# Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet

The Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet was a senior command appointment of the British Royal Navy from January 1947 to 1958 who also administered the 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron from 1947 to 1951. The appointment was a continuation of the Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station first established in 1861 that underwent a series of name changes due to an expansion of additional duties given to the post holder.

## History

The office holder was originally established as Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station in December 1861 then later Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet. On 18 July 1941 as part of an expansion of duties the post holder was renamed Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet until April 1942. The appointment of the Flag Officer, Air, and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet was created in January 1947 who was additionally responsible for administering the 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet until February 1951 when it was disbanded. The Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet, then became responsible for commanding shore based aviation based at Malta until 1958. HMS Ocean, Theasus and Glory continued to serve in the Mediterranean Fleet until October 1954.

## Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet

Included:
Note:The office holder was sometimes styled as "Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station"
| | Rank | Name | Term |
| Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet/Station ||||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | Sydney C. Dacres | December 1861-April 1863 |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | Hastings R.H. Yelverton | April 1863-April 1865 |
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | Astley Cooper-Key | May 1870-August 1872 |
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | Edward A. Inglefield | 2 August 1872-December 1876 |
| 5 | Rear-Admiral | Edward B. Rice | May 1876-July 1877 |
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | Sir John E. Commerell | July 1877-1878 |
| 7 | Rear-Admiral | Lord Walter Kerr | April 1890-April 1892 |
| 8 | Rear-Admiral | Albert Hastings Markham | April 1892-April 1894 |
| 9 | Rear-Admiral | Compton E. Domvile | April 1894-May 1896 |
| 10 | Rear-Admiral | Robert H. Harris | May 1896-February 1898 |
| 11 | Rear-Admiral | Sir Gerard H. U. Noel | 1 February 1898-February 1900 |
| 12 | Rear-Admiral | Lord Charles W. De la P. Beresford | February 1900-January 1902 |
| 13 | Rear-Admiral | Burges Watson | January-September 1902 |
| 14 | Rear-Admiral | Sir Reginald N. Custance | November 1902-November 1904 |
| 15 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Harry T. Grenfell | November 1904-February 1906 |
| 16 | Rear-Admiral | Francis C. B. Bridgeman | March 1906-February 1907 |
| 17 | Vice-Admiral | Prince Louis of Battenberg | February 1907-November 1908 |
| 18 | Rear-Admiral | Sir George A. Callaghan | November 1908-October 1910 |
| 19 | Rear-Admiral | T. Martyn Jerram | October 1910-May 1912 |
| 20 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Cecil Burney | June-October 1913 |
| 21 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Michael Culme-Seymour | January 1919-September 1920 |
| 22 | Rear-Admiral | Richard Webb | September 1920-September 1922 |
| 23 | Rear-Admiral | John D.Kelly | September 1922-August 1923 |
| 24 | Rear-Admiral | Hugh D. R. Watson | August 1923-April 1925 |
| 25 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Michael H. Hodges | April 1925-May 1927 |
| 26 | Vice-Admiral | Sir John D.Kelly | May 1927-April 1929 |
| 27 | Vice-Admiral | W. A. Howard Kelly | April 1929-October 1930 |
| 28 | Vice-Admiral | Sir William W. Fisher | October 1930-April 1932 |
| 29 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Roger R.C. Backhouse | April 1932-May 1934 |
| 30 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Charles M. Forbes | May 1934-August 1936 |
| 31 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Geoffrey Blake | August 1936-July 1937 |
| 32 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Andrew B. Cunningham | July 1937-August 1938 |
| 33 | Vice-Admiral | Geoffrey Layton | August 1938-November 1939 |

## Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet

Included:
| | Rank | Name | Term | Notes/Ref |
| Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet ||||||
| 1 | Vice-Admiral | John C. Tovey | 18 July, 1940 – 23 October, 1940 | |
| 2 | Vice-Admiral | Henry D. Pridham-Wippell | 24 October, 1940 – 1 April, 1942 | as acting V Adm. |

## Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet

Included:
| | Rank | Name | Term | Notes/Ref |
| Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet and Vice-Admiral, Commanding 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron ||||||
| 1 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Cecil H.J. Harcourt | January 1947 to January 1948 | also VADMCOMM, 2ACSQ |
| 2 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Thomas H. Troubridge: | January to December 1948 | ditto |
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | the Hon. Sir Cyril E. Douglas-Pennant | December 1948 to April 1950 | ditto |
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | Guy Grantham | April 1950 to November 1951 | ditto |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | Ralph A. B. Edwards | November 1951 to December 1951 | ditto |
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | Ralph A. B. Edwards | December 1951 to December 1952 | 2nd AC Squadron is disbanded |
| 7 | Vice-Admiral | William W. Davis | December 1952 to February 1954 | |
| 8 | Vice-Admiral | J. Peter L. Reid | February 1954 to August 1955 | |
| 9 | Vice-Admiral | Maxwell Richmond | August 1955 to October 1956 | |
| 10 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Robin L.F. Durnford-Slater | October 1956 to 1958 | |

## Composition 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron

Included:
: 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron; Mediterranean Fleet 1947 to 1951
| Ship | Dates |
| HMS Ocean | February 1947 to December 1950 |
| HMS Triumph | February 1947 to August 1948 |
| HMS Theseus | June 1947 to August 1948 |
| HMS Glory | December 1949 to December 1950 |