Nore Command
Encyclopedia
The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore was an operational commander of the Royal Navy
. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Nore Command.
is a sandbank at the mouth of the River Medway
. The command was established at Chatham in 1752 and became responsible for sub-commands at Chatham, London
(less the Admiralty
), Sheerness
, Harwich
and Humber
.
During World War II
, the station assumed great importance: it was used to guard the east coast convoys supplying the ports of North Eastern England.
With the onset of the Cold War
, the station and command diminished in importance as the navy decreased in size. The Nore Command was finally closed on 31 March 1961.
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...
. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Nore Command.
History
The NoreNore
The Nore is a sandbank at the mouth of the Thames Estuary, England. It marks the point where the River Thames meets the North Sea, roughly halfway between Havengore Creek in Essex and Warden Point in Kent....
is a sandbank at the mouth of the River Medway
River Medway
The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters the Thames Estuary....
. The command was established at Chatham in 1752 and became responsible for sub-commands at Chatham, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(less the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
), Sheerness
Sheerness
Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....
, Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
and Humber
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the station assumed great importance: it was used to guard the east coast convoys supplying the ports of North Eastern England.
With the onset of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the station and command diminished in importance as the navy decreased in size. The Nore Command was finally closed on 31 March 1961.
Commanders-in-Chief
Commanders-in-Chief have included:- Vice-Admiral Sir John BeresfordSir John Beresford, 1st BaronetAdmiral Sir John Poo Beresford, 1st Baronet, GCH was an officer in the Royal Navy who rose to the rank of Second Sea Lord. He was a Tory politician in the United Kingdom.-Naval career:...
(1830-1833) - Vice-Admiral Sir Richard KingSir Richard King, 2nd BaronetVice Admiral Sir Richard King, 2nd Baronet KCB was an officer in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, who fought with distinction at the battle of Trafalgar despite being amongst the youngest captains present.King was the son of Sir Richard King, 1st Baronet, a...
(1833-1834) - Vice-Admiral Charles Elphinstone FleemingCharles Elphinstone FleemingAdmiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He commanded a succession of smaller vessels during the early years of the wars, achieving some successes against French cruisers, merchants and privateers, before...
(1834-1837) - Vice-Admiral Sir Robert OtwayRobert OtwayAdmiral Sir Robert Waller Otway, 1st Baronet, GCB was a senior Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century who served extensively as a sea captain during the Napoleonic War and later supported the Brazilian cause during the Brazilian War of Independence...
(1837-1840) - Vice-Admiral Sir Henry DigbyHenry Digby (Royal Navy officer)Admiral of the Blue Sir Henry Digby GCB was a senior British naval officer, who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in the Royal Navy...
(1840-1841) - Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Brace (1841-1844)
- Vice-Admiral Sir John White (1844-1845)
- Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Durnford KingEdward Durnford KingAdmiral Sir Edward Durnford King KCH was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1845-1848) - Vice-Admiral Sir George ElliotGeorge Elliot (1784–1863)Admiral Sir George Elliot, KCB , was a Royal Navy officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and the First Opium War....
(1848-1851) - Vice-Admiral Josceline Percy (1851-1854)
- Vice-Admiral William Gordon (1854-1857)
- Vice-Admiral Sir Edward HarveyEdward HarveyAdmiral Sir Edward Harvey, GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and continued in the service during the first half of the nineteenth century during which he participated in the bombardment of Acre in 1840...
(1857-1860) - Vice-Admiral Sir William Hope-JohnstoneWilliam James Hope-JohnstoneAdmiral Sir William James Hope-Johnstone KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1860-1863) - Vice-Admiral Sir George LambertGeorge Lambert (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir George Robert Lambert GCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1863-1864) - Vice-Admiral Sir Charles TalbotCharles Talbot (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir Charles Talbot KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1864-1866) - Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin WalkerBaldwin Wake WalkerAdmiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, 1st Baronet KCB was Surveyor of the Navy from 1848 to 1861. and was responsible for the Royal Navy's warship construction programme during the 1850s naval arms race and at the time of the introduction of the Ironclad warship; it was his decision to build HMS...
(1866-1869) - Vice-Admiral Richard WarrenRichard Warren (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Richard Laird Warren was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1869-1870) - Vice-Admiral Sir Charles ElliotCharles Elliot (Royal Navy officer)Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Gilbert John Brydone Elliot KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.-Naval career:...
(1870-1873) - Vice-Admiral George HastingsGeorge Fowler HastingsVice-Admiral George Fowler Hastings CB was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service during the First Opium War and the Crimean War. In a naval career spanning over 50 years Hastings saw service across the British Empire, and rose to the rank of vice-admiral...
(1873-1876) - Vice-Admiral Sir Henry ChadsHenry ChadsAdmiral Sir Henry Chads KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1876-1877) - Vice-Admiral Sir William King-HallWilliam King-HallAdmiral Sir William King-Hall KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:King-Hall joined the Royal Navy in 1829 and took part in operations off the coast of Syria in 1840...
(1877-1879) - Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald MacdonaldReginald MacdonaldAdmiral Sir Reginald John James George Macdonald KCB KCSI was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station.-Naval career:...
(1879-1882) - Vice-Admiral Sir Edward RiceEdward Rice (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir Edward Bridges Rice KCB DL was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:Born the son of Edward Royd Rice MP, Rice joined the Royal Navy in 1832...
(1882-1884) - Vice-Admiral Sir John CorbettJohn Corbett (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir John Corbett KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station.-Naval career:...
(1884-1885) - Vice-Admiral The Prince of LeiningenErnst Leopold, 4th Prince of LeiningenErnst Leopold, 4th Prince of Leiningen was a German nobleman.-Biography:He was the elder son of Carl, 3rd Prince of Leiningen and Countess Maria Klebelsberg. His father was the maternal half-brother of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Ernst Leopold joined the Royal Navy in 1849...
(1885-1887) - Vice-Admiral Charles WaddiloveCharles WaddiloveAdmiral Charles Lodowick Darley Waddilove was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1887-1888) - Vice-Admiral Thomas LethbridgeThomas Lethbridge (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Thomas Bridgeman Lethbridge was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:Born the son of Captain Robert Lethbridge RN, Thomas Lethbridge joined the Royal Navy in 1843...
(1888-1890) - Vice-Admiral Charles CurmeCharles CurmeVice Admiral Charles Thomas Curme was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1890-1892) - Vice-Admiral Sir Algernon HeneageAlgernon HeneageAdmiral Sir Algernon Charles Fieschi Heneage GCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore...
(1892-1894) - Vice-Admiral Sir Richard WellsRichard Wells (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir Richard Wells KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1894-1896) - Vice-Admiral Sir Henry NicholsonHenry Nicholson (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir Henry Frederick Nicholson KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:Nicholson joined the Royal Navy in 1849....
(1896-1897) - Vice-Admiral Sir Charles HothamCharles Frederick HothamAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Frederick Hotham, GCB GCVO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.-Naval career:...
(1897-1899) - Vice-Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden-SmithNathaniel Bowden-Smith|-...
(1899-1900) - Vice-Admiral Sir William KennedyWilliam Kennedy (Royal Navy officer)|-...
(1900-1901) - Vice-Admiral Sir Albert MarkhamAlbert Hastings MarkhamAdmiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, KCB was a British explorer, author, and officer in the Royal Navy. In 1903 he was made Knight Commander in the Order of the Bath...
(1901-1903) - Admiral Sir Hugo PearsonHugo PearsonAdmiral Sir Hugo Lewis Pearson KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1903-1907) - Admiral Sir Gerard Noel (1907-1908)
- Admiral Sir Charles DruryCharles Carter DruryAdmiral Sir Charles Carter Drury, GCB, GCVO, KCSI was a Canadian Royal Navy Admiral who went on to be Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel.-Naval career:...
(1908-1911) - Admiral Sir Richard PooreSir Richard Poore, 4th Baronet|-|-...
(1911-1915) - Admiral Sir George CallaghanGeorge CallaghanAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Astley Callaghan GCB GCVO was a senior officer in the Royal Navy.-Naval career:...
(1915-1918) - Admiral Sir Doveton SturdeeDoveton SturdeeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, 1st Baronet, GCB, KCMG, CVO was a British admiral.-Naval career:...
(1918-1921) - Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-ThomasHugh Evan-ThomasVice Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas GCB, KCMG, MVO was a British Royal Navy officer.During World War I he commanded the 5th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet, flying his flag in HMS Barham, and fought at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May – 1 June 1916.-Background:Evan-Thomas' family came from...
(1921-1924) - Vice Admiral Sir William GoodenoughWilliam GoodenoughAdmiral Sir William Edmund Goodenough GCB, MVO was a senior Royal Navy officer of World War I.-Naval career:Goodenough joined the Royal Navy in 1882. He was appointed Commander of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1905...
(1924-1927) - Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-SinclairEdwyn Alexander-SinclairAdmiral Sir Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, GCB, MVO was a British Royal Navy officer, notable for firing the first shots of the Battle of Jutland, and for leading a squadron of light cruisers in the Baltic to support independence of Estonia and Latvia in 1918-19.-Naval career:Born in Malta and...
(1927-1930) - Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt (1930-1933)
- Vice Admiral Sir Hugh TweedieHugh TweedieAdmiral Sir Hugh Justin Tweedie KCB was an officer in the Royal Navy who served in the First and Second World War.-Naval career:...
(1933-1935) - Vice Admiral Sir Edward EvansEdward Evans, 1st Baron MountevansAdmiral Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans, KCB, DSO , known as "Teddy" Evans, was a British naval officer and Antarctic explorer...
(1935-1939) - Admiral Sir Studholme BrownriggStudholme BrownriggAdmiral Sir Henry John Studholme Brownrigg KBE CB DSO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:Brownrigg joined the Royal Navy in 1902....
(January 1939-December 1939) - Admiral Sir Reginald Plunkett (1939-1941)
- Admiral Sir George Lyon (1941-1943)
- Admiral Sir John ToveyJohn Tovey, 1st Baron ToveyAdmiral of the Fleet John Cronyn "Jack" Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey GCB, KBE, DSO, DCL was a Royal Navy admiral who served in both World Wars. He signed himself as "Jack", not "John". Tovey joined the Royal Navy before World War I, and commanded destroyers in that war. He rose, with several senior...
(1943-1946) - Admiral Sir Harold BurroughHarold BurroughAdmiral Sir Harold Martin Burrough GCB, KBE, DSO was a senior Royal Navy officer and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff to the Royal Navy during World War II.- Early career :...
(1946-1948) - Admiral Sir Henry Moore (1948-1950)
- Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt (1950-1952)
- Admiral Sir Cyril Douglas-PennantCyril Douglas-PennantAdmiral The Honourable Sir Cyril Eustace Douglas-Pennant KCB CBE DSO DSC was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1952-1953) - Admiral Sir Geoffrey OliverGeoffrey OliverAdmiral Sir Geoffrey Nigel Oliver GBE, KCB, DSO & Two Bars was a British Royal Navy officer during the Second World War.-Early career:...
(1953-1955) - Admiral Sir Frederick ParhamFrederick ParhamAdmiral Sir Frederick Robertson Parham GBE KCB DSO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:...
(1955-1958) - Admiral Sir Robin Durnford-SlaterRobin Durnford-SlaterAdmiral Sir Robin Durnford-Slater KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be the last Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.-Naval career:Durnford-Slater joined the Royal Navy in 1923....
(1958-1961)