Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands
| Orkneys and Shetlands Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | (1914-1920), (1939-1945) |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Type | Fleet |
| Garrison/HQ | Lyness |
The Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands [1] was an operational commander of the Royal Navy. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Orkneys and Shetlands Command they were charged with the administration of the Orkney and Shetland Islands.
History
The Orkney and Shetland command was usually only formed at the outbreak of war to provide for the defence and administration of the main base for the Home Fleet. The duties of the Admiral Commanding were laid down as being responsible, under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, for administration of naval defences, naval establishments, and shore duties generally in the Orkneys and Shetlands.
During the First World War and the Second World War the Rear-Admiral, Scapa Flow served under him, with a position similar to that of an Admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port. Directly under his orders were the Northern Patrol, Shetlands Patrols, the Officer Commanding Troops Orkney, the Officer Commanding Troops Shetlands, the Admiralty Port Officer Kirkwall, the Rear-Admiral commanding the local minefields and the officers responsible for the extended defences, the local defence flotilla and the Orkney Trawler Patrols.[2] He was responsible for the patrolling of the area from Wick to Cape Wrath.[3]
During the Second World War the Rear-Admiral, Scapa Flow continued to serve under him.
Commanders First World War
Flag Officer commanding:[4]
- Admiral Sir Stanley Cecil James Colville, 7 September 1914 – 19 January 1916
- Admiral Sir Frederic Edward Errington Brock, 20 January 1916 – 11 March 1918
- Admiral Sir Herbert E. King-Hall, 28 January 1918 – 1 March 1919
- Vice Admiral Sir Robert John Prendergast, 1 March 1919 – 9 January 1920
Subordinate commanders First World War
Flag officer commanding:[5]
Flag Officer Scapa Flow (also known as Rear Admiral Scapa)
The role was similar to that of Admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port
- Rear Admiral Francis Miller, September 1914 – April, 1916
- Rear Admiral Robert Prendergast, May 1916 – September 1917
Flag Officer Shetlands
- Rear Admiral Clement Greatorex October 1917
The Command was deactivated during interwar years 9 January 1920 – September 1939
Commanders Second World War
Flag officer commanding
- Vice-Admiral Sir Wilfred Franklin French, July – 20 December 1939 [6]
- Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Binney, 20 December 1939 – 7 January 1942
- Vice-Admiral Sir Lionel Wells, 7 January - October 1943
- Vice Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, April 1944 - March 1945
Subordinate commanders Second World War
Flag officer commanding [7]
Flag Officer Scapa (also known as Rear Admiral Scapa)
- Rear Admiral Patrick Macnamara (Retired), 1 September 1940 - March 1945
Admiral Superintendent Lyness[8]
- Rear Admiral Patrick Macnamara (Retired), 3 October 1940 - March 1945
Admiral Superintendent Orkney
- Rear Admiral Patrick Macnamara (Retired), 1 May 1942 - March 1945
References
- ↑ Haarr, Geirr H. (2013). The Gathering Storm: The Naval War in Northern Europe September 1939 - April 1940. Seaforth Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9781473832732.
- ↑ Grand Fleet Order 107.
- ↑ Grand Fleet Order 136.
- ↑ Watson, Graham. "Organisation of the Royal Navy 1914 to 1918, The Home Commands World War One". naval-history.net. Naval History.Net, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ↑ Watson, Graham. "Organisation of the Royal Navy 1914 to 1918, The Home Commands World War One". naval-history.net. Naval History.Net, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ↑ Haarr, Geirr H. (2013). The Gathering Storm: The Naval War in Northern Europe September 1939 - April 1940. Seaforth Publishing. pp. 2–16. ISBN 9781473832732.
- ↑ "Patrick Macnamara Life and Career Post War". dreadnoughtproject.org. The Dreadnought Project.Org, 13 June 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ↑ "Admiral Superintendent's Office, Lyness". nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 31 October 2016.