Second Sea Lord

The Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, until 1904 Second Naval Lord, and between 1904 and 1917 Second Sea Lord, was the member of the Board of Admiralty responsible for the personnel of the British Royal Navy. He was in charge of manning the ships, and training and educating the men.

History

The Second Naval Lord was historically the second-most senior naval officer on the Board of Admiralty. The position was abolished by Hugh Childers upon his becoming First Lord of the Admiralty in December, 1868, and Rear-Admiral George Seymour, a previous Third Naval Lord, was appointed to assist the First Naval Lord with his increased workload. In January, 1869, Captain George Willes succeeded Seymour and was appointed as "Chief of the Staff," with the same pay as the Junior Naval Lord, and the task of superintending the Coastguard, Royal Naval Reserve, and the manning of the Fleet. By Order in Council of 14 January, 1869, the position of Second Naval Lord officially ceased to exist and his duties were nominally given to the First Naval Lord, assisted by the Junior Naval Lord. The other Naval Lords were also given an increase in pay.

The office of Second Naval Lord was re-established on 19 April, 1872, by Order in Council of 19 March of that year. His salary was fixed at £1,200 a year. His duties were not specified as part of the distribution of Admiralty business.

The First Naval Lord, the Second Naval Lord, and the Junior Naval Lord to be responsible to the First Lord of the Admiralty for the Administration of so much business relating to the "Personnel" of the Navy, and to the movement and condition of your Majesty's Fleet, as shall be assigned them, from time to time, by the First Lord.

On 4 March, 1903, the First Lord decided that "on 1 Jan^y 1904 the whole of the Personnel shall be under the Second Naval Lord".

By Order in Council of 21 December, 1906, the emoluments of the Second Sea Lord were raised from £1,000 a year to £1,500 a year, in addition to Naval Half Pay.

By Order-in-Council of 23 October, 1917, the Second Sea Lord's title was altered to Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel.

Staff

Immediately prior to the Great War the Second Sea Lord's office consisted of a Naval Assistant, a Commander, and a Fleet Paymaster.

Duties

[show]21 June, 1844.

The 2nd Sea Lord directs all appointments of Lieutenants, Masters, Pursers, Mates, Midn &c. Superintends the Excellent, Gunnery Ship (under the orders of Captain Chads) as well as Scientific Education of the Officers attached to that Establishment. All matters related to Naval Artillery are referred to him for his opinion & report. The Marine Corps & Rl Marine Artillery, the Seamen Gunners, & Marine Cadets, are placed under his especial control. He superintends the Department of the Deputy Adjutant General of the Royal Marines under Colonel Owen.

[show]1861.
Appointment of Officers under the rank of Commander (exclusive of Lieutenants in Command), Lieutenants, Masters, Masters' Assistants, Mates, Midshipmen, Naval Cadets, Warrant Officers.
Punishments and Returns.
Gunnery and returns, Appointment of Gunnery Officers.
Courts Martial and Courts of Inquiry.
Prize and Admiralty Courts.
Marines and Marine Artillery.
Dockyard Battalions.
Pirates, Head Money.
Salvage.
Collisions at Sea.
Royal Naval College.

[show]December, 1872.
1.—Manning of the Fleet.
2.—Coast Guard, except Buildings.
3.—Royal Naval Reserve.
4.—Royal Naval Coast Volunteers.
5.—Pensioners—when called out.
6.—Naval College, Greenwich.
7.—Greenwich Hospital—as regards Officers and Men.
8.—Removals of "R."
9.—Good Conduct medals.
10.—Pensions.
11.—Appointments of Lieutenants, except to Commands. Sub-Lieutenants. Midshipmen. Cadets. Navigating Officers—except to Commands. Gunners and Boatswains.

[show]April, 1875.
1.—Manning of the Fleet, and Training Establishments.
2.—Coast Guard, except Buildings.
3.—Royal Naval Reserve.
4.—Royal Naval Coast Volunteers.
5.—Pensioners—when called out.
6.—Naval Colleges.
7.—Greenwich Hospital—as regards Officers and Men.
8.—Removals of "R."
9.—Good Conduct medals.
10.—Royal Humane Society's Medals.
11.—War Medals.
12.—Pensions.
13.—Appointments of Lieutenants, except to Commands. Sub-Lieutenants. Midshipmen. Cadets. Navigating Officers—except to Commands. Gunners and Boatswains.

[show]1 January, 1904.
1. Manning of the Fleet.
2. Mobilisation of the Fleet and of Reserves so far as relates to personnel.
3. Appointments of— Lieutenants, except to Commands. Sub-Lieutenants. Midshipmen and Naval Cadets. Navigating Officers—except to Commands. Engineer Officers. Chaplains and Naval Instructors. Medical Officers. Paymasters. Assistant Paymasters, Clerks and Assistant Clerkes. Chief and other Warrant Officers. And General Questions connected with the Staff the above.
4. *Royal Marine Light Infantry and Royal Marine Artillery.
5. Medical Service afloat and on shore, Nursing Staff.
6. Fleet Reserve—as regards Officers and Men.
7. Training Establishments.
8. Naval Colleges.
9. Education and Training of Officers, Men, and Boys of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
10. Coastguard, except Buildings.
11. Royal Naval Reserve.
12. Royal Naval Volunteers.
13. Interpreters.
14. Medals.
15. Deserters.
16. Character Conduct, and Badge Questions.
17. Naval Prisons.
18. Minor Collisions.
* Promotion of Royal Marine Officers (other than "routine") will be marked to the First Naval Lord also as well as to the First Lord.

[show]20 October, 1904.
1. Manning and Training of the Fleet, which includes Complements, Barracks, Training and Educational Establishments; also all Mobilization Regulations for the Personnel.
2. Service and Appointments of Officers of all Branches (except as reserved to First Lord).
3. Royal Marines.
4. Coastguard and Reserve Forces.
5. Hospitals.
6. Discipline.
7. Signals.
NOTE.—Questions of Importance relating to Discipline to be invariably marked also to First Sea Lord.

[show]June, 1917.
Manning* and Training of the Fleet; Complements of Ships and Establishments; Barracks, Training, and Educational Establishments, with their Complements; also all Mobilisation Regulations for the Personnel.
Service and Appointments of Officers of all Branches, including Auxiliary Patrol (except as reserve to First Lord).
Royal Marines.
Coastguard and Reserve Forces.
Hospitals.
Discipline.
NOTE. In regard to Personnel and Training of R.N. Air Service, see under Fifth Sea Lord.
*Manning means Recruiting the numbers authorised by Parliament.

Second Naval Lords/Second Sea Lords

Dates of appointment given in all instances:

• Vice-Admiral Sir John W. Tarleton, 6 May, 1872
• Vice-Admiral Geoffrey T. P. Hornby, 1 January, 1875
• Vice-Admiral Arthur W. A. Hood, 15 January, 1877
• Rear-Admiral Richard J. Meade, 6 December, 1879 – 12 May, 1880
• Vice-Admiral The Rt. Hon. Lord John Hay, 13 May, 1880
• Admiral The Rt. Hon. Lord Alcester, 6 March, 1883
• Vice-Admiral Sir Anthony H. Hoskins, 2 July, 1885 – 28 December, 1888
• Admiral Sir R. Vesey Hamilton, 31 December, 1888
• Vice-Admiral Henry Fairfax, 26 October, 1889 – 9 May, 1892
• Admiral Sir Frederick W. Richards, 23 May, 1892
• Vice-Admiral The Rt. Hon. Lord Walter Kerr, 1 November, 1893
• Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick G. D. Bedford, 27 May, 1895 – 3 May, 1899
• Vice-Admiral The Rt. Hon. Lord Walter Kerr, 1 May, 1899
• Vice-Admiral Archibald L. Douglas, 18 August, 1899 – 5 June, 1902
• Admiral Sir John A. Fisher, 10 June, 1902
• Vice-Admiral Sir Charles C. Drury, 31 July, 1903
• Admiral Sir William H. May, 20 March, 1907
• Vice-Admiral Sir Francis C. B. Bridgeman, 25 March, 1909 – 25 March, 1911
• Vice-Admiral Sir George Le C. Egerton, 25 March, 1911
• Vice-Admiral H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg, 5 December, 1911
• Vice-Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, 9 December, 1912 – 1 August, 1914
• Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick T. Hamilton, 31 July, 1914 – 30 June, 1916
• Acting Vice-Admiral The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe, 30 June, 1916 – 4 December, 1916
• Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, 4 December, 1916 – 6 September, 1917
• Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn E. Wemyss, 6 September, 1917
• Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert L. Heath, 27 September, 1917 – 30 March, 1919
• Admiral Sir Montague E. Browning, 31 March, 1919
• Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver, 30 September, 1920 – 15 August, 1924
• Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, Bart., 15 August, 1924 – 2 April, 1925  (died while in this post)
• Vice-Admiral The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand, 22 April, 1925
• Vice-Admiral Sir Michael H. Hodges, 16 August, 1927
• Admiral Sir Hubert G. Brand, 1927
• Admiral Sir Cyril T. M. Fuller, 26 May, 1930 – 31 August, 1932
• Admiral Sir Alfred D. P. R. Pound, 31 August, 1932 – 30 September, 1935
• Admiral Sir Martin E. Dunbar-Nasmith, 2 September, 1935 – 30 September, 1938
• Admiral Sir Charles J. C. Little, 2 September, 1938 – 1 June, 1941
• Admiral Sir William J. Whitworth, 1 June, 1941 – 31 December, 1943
• Admiral Sir Algernon U. Willis, 1944 – February, 1946
• Admiral Sir Arthur J. Power, February, 1946 – March, 1948
• Admiral Sir Cecil H. J. Harcourt, March, 1948 – 1950
• Admiral Sir Alexander C. G. Madden, September, 1950 – 1 September, 1953
• Admiral Sir Guy H. E. Russell, 24 April, 1953 – October, 1955
• Admiral Charles E. Lambe, 1955 – 1957
• Vice-Admiral Sir Douglas E. Holland-Martin, 1957 – 1959
• Admiral Sir St. John R. J. Tyrwhitt, 1959 – 1961
• Admiral Sir Royston H. Wright, 1961 – 1965
• Admiral Sir Desmond P. Dreyer, 1965 – 1967
• Admiral Sir Peter J. Hill-Norton, 1967 – 1967
• Admiral Sir Frank R. Twiss, 1967 – 1970

Naval Assistants to the Second Sea Lord

• Captain Robert F. Scott, 24 March, 1909 – 3 December, 1909
• Captain William O. Boothby, 3 December, 1909 – 25 March, 1911
• Captain Cecil F. Lambert, 25 March, 1911 – 30 July, 1912
• Captain Edward M. Phillpotts, 31 July, 1912 – 22 February, 1915
• Captain Hubert G. Brand, 22 February, 1915 – 29 June, 1916
• Captain Henry T. Buller, 29 June, 1916 – April, 1918
• Captain The Hon. Herbert Meade, April, 1918 – April, 1919
• Captain Alexander Lowndes, 30 March, 1919 – 30 September, 1920
• Captain Arthur J. Davies, 30 September, 1920 – 18 August, 1922
• Captain Theodore J. Hallett, 18 August, 1922
• Captain Arthur E. F. Bedford, 20 August, 1924 – 1 July, 1926
• Captain Robin C. Dalglish, 1 July, 1926 – 25 June, 1928
• Captain Fischer Burges Watson, 25 June, 1928 – 5 May, 1930
• Captain John C. Tovey, 5 May, 1930 – 29 March, 1932
• Captain G. Frederick B. Edward-Collins, 29 March, 1932 – 6 January, 1935
• Captain Henry E. C. Blagrove, 7 January, 1935 – 12 April, 1937
• Captain John G. Crace, 12 April, 1937 – 15 August, 1939
• Captain Claud B. Barry, 16 August, 1939 – 11 October, 1940

See Also

• Wikipedia

Bibliography

• Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1929). The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. Its Work and Development. B.R. 1845 (late C.B. 3013). Copy No. 8 at The National Archives. ADM 234/434.