Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham

Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham
Active 1891. formal 1902-1961
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
Type Reserve Fleet
Role manning and training facility
Part of Royal Navy
Garrison/HQ Chatham, Kent, England
Commanders
First Captain Ernest Rice
Last Commodore Lionel W.L. Argles

The Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham also known as HMS Pembroke was a military installation built between the Steam Yard and Brompton barracks in the early years of the century. At the beginning of the First World War Chatham was one the Royal Navy’s three ‘manning ports’ together with Plymouth and Portsmouth - manned by men allocated to the Chatham Division, a role that was to continue until the advent of central manning in 1956. After which Chatham became home to the reserve, or standby fleet.[1] It existed from 1891 to 1961.

History

In 1890, the Royal Navy Depot in Chatham was founded. A new permanent shore base the Royal Naval barracks were purpose-built to provide accommodation and training facilities for the men of the reserve fleet who were waiting to be appointed to ships. Designed by Colonel Henry Pilkington, construction of the barracks began in 1897 and completed in December 1902.[2]. At the beginning of World War One Chatham was one of three ‘manning ports' (including Porstmouth and Plymouth) of the Royal Navy with ships, manned and allocated to the Chatham Division, a role that continued until the advent of central manning in 1956.[3] In 1942, King George VI made a visit to Medway and the HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham. In 1957, the barracks and gunnery school were closed due to the local port divisions being replaced. When the Nore Command (operational commander of the Royal Navy) ended in March 1961, the barracks were being used as an accommodation center for the re-fitting crews of the dockyard. The Drill Shed and Canteen were being used by the Dockyard. In 1959, the barracks re-opened as the Royal Naval Supply School, who trained staff in supply and secretarial work. In 1970, all Naval establishments in Chatham were to be combined together and known as HM Navy Base, under one officer 'Flag Officer, Medway and Port Admiral'.

Administration of the naval depot/barracks

Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham

Post holders included:[4]

  • Captain Ernest Rice: July 1891-July 1893
  • Captain Swinton C. Holland: July 1893-July 1896
  • Captain Robert F. Hammick: July 1896-October 1898
  • Captain Angus Macleod: October 1898-May 1901
  • Captain Reginald C. Prothero: May 1901-October 1902
  • Captain Lewis E. Wintz: October 1902-July 1904
  • Commodore Frederick G.Stopford: July 1904-May 1907
  • Commodore Edward E. Bradford: May 1907-December 1908
  • Commodore Ernest C.T. Troubridge: December 1908-February 1910
  • Commodore Cecil F. Thursby: February 1910-August 1911
  • Commodore Seymour E. Erskine: August 1911-April 1913
  • Commodore Ernest F. A. Gaunt: April 1913-August 1915
  • Rear-Admiral Seymour E.Erskine: August 1915-July 1918
  • Commodore Harry L. de E. Skipwith: July 1918-August 1920
  • Commodore Gerald W.Vivian: August 1920-June 1921
  • Commodore Louis C.S.Woollcombe: June 1921-May 1922
  • Commodore Alexander V.Campbell: May 1922-November 1923
  • Commodore Eric J.A.Fullerton: November 1923-December 1925
  • Commodore Geoffrey Hopwood: December 1925-December 1927
  • Commodore Hugh S. Shipway: December 1927-November 1929
  • Commodore Arthur L. Snagge: November 1929-July 1931
  • Commodore Andrew B. Cunningham: July 1931-December 1932
  • Commodore Robert C. Davenport: January 1933-July 1935
  • Commodore John C. Tovey: January 1935-July 1937
  • Commodore Stuart S. Bonham-Carter: July 1937-March 1939
  • Commodore Robert L. Burnett: March 1939-November 1940
  • Commodore R. S. Gresham Nicholson: November 1940-August 1943
  • Commodore Angus M. B. Cunninghame Graham: August 1943-January 1945
  • Commodore Marcel H.A. Kelsey: January 1945-February 1946
  • Rear-Admiral Basil C. B. Brooke: February 1946-February 1948
  • Commodore John A.S. Eccles: February 1948-October 1949
  • Commodore Peter G.L. Cazalet: October 1949-October 1950
  • Commodore Gerald V. Gladstone: October 1950-May 1952
  • Commdore Geoffrey Thistleton-Smith: May 1952-November 1953 (later V.Adm.) [5]
  • Commodore Peter L. Collard: November 1953-November 1955
  • Commodore Hugh C.B. Coleridge: November 1955-May 1957
  • Commodore John F.D. Bush: May 1957-March 1959
  • Commodore Lionel W.L. Argles: March 1959-March 1961

References

  1. ↑ "THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD, CHATHAM CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN: 4th Edition". democracy.medway.gov.uk. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. p.20. 2011-2016. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "History of Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham" (PDF). campus.medway.ac.uk. University of Medway, p,2, 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Chatham Division - Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust". Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. G. Mackie, p. 121. June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Private Papers of Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Thistleton-Smith KBE CB GM". Imperial War Museums. Imperial War Museum UK. Retrieved 1 July 2018.

Sources

  • "History of Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham" (PDF). campus.medway.ac.uk. University of Medway, 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  • "The Chatham Division - Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust". Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, 2018.
  • THE HISTORIC DOCKYARD, CHATHAM CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN: 4th Edition". democracy.medway.gov.uk. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. 2011-2016.
  • Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. G. Mackie, June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
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