Rear-Admiral, Alexandria | |
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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. [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]
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 | |
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Rear-Admiral, Alexandria | |||||
1 | Rear Admiral |
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F. Elliott | November, 1939 – February, 1941 | [7] [1] Also Playfair, Vol. I., Annex 9, p. 478. |
2 | Rear Admiral |
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George H. Creswell | February, 1941 – August, 1942 | [1] [8] |
3 | Rear Admiral |
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Allan Poland | November, 1942 – October, 1944 | elevated to Acting Vice-Admiral and Knighted [9] [1] [10] |
Base HQ was HMS Nile, borne in HMS Maidstone II.
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria | |||||
1 | Acting-Captain |
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R.D. Binney | 25 January 1940 – 12 January 1941 | (retd) [1] |
2 | Captain |
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B.C.B. Brooke | 12 January 1941 – August 1942 | [1] |
3 | Flag Captain |
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C.H. Rolleston | 16 November 1942 – October 1943 | (retd) [1] |
4 | Captain |
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D. Young-Jameson | October – December 1943 | [1] |
Post holders included:
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria | |||||
1 | Captain |
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W.Y. La R. Beverley | 14 August 1940 – April, 1942 | [1] |
2 | Captain |
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C. Coppinger | April, 1942 – December, 1943 | [1] [11] |
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]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commander, Levant Area | |||||
1 | Captain |
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J.A.V. Morse | October 1941 – 1 April 1942 | as SNO Levant Area [13] |
2 | Commodore |
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D. Young-Jameson | June – December 1943 | as COMM, Levant Area [1] |
Post holders included:
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports | |||||
1 | Captain |
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M.H.S. Macdonald | 18 November 1941 – December, 1943 | [1] |