| Unit Name: | Rear-Admiral, Alexandria |
| Dates: | 1939–1944 |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Command Structure: | Mediterranean Fleet (1939–1943)Commander-in-Chief, Levant (1943–1944) |
| Garrison: | HMS Nile, Alexandria, Egypt |
| Notable Commanders: | Rear-Admiral Allan Poland |
The Rear-Admiral, Alexandria was an administrative shore based appointment of the British Royal Navy. The post was established during the Second World War, subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet then later the Commander-in-Chief, Levant.[1]
The Navy List for 1940, 1941, and 1943 locates the admiral at Alexandra.[2] [3] [4]
The post of Rear-Admiral, Alexandria was created during the Second World War, responsible for administering the shore establishment of (borne in Maidstone II) at Ras el-Tin Point, Alexandria.[5] The post existed from 1939 to 1945.[1] From November 1939 until February 1943 it was part of the Mediterranean Fleet until the Fleet was divided. After February 1943 the Rear-Admiral Alexandria came under the command of the new Commander-in-Chief, Levant, until January 1944 when the Mediterranean Fleet was reunified once more.[6]
The Rear-Admiral, Alexandria reported to the C-in-C, Mediterranean Fleet from November 1939 to February 1943, and then was resubordinated to the C-in-C, Levant until December 1943. Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Admiral, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Rear Admiral | F. Elliott | November, 1939 – February, 1941 | [7] Also Playfair, Vol. I., Annex 9, p. 478. | |
| 2 | Rear Admiral | February, 1941 – August, 1942 | [8] | ||
| 3 | Rear Admiral | November, 1942 – October, 1944 | elevated to Acting Vice-Admiral and Knighted[9] [10] | ||
Base HQ was HMS Nile, borne in HMS Maidstone II.
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Acting-Captain | R.D. Binney | 25 January 1940 – 12 January 1941 | (retd) | |
| 2 | Captain | B.C.B. Brooke | 12 January 1941 – August 1942 | ||
| 3 | Flag Captain | C.H. Rolleston | 16 November 1942 – October 1943 | (retd) | |
| 4 | Captain | D. Young-Jameson | October – December 1943 | ||
Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria | |||||
| 1 | Captain | W.Y. La R. Beverley | 14 August 1940 – April, 1942 | ||
| 2 | Captain | C. Coppinger | April, 1942 – December, 1943 | [11] | |
The Senior Naval Officer, later Commander, Levant Area, was originally styled as Naval Officer-in-Charge, Haifa. His title was later changed to SNO Levant Area and his headquarters transferred to Beirut.[12]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander, Levant Area | |||||
| 1 | Captain | J.A.V. Morse | October 1941 – 1 April 1942 | as SNO Levant Area[13] | |
| 2 | Commodore | D. Young-Jameson | June – December 1943 | as COMM, Levant Area | |
Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports | |||||
| 1 | Captain | M.H.S. Macdonald | 18 November 1941 – December, 1943 | ||