Rear-Admiral, Alexandria
Active1939–1944
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
Part ofMediterranean Fleet
(1939–1943) Commander-in-Chief, Levant
(1943–1944)
Garrison/HQHMS 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.[1]

The Navy List for 1940, 1941, and 1943 locates the admiral at Alexandra.[2][3][4]

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.[5] The post existed from 1939 to 1945.[1] 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.[6]

Incumbent admirals

Rear Admiral Poland at a parade in Alexandria

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:

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Rear-Admiral, Alexandria
1Rear AdmiralF. ElliottNovember, 1939 – February, 1941[7][1] Also Playfair, Vol. I., Annex 9, p. 478.
2Rear AdmiralGeorge H. CreswellFebruary, 1941 – August, 1942[1][8]
3Rear AdmiralAllan PolandNovember, 1942 – October, 1944elevated to Acting Vice-Admiral and Knighted[9][1][10]

Headquarters staff

Base HQ was HMS Nile, borne in HMS Maidstone II.

Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria
1Acting-CaptainR.D. Binney25 January 1940 – 12 January 1941(retd)[1]
2CaptainB.C.B. Brooke12 January 1941 – August 1942[1]
3Flag CaptainC.H. Rolleston16 November 1942 – October 1943(retd)[1]
4CaptainD. Young-JamesonOctober – December 1943[1]

Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria

Post holders included:

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria
1CaptainW.Y. La R. Beverley14 August 1940 – April, 1942[1]
2CaptainC. CoppingerApril, 1942 – December, 1943[1][11]

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.[12]

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Commander, Levant Area
1CaptainJ.A.V. MorseOctober 1941 – 1 April 1942as SNO Levant Area[13]
2CommodoreD. Young-JamesonJune – December 1943as COMM, Levant Area [1]

Cyprus Area

Post holders included:

RankFlagNameTermNotes/Ref
Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports
1CaptainM.H.S. Macdonald18 November 1941 – December, 1943[1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Houterman, Jerome N..; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939–1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Navy List October 1944 p.2262
  6. ↑ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  7. ↑ The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. December 1940. p. 873.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "FIFTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of FRIDAY, the 17th of DECEMBER, 1943" (PDF). The London Gazette. 17 December 1943. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. October 1944. p. 2262.
  11. ↑ The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. December 1942. p. 1276.
  12. ↑ Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.I: September 1939 – October 1940. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 7. ISBN 9781135281540.
  13. ↑ 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) [1954 HMSO]. 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.
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