Naval Officer-in-Charge, Aden

The Naval Officer-in-Charge, Aden, was an administrative appointment of British Royal Navy originally established in 1839 as the Senior Naval Officer, Aden. He was responsible for HMS Sheba.[1] It was a sub-command of the Flag Officer, Middle East.[2]

Aden Station
Active1839–1959
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
Part of
Garrison/HQHMS Sheba
Steamer Point, Aden
Aden Protectorate (1839-1937)

History

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In 1839 the Royal Navy carried out an operation called the Aden Expedition led by Captain Henry Smith under orders from the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, in the south east Arabian Peninsula its occupation of Aden was mainly for strategic reasons as Aden provided control of the entrance to the Red Sea a naval base was first established here at the same time.[3] In 1869 the Suez Canal was opened and the British Empire established a number of protectorates in Southern Arabia mainly as a shield against further expansion by the Ottoman Empire who were occupying the rest of Yemen.[4] In the 19th century and early twentieth century it was a major coaling station that sat on an important trade route from India.[5] During World War Two the main naval formation based in Aden was the Red Sea Force.[6]

In command before the First World War

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Senior Naval Officer, Aden

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Senior Naval Officer, Aden
1 Captain   Henry Smith 1839 later Admiral.[7]

Senior Naval Officer, Aden Division

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Senior Naval Officer, Aden Division
1 Commander   E. R. Pears 1904 [8]
2 Captain   J. B. Eustace 1905 [9]
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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Naval Transport Officer-in-Charge, Aden
1 Commander   Charles A. Scott 1919 [10]

In command inter-war period and Second World War

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Naval Officer-in-Charge, Aden & Commanding Officer, HMS Sheba (RN Base, Aden)
1 Captain   Douglas B. Fisher 15 September 1935 – 29 June 1936 [10]
2 Acting-Captain   P.L. Gunn 8 July 1939 – 29 May 1942 [11][12]
3 Commodore   C.A.A. Larcom 29 May 1942 – February, 1943 retired[13][14]
4 Commodore   Fitzroy.E.P. Hutton 28 August – December, 1943 ditto[14]
5 Commodore   E. A Aylmer 25 March 1944 – July, 1945 [15]
6 Captain   Waldemar W. P. Shirley-Rollison 1945 - 1946 [16]

References

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  1. ^ The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. November 1939. p. 240.
  2. ^ Walker, Jonathan (2014). Aden Insurgency: The Savage War in Yemen 1962-67. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. p. 90. ISBN 9781783375615.
  3. ^ Ram, Krishnamurthy Venkat (2009). "Conclusion". Anglo-Ethiopian Relations, 1869 to 1906: A Study of British Policy in Ethiopia. New Delhi, India: Concept Publishing Company. p. 241. ISBN 9788180696244.
  4. ^ Innes-Robbins, Simon (22 June 2018). "A Short History Of The Aden Emergency". Imperial War Museums. London, England: Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  5. ^ Anderson, Ewan W. (2014). Global Geopolitical Flashpoints : an Atlas of Conflict. London, England: Taylor and Francis, Routledge. p. 8. ISBN 9781135940942.
  6. ^ Bertke, Donald A.; Kindell, Don; Smith, Gordon (2011). WORLD WAR II SEA WAR: FRANCE FALLS, BRITAIN STANDS ALONE: Day-to-Day Naval Actions from April 1940 through September 1940. Lulu Bertke Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 9781937470005.
  7. ^ Clowes, W. Laird (William Laird); Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert); Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer); Wilson, Herbert Wrigley (1897–1903). The royal navy, a history from the earliest times to present. London : S. Low, Marston, Co. p. 277.
  8. ^ Fevyer, W. H.; Wilson, J. W. (2012). Africa General Service Medal: to the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. Luton, England: Andrews UK Limited. p. 110. ISBN 9781781504314.
  9. ^ Campbell, Gwyn (10 January 2018). Bondage and the environment in the Indian Ocean world. New York, NY, USA: Springer Publishing. p. 248. ISBN 9783319700281.
  10. ^ a b Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (21 August 2018). "Aden - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. December 1941. p. 937.
  12. ^ Niehorster, Dr. Leo. "East Indies Station, Royal Navy, 3.09.39". niehorster.org. L. Niehorster. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. February 1943. p. 1422.
  14. ^ a b Niehorster, Leo. "World War II unit histories & officers". www.unithistories.com. L. Niehorster. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H. M.Stationery Office. October 1944. p. 2262.
  16. ^ Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - S". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 October 2018.

Sources

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  • Anderson, Ewan W. (2014). Global Geopolitical Flashpoints : an Atlas of Conflict. London, England: Taylor and Francis, Routledge. ISBN 9781135940942.
  • Bertke, Donald A.; Kindell, Don; Smith, Gordon (2011). WORLD WAR II SEA WAR: FRANCE FALLS, BRITAIN STANDS ALONE: Day-to-Day Naval Actions from April 1940 through September 1940. Lulu Bertke Publishing. ISBN 9781937470005.
  • Campbell, Gwyn (10 January 2018). Bondage and the environment in the Indian Ocean world. New York, NY, USA: Springer Publishing. p. 248. ISBN 9783319700281
  • Clowes, W. Laird (William Laird); Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert); Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer); Wilson, Herbert Wrigley.(1897–1903) The royal navy, a history from the earliest times to present. London : S. Low, Marston, Co.
  • "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H. M.Stationery Office. October 1944.
  • Fevyer, W. H.; Wilson, J. W. (2012). Africa General Service Medal: to the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. Luton, England: Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 9781781504314.
  • Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (21 August 2018). "Aden - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  • Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - S". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes.
  • Innes-Robbins, Simon (2018). "A Short History Of The Aden Emergency". Imperial War Museums. London, England: Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  • Niehorster, Leo. "World War II unit histories & officers". www.unithistories.com. L. Niehorster. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  • Ram, Krishnamurthy Venkat (2009). "Conclusion". Anglo-Ethiopian Relations, 1869 to 1906: A Study of British Policy in Ethiopia. New Delhi, India: Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 9788180696244.