The First Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 squadron of armored cruisers that saw service as part of the Mediterranean

Mediterranean Fleet

Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...

 and Grand Fleets during the First World War

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. It was originally formed in 1909, but was renamed on 1 January 1913 to First Battle Cruiser Squadron. It was reformed afterwards.

Background

When the First World War

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 began, the squadron was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet

Mediterranean Fleet

Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...

 where it participated in the pursuit

Pursuit of Goeben and Breslau

The pursuit of Goeben and Breslau was a naval action that occurred in the Mediterranean Sea at the outbreak of the First World War when elements of the British Mediterranean Fleet attempted to intercept the German Mittelmeerdivision comprising the battlecruiser and the light cruiser...

 of the German battlecruiser

Battlecruiser

Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...

  and the light cruiser

Light cruiser

A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...

 . It joined the Grand Fleet by January 1915 where it participated in the battles of Dogger Bank

Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)

The Battle of Dogger Bank was a naval battle fought near the Dogger Bank in the North Sea on 24 January 1915, during the First World War, between squadrons of the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet....

 and the Battle of Jutland

Battle of Jutland

The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...

. It was disbanded after the battle as three of its four ships had been sunk.

It was reformed in 1917 with the three large light cruisers of the . The squadron was the main British force in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight

Second Battle of Heligoland Bight

The Second Battle of Heligoland Bight was a naval engagement during the First World War. On 17 November 1917, German minesweepers clearing a path through the British minefield in the Heligoland Bight near the coast of Germany were intercepted by two British light cruisers, and , performing...

 in late 1917.

Armoured cruisers

- Flagship of Rear-Admiral

Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)

Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....

 Ernest C. T. Troubridge

Ernest Troubridge

Admiral Sir Ernest Charles Thomas Troubridge KCMG, MVO was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the First World War, later rising to the rank of admiral....

. Captain Fawcet Wray - Captain Frederick D. Gilpin-Brown - Captain Henry Blackett - Captain George H. Borrett

Light cruisers

- Captain Sidney R. Drury-Lowe - Captain John D. Kelly - Captain Howard Kelly

Howard Kelly (Royal Navy officer)

Admiral Sir Howard Kelly GBE KCB CMG MVO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:Kelly joined the Royal Navy in 1886...

 - Captain William D. Church

24 January 1915

• Duke of Edinburgh - Temporary flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
  Sir Robert Arbuthnot, 4th Baronet
  Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, 4th Baronet, KCB, MVO was a British Royal Navy officer during World War I...
  
  
• Black Prince
• Warrior

22 February 1915

• Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Black Prince
• Warrior

30 May 1916

• Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Black Prince
• Warrior

Post World War II

Then-Rear Admiral Ralph Edwards

Ralph Edwards (Royal Navy officer)

Admiral Sir Ralph Edwards KCB CBE was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.-Naval career:...

, C.B.E. R.N. was Rear Admiral Commanding First Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet

Mediterranean Fleet

Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...

, and Flag Officer (Air), Mediterranean in the late 1940s. He commanded the squadron from his former command HMS Gambia.