1st Division (Royal Navy)

1st Division
Active	March 1909–April 1912
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Division

The 1st Division was a formation of the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy.[1] It briefly existed before the First World War from 1909 to 1912.

History

In March 1909 following a Navy re-organisation, the Home Fleet absorbed the Channel Fleet,[2] which became its First and Second divisions. Each division consisted of A battle squadron that had eight ships.[3] This was essentially a reserve force allocated to major home commands.[4] The new Dreadnought class battleships were allocated to the 1st Battle Squadron - 1st Division, Home Fleet.[4] The Royal Navy's Battle Cruisers were posted to the 1st Cruiser Squadron. The Atlantic Fleet managed to survive the organisational changes. The first division existed until 1912 when it re-styled 1st Battle Squadron.[4]

Rear-Admirals in the 1st Division

Post holders included:[5]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term
Rear-Admirals in the First Division
1	Rear-Admiral		Charles J. Briggs	March, 1909 - 5 January, 1910
2	Rear-Admiral		F. C. Doveton Sturdee	5 January, 1910 - 5 January, 1911
3	Rear-Admiral		Richard H. Peirse	5 January, 1911 - 5 January, 1912
4	Rear-Admiral		Charles E. Madden	5 January, 1912 -May 1912

Components

Included [6]

	Unit	Notes
1	1st Battle Squadron, 1st Division	8 (dreadnoughts)
2	1st Cruiser Squadron	(6 battle cruisers)
3	1st Destroyer Flotilla	(4 cruiser leaders & 19 destroyers )

Footnotes

1. Burt, R. A. (2012). British Battleships of World War One: New Revised Edition. Seaforth Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 9781848321472.
2. Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
3. Friedman, Norman (2014). Fighting the Great War at Sea: Strategy, Tactic and Technology. Seaforth Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 9781473849709.
4. Friedman.p.118.
5. Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, p.199. December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
6. Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2017.

References

• Friedman, Norman (2014). Fighting the Great War at Sea: Strategy, Tactic and Technology. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781473849709.
• Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, p.199. December 2017.
• Marder, Arthur J. (2013) [1961]. From Dreadnought to Scapa Flow: The Royal Navy in the Fisher Era. Vol. I: The Road to War 1904–1914. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781-59114-259-1.
• Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015.