1st Destroyer Flotilla


The 1st Destroyer Flotilla also styled as First Destroyer Flotilla was a naval formation of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1940 and again from 1947 to 1951.

History

In March 1907 a Channel Flotilla of destroyers was attached to the Channel Fleet until February 1909 when it was divided to form the 1st and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas. In March 1909 it was transferred to the 1st Division of the Home Fleet. On 27 July 1909 it was place under the command of Commodore Edward F. B. Charlton until 1910. From May 1912 to July 1914 the flotilla was allocated to the First Fleet of the Home Fleets. In August 1914 it was grouped with two other flotillas to form the Harwich Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Grand Fleet until November 1916. The flotilla was next assigned to the Harwich Force where it remained until April 1917. From May 1917 until December 1918 it was in the Portsmouth Command. After World War One the flotilla was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet from November 1918 to- April 1925. In 1925 it was re-designated 5th Destroyer Flotilla and assigned to its first overseas station as part of the Mediterranean Fleet until 1932. It was renamed back to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla still with the Med Fleet until August 1938. At the beginning of World War Two in September 1939 the flotilla was placed under the command of the Rear-Admiral, Destroyer Flotillas Mediterranean Fleet where it remained until July 1940 when it was moved to the Portsmouth Command, till May 1945. Post the Second World War the Flotilla was reformed again as part of the Mediterranean Fleet in July 1945 until October 1951 when it was renamed 1st Destroyer Squadron.
Of note: Command structure organizational changes took place within Royal Navy post war period the term Flotilla was previously applied to a tactical unit until 1951 which led to the creation of three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas responsible for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets the existing destroyer flotillas were re-organized now as administrative squadrons.

Operational deployments

Administration

In the Royal Navy, a Captain afloat or Captain Destroyers afloat is an operational commander responsible for the command of destroyer flotilla or squadron.

Captains (D) afloat 1st Destroyer Flotilla

Incomplete list of post holders included:
RankNameTermNotes
1CommodoreEdward F. B. Charlton29 November, 1910 – 1 May, 1912
2CaptainSir Robert K. ArbuthnotNovember, 1917 – 1 March, 1919later R.Adm.
3CaptainArthur R. Hulbert10 May, 1912 – 12 January, 1913
4CaptainThomas L. Shelford20 January, 1913
5CaptainWilliam F. Blunt25 April, 1913 – 25 July, 1915
6CaptainCharles D. Roper27 July, 1915 – 8 June, 1916
7CaptainBrien M. Money1 March, 1919 – 4 April, 1919
8CaptainGeorge W. McO. Campbell4 April, 1919 – 1 December, 1920
9CaptainArthur K. Betty1 December, 1920 – 19 December, 1922
10CaptainSir Andrew B. Cunningham19 December, 1922 – 1 July, 1924
11CaptainKenneth MacLeod1 July, 1924 – 1 April, 1925
12CaptainJames V. Creagh7 July, 1925 – October, 1927
13CaptainJohn H. K. Clegg11 October, 1927 – 7 December, 1929
14CaptainAlan R. Dewar6 November, 1929 – 10 December, 1931
15CaptainEdward B. Cloete10 December, 1931 – December, 1932
16CaptainCharles F. Harris12 December, 1932 - 18 May, 1936
17CaptainCharles M. Blackman18 May, 1936 - 25 June, 1940
18CaptainAugustine W. S. Agar25 June, 1940 – 13 July, 1940 flotilla disbanded
19CaptainR. Dymock Watson1947 - October 1948flotilla reformed
20CaptainJohn E.H. McBeathOctober 1948 - April 1950
21CaptainMichael S. TownsendApril 1950 - October 1951flotilla renamed 1st Destroyer Squadron