Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield

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Admiral of the Fleet THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield, P.C., G.C.B., O.M. (27 September, 1873 – 15 November, 1967) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War. He acted as Flag Captain to David Beatty, First Earl Beatty for six years before service at the Admiralty and fleet command. He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1933 to 1938 and started the critical buildup of the Navy as the military and naval threat from Germany emerged.

Early Life & Career

Chatfield was confirmed in the rank Sub-Lieutenant dated 27 September, 1892, and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant dated 27 March, 1894.[1]

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1909.[2]

He was appointed in command of the battleship battleship Albemarle on 26 August, 1909.[3]

On 8 February, 1910, he was appointed in command of the battleship London.[4]

Chatfield was appointed Captain of Aboukir on 2 July, 1912.[5]

He was appointed command of the light cruiser Southampton on 24 September, 1912.[6]

Rear-Admiral Charles E. Madden apparently asked Chatfield to be his Flag Captain in the Third Cruiser Squadron, an offer he evidently declined.[7]

Great War

In the King's Birthday Honours of 3 June, 1916, Chatfield was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.).[8]

On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) for his services at Jutland, dated 31 May.[9]

Post-War

In recognition of his services during the war he was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) on 5 April, 1919.[10]

On 26 January, 1920 he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-Camp to King George V.[11] On 31 July he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Goodenough.[12]

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 March, 1926.[13]

He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 April, 1930, vice Watson.[14]

On 8 May, 1935, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet, vice Keyes.[15]

In 1938, he served as Chairman of the Expert Committee on Indian Defence, and received an expression of appreciation for his services on 20 February of 1939.[16]

A Naval Identity Card was issued for him in 1943 — No. 123811. He became the Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Buckingham on 15 June, 1951.[17]

Bibliography

  • Beatty, Admiral of the Fleet David, First Earl Beatty (1993). Ranft, Bryan McL.. ed. The Beatty Papers. Volume II. London: Navy Records Society. ISBN 0859678067.
  • Chatfield, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield (1942). The Navy and Defence: The Autobiography of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield. London: William Heinemann Ltd.
  • Chatfield, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield (1947). It Might Happen Again. London: William Heinemann Ltd.

Papers

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Henry W. Grant 		Captain of H.M.S. Albemarle
26 Aug, 1909[18][19] – 8 Feb, 1910[20] 		Succeeded by
John S. Luard
Preceded by
James C. Ley 		Captain of H.M.S. London
8 Feb, 1910[21] – 26 Aug, 1910[22] 		Succeeded by
Hugh F. P. Sinclair
Preceded by
James L. S. Kirkness 		Captain of H.M.S. Aboukir
2 Jul, 1912[23] 		Succeeded by
Bentinck J. D. Yelverton
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Southampton
24 Sep, 1912[24] – Mar, 1913[25] 		Succeeded by
Arthur A. M. Duff
Preceded by
Arthur A. M. Duff 		Captain of H.M.S. Lion
1 Mar, 1913[26][27] – 29 Nov, 1916[28] 		Succeeded by
Roger R. C. Backhouse
Preceded by
Frederic C. Dreyer 		Captain of H.M.S. Iron Duke
29 Nov, 1916[29] – 15 Feb, 1917[30] 		Succeeded by
Eustace La T. Leatham
Preceded by
Eustace La T. Leatham 		Captain of H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth
15 Feb, 1917[31] – 7 Apr, 1919[32] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Matthew R. Best
Preceded by
Sir Hugh H. D. Tothill 		Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport
18 Jun, 1919[33] – 15 Mar, 1920[34] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Algernon D. E. H. Boyle
Preceded by
James A. Fergusson 		Assistant Chief of Naval Staff
15 Mar, 1920[35] – 1 Dec, 1922[36] 		Succeeded by
Cyril T. M. Fuller
Preceded by
Sir Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, Bart. 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Light Cruiser Squadron
11 Dec, 1922 – Sep, 1924 		Succeeded by
Continued Operation as the Third Cruiser Squadron
Preceded by
The Third Light Cruiser Squadron 		Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Cruiser Squadron
Sep, 1924[37] – 22 Jan, 1925 		Succeeded by
John W. L. McClintock
Preceded by
Cyril T. M. Fuller 		Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy
30 Apr, 1925[38] – 1 Nov, 1928[39] 		Succeeded by
Roger R. C. Backhouse
Preceded by
The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand 		Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet
17 Apr, 1929[40] – 27 May, 1930[41] 		Succeeded by
Sir Michael H. Hodges
Preceded by
Sir Frederick L. Field 		Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station
27 May, 1930 – 31 Oct, 1932 		Succeeded by
Sir William W. Fisher
Preceded by
Sir Frederick L. Field 		First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
21 Jan, 1933[42] – 7 Sep, 1938[43] 		Succeeded by
Sir Roger R. C. Backhouse

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26508. p. 2510. 1 May, 1894.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28263. p. 4857. 25 June, 1909.
  3. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  4. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 31 January, 1910. Issue 39183, col B, p. 17.
  5. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  6. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  7. ↑ Chatfield to Sir Vincent W. Baddeley. Letter of 10 January, 1946. NMRN, Portsmouth: MSS 264.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29608. p. 5553. 2 June, 1916.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9071. 15 September, 1916.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31274. p. 4516. 5 April, 1919.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31791. p. 2189. 24 February, 1920.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32017. p. 8408. 13 August, 1920.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33139. p. 1650. 5 March, 1926.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33596. p. 2327. 11 April, 1930.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34159. p. 3048. 10 May, 1935.
  16. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  17. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  18. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 274.
  19. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  20. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  21. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  22. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  23. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  24. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  25. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  26. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 7 February, 1913. Issue 40129, col C, p. 11.
  27. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395vv.
  28. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  29. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  30. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  31. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  32. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  33. ↑ The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 126.
  34. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  35. ↑ The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 123.
  36. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  37. ↑ Chatfield commanded the Third Light Cruiser Squadron until it was renamed 3 C.S. in this month.
  38. ↑ "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 30 April, 1925. Issue 43949, col E, p. 10.
  39. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  40. ↑ "Atlantic Fleet Command" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 1 November, 1928. Issue 45039, col D, p. 11.
  41. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  42. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  43. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.

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