| 1st Destroyer Flotilla | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1907; formal July 1909–July 1940, 1947-1951 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Size | Flotilla |
| Engagements | World War I World War II |
| Commanders | |
| First | Commodore Edward F. B. Charlton |
| Last | Captain Michael S. Townsend |
The 1st Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as the First Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1940 and again from 1947 to 1951.
In May 1906, the First Destroyer Flotilla was attached to the Channel Fleet. The flotilla was attached alongside the 2nd and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas.[1] Between February and August of 1907, it was stationed in Portsmouth until being reassigned to the Channel Fleet. In February 1909 the flotilla was transferred to the 1st Division of the Home Fleet. On 27 July 1909, it was placed 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 Fleet.
At the outbreak of war in July, 1914, the First Destroyer Flotilla was part of the First Fleet and was composed of 20 destroyers, 1 depot ship, and 1 scout cruiser. In August 1914 it was grouped with two other flotillas to form the Harwich Force as part of the Grand Fleet, under the command of Reginald Tyrwhitt, 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.[1][2]
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.[3] It was renamed back to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla still with the Med Fleet until August 1938.[4]
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.[5] 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.
Command structure organizational changes took place within the Royal Navy during the 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.[6]
| Assigned to | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Fleet | March 1907 to February 1909 | |
| Home Fleet, 1st Division | March 1909 to April 1912 | |
| Home Fleets, First Fleet | May 1912 to July 1914 | |
| Grand Fleet | August 1914 to November 1916 | |
| Harwich Force | November 1916 to April 1917 | |
| Portsmouth Command | April 1917 to November 1918 | |
| Atlantic Fleet | November 1918 to- April 1925 | renumbered 5DF |
| Mediterranean Fleet | September to July 1940 | |
| Portsmouth Command | July 1940 to May 1945 | |
| Mediterranean Fleet | July 1945 to October 1951 |
In the Royal Navy, a Captain (D) afloat or Captain Destroyers afloat is an operational commander responsible for the command of destroyer flotilla or squadron.
Incomplete list of post holders included:[7]
| Rank | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commodore | Edward F. B. Charlton | 27 July, 1909 – after 27 June, 1910 | |
| 2 | Commodore 2nd class | Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot | 29 November, 1910 – 1 May, 1912 | later R.Adm. |
| 3 | Captain | Arthur R. Hulbert | 10 May, 1912 – 12 January, 1913 | |
| 4 | Captain | Thomas L. Shelford | 20 January, 1913 | |
| 5 | Captain | William F. Blunt | 25 April, 1913 – 25 July, 1915 | (later R.Adm)[8] |
| 6 | Captain | Charles D. Roper | 27 July, 1915 – 8 June, 1916 | |
| 7 | Captain | Brien M. Money | 1 March, 1919 – 4 April, 1919 | |
| 8 | Captain | George W. McO. Campbell | 4 April, 1919 – 1 December, 1920 | (later V. Adm) |
| 9 | Captain | Arthur K. Betty | 1 December, 1920 – 19 December, 1922 | |
| 10 | Captain | Sir Andrew B. Cunningham | 19 December, 1922 – 1 July, 1924 | (later Adm. of the Fleet) |
| 11 | Captain | Kenneth MacLeod | 1 July, 1924 – 1 April, 1925 | |
| 12 | Captain | James V. Creagh | 7 July, 1925 – October, 1927 | |
| 13 | Captain | John H. K. Clegg | 11 October, 1927 – 7 December, 1929 | |
| 14 | Captain | Alan R. Dewar | 6 November, 1929 – 10 December, 1931 | (later R.Adm) |
| 15 | Captain | Edward B. Cloete | 10 December, 1931 – December, 1932 | |
| 16 | Captain | Charles F. Harris | 12 December, 1932 - 18 May, 1936 | |
| 17 | Captain | Charles M. Blackman | 18 May, 1936 - 25 June, 1940 | |
| 18 | Captain | Augustine W. S. Agar | 25 June, 1940 – 13 July, 1940 | (later Cmdre.) flotilla disbanded |
| 19 | Captain | R. Dymock Watson | 1947 - October 1948 | flotilla reformed |
| 20 | Captain | John E.H. McBeath | October 1948 - April 1950 | |
| 21 | Captain | Michael S. Townsend | April 1950 - October 1951 | flotilla renamed 1st Destroyer Squadron |
