| Rear-Admiral, Alexandria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1939–1944 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Part of | Mediterranean Fleet (1939–1943) Commander-in-Chief, Levant (1943–1944) |
| Garrison/HQ | HMS Nile, Alexandria, Egypt |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Rear-Admiral Allan Poland |
The Rear-Admiral, Alexandria was an administrative shore based appointment of the British Royal Navy. The post was established during the Second World War, subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet then later the Commander-in-Chief, Levant.
The Navy List for 1940, 1941, and 1943 locates the admiral at Alexandra.
The post of Rear-Admiral, Alexandria was created during the Second World War, responsible for administering the shore establishment of HMS Nile (borne in Maidstone II) at Ras el-Tin Point, Alexandria. The post existed from 1939 to 1945. From November 1939 until February 1943 it was part of the Mediterranean Fleet until the Fleet was divided. After February 1943 the Rear-Admiral Alexandria came under the command of the new Commander-in-Chief, Levant, until January 1944 when the Mediterranean Fleet was reunified once more.
Incumbent admirals
The Rear-Admiral, Alexandria reported to the C-in-C, Mediterranean Fleet from November 1939 to February 1943, and then was resubordinated to the C-in-C, Levant until December 1943. Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Admiral, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Rear Admiral |  |
F. Elliott | November, 1939 – February, 1941 | Also Playfair, Vol. I., Annex 9, p. 478. |
| 2 | Rear Admiral | |
George H. Creswell | February, 1941 – August, 1942 | |
| 3 | Rear Admiral | |
Allan Poland | November, 1942 – October, 1944 | elevated to Acting Vice-Admiral and Knighted |
Headquarters staff
Base HQ was HMS Nile, borne in HMS Maidstone II.
Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Acting-Captain |  |
R.D. Binney | 25 January 1940 – 12 January 1941 | (retd) |
| 2 | Captain | |
B.C.B. Brooke | 12 January 1941 – August 1942 | |
| 3 | Flag Captain | |
C.H. Rolleston | 16 November 1942 – October 1943 | (retd) |
| 4 | Captain | |
D. Young-Jameson | October – December 1943 | |
Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria
Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Captain | |
W.Y. La R. Beverley | 14 August 1940 – April, 1942 | |
| 2 | Captain | |
C. Coppinger | April, 1942 – December, 1943 | |
Levant Area
The Senior Naval Officer, later Commander, Levant Area, was originally styled as Naval Officer-in-Charge, Haifa. His title was later changed to SNO Levant Area and his headquarters transferred to Beirut.
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander, Levant Area | |||||
| 1 | Captain | |
J.A.V. Morse | October 1941 – 1 April 1942 | as SNO Levant Area |
| 2 | Commodore |  |
D. Young-Jameson | June – December 1943 | as COMM, Levant Area |
Cyprus Area
Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports
Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports | |||||
| 1 | Captain | |
M.H.S. Macdonald | 18 November 1941 – December, 1943 | |
Notes
- ^ Houterman, Jerome N..; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939–1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1940). "Flag Officers in Commission, Officers Commanding Squadrons, Senior Naval Officers". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 936.
- Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1941). "Flag Officers in Commission, Officers Commanding Squadrons, Senior Naval Officers". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 936.
- Admiralty, Great Britain (February 1943). "Flag Officers in Commission, Officers Commanding Squadrons, Senior Naval Officers". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 1421.
- Navy List October 1944 p.2262
- Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. December 1940. p. 873.
- Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2018). "A/Rear-Admiral George Hector Creswell, DSO, DSC of the Royal Navy (RN) - Allied Warship Commanders of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- "FIFTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of FRIDAY, the 17th of DECEMBER, 1943" (PDF). The London Gazette. 17 December 1943. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. October 1944. p. 2262.
- The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. December 1942. p. 1276.
- Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.I: September 1939 – October 1940. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 7. ISBN 9781135281540.
- Kindell, Don (16 January 2012). "Mediterranean Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
References
- Bertke, Donald A.; Kindell, Don; Smith, Gordon (2012). World War II Sea War, Volume 3 Donald A Bertke, Gordon Smith. ISBN 9781937470012.
- Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2018). "Allied Warship Commanders of WWII – uboat.net". uboat.net.
- Houterman, Jerome N..; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939–1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes, Netherlands.
- Playfair, Major-General I.S.O.; Stitt, Commander G.M.S.; Molony, Brigadier C.J.C.; Toomer, Air Vice-Marshal S.E. (2004) . Butler, J.R.M (ed.). Mediterranean and Middle East Volume I: The Early Successes Against Italy (to May 1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-065-3.
- Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.