henderson, 23 April, 1934 – 1 March, 1939
• Vice-Admiral Bruce A. Fraser, 1 March, 1939 – 22 May, 1942
• Vice-Admiral William F. Wake-Walker,

Naval Assistant to the Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy

Dates of appointment given:

• Captain John R. Jellicoe, 26 March, 1902
• Captain Arthur C. Leveson, 12 August, 1903 – 7 February, 1905
• Captain Charles E. Madden, 7 February, 1905 – 20 December, 1905
• Captain Alexander L. Duff, 20 December, 1905 – 5 January, 1909
• Captain Dudley R. S. de Chair, 5 January, 1909 – 27 July, 1911
• Captain W. Reginald Hall, 27 July, 1911 – 1 July, 1913
• Rear-Admiral Clement Greatorex, 1 July, 1913 – 8 October, 1917

Bibliography

• Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1929). The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. Its Work and Development. B.R. 1845 (late C.B. 3013). Copy No. 8 at The National Archives. ADM 234/434.