Pacific Station (Royal Navy)
In September, 1901, Andrew Bickford referred in a letter to the Admiralty to "the dangerously weak state of the Squadron."[1] He also requested improvements in the garrison at Esquimalt, an increase of destroyers to defend the coaling station at Nainamo and a significant increase in the squadron to act as a deterrent. The Director of Naval Intelligence, Reginald N. Custance commented, "this letter shows, when considered in connection with the calls upon us of other stations, how impossible it is to think of attempting to meet the U.S. on equal terms on the Pacific coast of North America."[2]
In November, 1902, the Admiralty announced that it had decided to abolish the Liffey, Staff Commander J. D. Moulton, as storeship at Coquimbo, Chile as it had been decided that a storeship in the south of the Pacific Station was no longer needed. The Liffey was directed to be sold.[3]
Commanders-in-Chief
Dates of appointment given:
- Rear-Admiral Sir Arthur Farquhar, 1869 – 1872
- Rear-Admiral Charles F. Hillyar, 1872 – 1873
- Rear-Admiral Arthur A. L. P. Cochrane, 6 June, 1873 – 15 April, 1876
- Rear-Admiral George Hancock, 15 April, 1876 – August, 1876 (replaced due to terminal illness)
- Rear-Admiral Algernon F. R. de Horsey, 6 August, 1876 – 10 September, 1879
- Rear-Admiral Frederick H. Stirling, 21 July, 1879[4]
- Rear-Admiral Algernon McL. Lyons, 10 December, 1881[5]
- Rear-Admiral John K. E. Baird, 13 September, 1884[6]
- Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bart., 4 July, 1885[7]
- Rear-Admiral Algernon C. F. Heneage, 20 September, 1887[8]
- Rear-Admiral Charles F. Hotham, 4 February, 1890[9]
- Rear-Admiral Henry F. Stephenson, 21 March, 1893[10] – 5 September, 1896[11]
- Rear-Admiral Henry St. L. Bury Palliser, 5 March, 1896 – 15 August, 1899
- Rear-Admiral Lewis A. Beaumont, 20 March, 1899[12] – 1 November, 1900[13]
- Rear-Admiral Andrew K. Bickford, 15 October, 1900[14] – 21 December, 1903[15]
- Commodore, Second Class James E. C. Goodrich, 15 October, 1903[16] – 1 March, 1905[17]
Composition
September, 1885:[18]
- H.M.S. Conquest
- H.M.S. Constance
- H.M.S. Cormorant
- H.M.S. Heroine
- H.M.S. Liffey
- H.M.S. Pelican
- H.M.S. Satellite
- H.M.S. Triumph
- H.M.S. Wild Swan
June, 1890:[19]
- H.M.S. Amphion
- H.M.S. Champion
- H.M.S. Daphne
- H.M.S. Espiegle
- H.M.S. Liffey
- H.M.S. Nymphe
- H.M.S. Pheasant
- H.M.S. Warspite
February, 1896:[20]
- H.M.S. Comus
- H.M.S. Icarus
- H.M.S. Liffey
- H.M.S. Pheasant
- H.M.S. Royal Arthur
- H.M.S. Satellite
- H.M.S. Wild Swan
Footnotes
- ↑ Letter of 17 September, 1901. Quoted in Bourne. Britain and the Balance of Power in America. p. 375.
- ↑ Bourne. Britain and the Balance of Power in America. pp. 375-376.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 20 November, 1902. Issue 36930, col D, p. 10.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1880). p. 188.
- ↑ Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 87.
- ↑ Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 88.
- ↑ Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 88.
- ↑ Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 88.
- ↑ Clowes. The Royal Navy. Vol. VII. p. 88.
- ↑ Stephenson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1134. f. 1235.
- ↑ Stephenson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/1134. f. 1235.
- ↑ Beaumont Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/226. f. 88.
- ↑ Beaumont Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/226. f. 88.
- ↑ Bickford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36. f. 100.
- ↑ Bickford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36. f. 100.
- ↑ Goodrich Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 535.
- ↑ Goodrich Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 535. Date was an approximate forecast.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1885). p. 189.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1890). p. 189.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1896). p. 193.
Bibliography
See Also