Alexander Edward Bethell

Admiral THE HONOURABLE SIR Alexander Edward Bethell, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., Royal Navy (28 August, 1855 – 13 June, 1932) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Bethell was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 10 June, 1916.

Home Fleet and Flag Rank

On 10 January, 1908 Bethell was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, Vice-Admiral Francis C. B. Bridgeman.

Director of Naval Intelligence

Bethell was appointed to the Naval Intelligence Department, additional, on 17 February, 1909, and became Director of Naval Intelligence in succession to Rear-Admiral Edmond J. W. Slade on 3 March.

East Indies

Bethell relieved Vice-Admiral Sir Edmond J. W. Slade as Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station on 5 February, 1912.

Great War

On 17 January, 1915, Bethell was appointed in command of the Channel Fleet in succession to Vice-Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly. He was placed on the Retired List ostensibly at his own request on 1 September, 1918.

Bibliography

• "Admiral Sir Alexander Bethell" (Obituaries). The Times. Wednesday, 15 June, 1932. Issue 46160, col C, pg. 9.

Papers

• Papers in the possession of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/19.

Naval Offices
Preceded by Sir Edmond J. W. Slade	Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station 1912	Succeeded by Sir Richard Henry Peirse
Preceded by Sir Henry B. Jackson	President of the Royal Naval War College 1913 – 1914	Succeeded by College Suspended
Preceded by Sir Frederic W. Fisher	President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich 1914 – 1915	Succeeded by Sir Lewis Bayly
Preceded by Sir Arthur M. Farquhar	Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves 1909 – 1913	Succeeded by The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
Preceded by Sir George J. S. Warrender, Bart.	Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth 1916 – 1918	Succeeded by Sir Cecil F. Thursby