Jamaica Division Explained

Unit Name:Jamaica Division
Dates:1838–1905
Country:United Kingdom
Branch: Royal Navy
Type:Division
Command Structure:Royal Navy
Garrison:Jamaica Dockyard, Port Royal, Jamaica

The Jamaica Division of the North America and West Indies Station[1] was a sub-command of the British Royal Navy's North America and West Indies Station head-quartered at Port Royal dockyard in Jamaica from 1838 to 1905.[2]

History

In 1830 The Jamaica Station merged with the North American Station to form the North America and West Indies Station. In 1838 the Royal Navy established a sub-command to the Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station. It was commanded by the Commodore on Jamaica Division of North America and West Indies Station who was responsible for the naval base until March 1905 when the dockyard was closed. In 1951, the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda closed after which the new post of Senior Naval Officer, West Indies (SNOWI) was established as the West Indies Sub-Area Command under the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet. The office holder would hold the rank of Commodore.[3]

The division primarily consisted of naval vessels assigned to this command but also included the shore establishment Jamaica Dockyard.[4]

Commodores on Jamaica Division

Post holders included:

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Commodore, on Jamaica Division of the North America and West Indies Station
1 Commodore Sir John Strutt Peyton, K.C.H1838 - 1839
2 Commodore 1839 - 1843
3 Commodore 26 July 1842 - 7 September 1843[5] (brother of V.Adm George Byng)
4 Commodore Alexander Renton Sharpe C.B.8 September 1843 - 15 September 1845
5 Commodore Daniel Pring16 September 1845 - 29 November 1847
post vacant 12/1847 - 01/1848
6 Commodore Thomas Bennett7 February 1848 -1851(Adm, by 1865)
post vacant 1852-1854
7 Commodore 3 October 1854 - 3 August 1855(and as Senior Officer, West Indies)
post vacant 1856-1858
8 Commodore Henry Kellett C.B.3 August 1855 16 March 1857/59(and as Senior Officer, West Indies)
9 Commodore November 1859-January 1864[6]
10 Commodore Peter Cracroft C.B. March 1864 – 1865
11 Commodore 1865 (acting Cmdre)
12 Commodore September 1865-February 1868
13 Commodore February 1868-December 1869
14 Commodore December 1869-January 1872
15 Commodore January 1872-February 1875
16 Commodore February 1875-February 1878
17 Commodore February 1878-August 1880
18 Commodore August 1880-August 1882
19 Commodore John C. PurvisAugust 1882-July 1883
20 Commodore July 1883-July 1886
21 Commodore July 1886-September 1889
22 Commodore September 1889-September 1892(also styled Commodore-in-Charge, Jamaica)
23 Commodore Thomas S. JacksonSeptember 1892-September 1895ditto
24 Commodore Herbert W. Dowding1895-April 1898ditto
25 Commodore William H. HendersonApril 1898-February 1900ditto
26 Commodore Edward H.M. Davis C.M.G.February 1900-May 1901ditto
27 Commodore Daniel McN. RiddelMay 1901-July 1903ditto
28 Commodore July 1903-March 1905ditto

Notes and References

  1. Book: Beeler. Professor John. The Milne Papers: Volume II: The Royal Navy and the Outbreak of the American Civil War, 1860-1862. 2015. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. Farnham, England. 9781409446866. xviii. https://books.google.com/books?id=SRiNCgAAQBAJ&q=Commodore+on+Jamaica+Division+of+North+America+and+West+Indies+Station&pg=PR18. en. Introduction.
  2. Web site: Cundall. Frank. Historic Jamaica : With fifty-two illustrations. archive.org. London : Published for the Institute of Jamaica by the West India Committee. pp.28-31. 15 March 2018. 1915.
  3. Book: Stranack. Ian. The Andrew and the Onions : the story of the Royal Navy in Bermuda, 1795-1975. 1990. Bermuda Maritime Museum Press. Old Royal Navy Dockyard, Bermuda. 9780921560036. 94. 2nd.
  4. Book: Beeler . Professor John . The Milne Papers: Volume II: The Royal Navy and the Outbreak of the American Civil War, 1860-1862 . 2015 . Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. . Farnham, United Kingdom . 9781409446866 . xvi . en.
  5. Web site: Davis. Peter. Royal Navy officers A-Z in command: 1840-1860. www.pdavis.nl. Peter Davis, Zeist, The Netherlands, 9 March 2018. 15 March 2018.
  6. Web site: Mackie. Colin. Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865: Commodore, Jamaica. gulabin.com. Colin Mackie,p.172. 15 March 2018.