Battle Cruiser Force
From The Dreadnought Project
Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty and Battle Cruiser Fleet staff on the fo'csle of Lion, 1916. Left to right: Unknown, Commander Sidney R. Bailey, Engineer Captain Donald P. Green, Captain The Hon. Hubert G. Brand, Unknown, Paymaster Frank T. Spickernell, Brevet Major Harold M. Franks, R.M.L.I., Sir David Beatty, Lieutenant Ralph P. Seymour, Unknown, Unknown, Captain A. Ernle M. Chatfield, Unknown, Captain The Hon. Reginald A. R. P-E-E-Drax, Unknown.
The Admiralty ordered the formation of the Battle Cruiser Fleet on 11 February, 1915.[1]
It was very similar to a more diverse predecessor known as Cruiser Force A.
The formation was renamed the Battle Cruiser Force on 29 November, 1916.[2] It ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.[3]
Friction
When Beatty tried to get his Secretary, Frank T. Spickernell, promoted to the rank of Paymaster in 1915, the Second Sea Lord, Sir Frederick T. Hamilton, sarcastically noted in a letter to the Chief of Staff, Henry F. Oliver, "all I know of him is that he wants to be promoted over the heads of his top mates because he belongs to the redoubtable B.C.F."[4]
Vice-Admirals Commanding
Dates of appointment given:
- Vice-Admiral (Acting) Sir David R. Beatty, 8 February, 1915[5]
- Vice-Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham, 29 November, 1916[6]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver, 28 February, 1919[7] ((Temporarily))
- Vice-Admiral (Acting) Sir Roger J. B. Keyes, 21 March, 1919[8] – 7 April, 1919[9]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Information from John Roberts.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
- ↑ Hamilton to Oliver. Letter of 23 July, 1915. Hamilton Papers. National Maritime Museum. HTN/117/A.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
Bibliography
