United States Naval Station White's Island, Bermuda Explained

The United States Naval Station Whites Island was a United States Navy (USN) facility located on White's Island in Hamilton Harbour, in the British Colony of Bermuda, 640 miles off the coast of North Carolina.^[1]

It was established during the First World War (or the Great War, as it was originally known in Britain) by the US Navy for use by anti-submarine vessels transiting on their way from the United States to the European theatre of operations.^[2]

Bermuda had already housed the Admiralty House, dockyard, and naval base of the North America and West Indies Squadron since the American War of Independence had cost the Royal Navy all of its continental bases between Nova Scotia and the West Indies. During the Great War, the Royal Naval vessels based in Bermuda had been used to enforce Britain's control of the Atlantic, hunting down German commerce raiders and fighting the Battle of the Falkland Islands. Bermuda's location in the North Atlantic, the presence of the Royal Naval base, and the enclosing barrier reef that protected its anchorages from submarines, resulted in the colony becoming a major forming-up point for trans-Atlantic convoys (Bermuda would serve all these roles and more during the Second World War) used as a convoy staging point during both World War I and World War II.

When the US entered the war in 1917, it required a staging point for smaller anti-submarine vessels that were deploying to Europe to use during the voyage across the Atlantic. Most of the small islands in Hamilton Harbour and the Great Sound, including White's Island, were at that point property of the Royal navy or the British Army. Other than several of the islands, which had been used to isolate servicemen infected with Yellow Fever, and as a Prisoner of War(POW) camp for Boer prisoners during the Second Boer War, and Agar's Island, a secret British Army munitions depot, these islands had seen little development or use.

On 15 April 1918, US Naval Captain, W. G. Cutter, arrived in Bermuda on the SS Arethusa to assume command of the new US Naval Base 24. Together with a US Naval detachment, operation a supply station on Agar's Island, this station operated for the remainder of the war, serving one hundred and twenty-six transiting submarine hunters, which travelled in convoys of between one and two dozen vessels (one vessel sank in Two Rock Passage, the main channel into Hamilton Harbour. It was refloated, but sank again off Agar's Island).

The US bases were closed on 1 April 1919, following the cessation of hostilities.^[3]

See also

(For a full list of British Empire and Commonwealth and United States naval, military, and air bases historically and currently located in Bermuda, see Military of Bermuda).

Other US bases in Bermuda

• United States Navy Supply Station, Bermuda at Agar's Island. First World War.
• US Naval Operating Base, Naval Station Bermuda, Naval Air Station Bermuda, and NAS Bermuda Annex. 1941-1995.
• United States Navy Submarine Base, Ordnance Island. Second World War.
• United States Navy, Naval Facility Bermuda. (Tudor Hill) 1954-1995.
• United States Army, Fort Bell 1941-1948
• United States Army Air Forces, Kindley Field. 1943-1948.
• United States Air Force, Kindley Air Force Base. 1948-1970.
• United States Army Bermuda Garrison. 1941-1945
• United States Navy, Naval Air Station Bermuda (originally Kindley Field) 1970-1995.
• United States Coast Guard Air-Sea Rescue, at Naval Station Bermuda and Kindley AFB
• National Air and Space Administration, at Kindley AFB/US NAS Bermuda

Other naval bases in Bermuda

• Royal Naval Dockyard Bermuda, and the Royal Navy in Bermuda 1795-1995.
• Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm), Royal Naval Air Station Boaz Island (HMS Malabar)
• Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS Somers Isles. 1944-1945.
• Royal Canadian Navy, Naval Radio Station Bermuda. 1944-1968.
• Canadian Forces Station Bermuda, Daniel's Head. 1968-1993.

References

1. https://archive.org/stream/bermudapastandpr011538mbp/bermudapastandpr011538mbp_djvu.txt"BERMUDA PAST AND PRESENT", by Walter Brownell Hayward. Dodd, Mead and Company, New York. Second Edition. 1910
2. New Bases Extend From Arctic Down to Tropics, The Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, USA. Tuesday, 8 October 1940
3. News: . 1919-04-03 . CLOSING OF THE U.S. NAVAL BASE: Fitting Ceremony at Whites Island When the Allied Forces Depart . The Royal Gazette . City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda . On Tuesday morning, April 1st, an interesting and unique ceremony took place in Hamilton Harbour when the United States nava1 base on White's Island was closed and the American naval establishment which had occupied the island since 1st April, 1918, was withdrawn.
   At 11 a.m. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his staff, embarked from the Club Steps on the W. D. S. L. "Lord Kitchener" and proceeded to the Island where he was welcomed by Captain R. H. Jackson, U. S. N., Senior Officer present, and his staff; Vice-Admiral Morgan Singer and staff having previously landed on the Island. The whole party then proceeded to the flagstaff where a guard of honour of American bluejackets was drawn up. His Excellency the Governor, having inspected the guard, thanked Captain Jackson for the honour offered to him (the Governor) in mounting the guard on this occasion. Captain Jackson, addressing His Excellency, said:
   "Your Excellency: I now hand over this Island and Agars Island which have been utilized by the American Navy in this Colony for the maintenance of its organization in the war which we have been privileged to wage side by side with the British nation
   "We have received throughout our stay here the most cordial assistance and support at all times and in all our duties.
   "When the history of this war comes to be written no feature of it will prove to be of more lasting significance than the close and effective cooperation between the British and American nations in the great fight now happily concluded for justice, humanity and peace."
   The American flag was then lowered to the sound of the general salute, all present standing at the salute during the lowering of the colours.
   His Excellency in reply said:
   "Captain Jackson. I appreciate most heartily the kind words you have spoken. It has been a great pleasure to us to have you in our midst and I thank you for the unfailing courtesy and ready help which we in these Islands have invariably received from your great Navy.
   "I recall with pleasure that it was my privilege on the 4th of July last to entertain a large contingent from the American Navy at Government House, a memorable occasion which will ever remain among my proudest recollections, an occasion which was a signal example of the close and abiding friendship between two great branches of the Anglo Saxon race - a friendship which we pray will last for ever, and which no enemy can withstand.
   "I thank you warmly for the honour you have done me in mounting this guard on this occasion. You carry away with you the best wishes of all the inhabitants of these Islands and I wish you and all officers and men of the United States Navy Godspeed and good fortune where ever your duties may call you."
   After the lowering of the flag His Excellency and staff, Vice-Admiral Morgan Singer and staff followed Captain Jackson on board the U. S. S. Tallahassee, which had been anchored in the harbour between the Club Steps and White's Island, and were piped "over the side" with the usual naval honours.
   Cordial farewells were exchanged and upon the Governor leaving the ship a salute of 17 guns was fired.
   Immediately upon the conclusion of the salute the Tallahassee weighed anchor and steamed out of the harbour. Captain Jackson later embarked on the U. S. S. Chattanooga, which after saluting the Vice-Admiral on this station with 15 guns, proceeded to sea, firing a salute of 21 guns as she passed the Ducking Stool, The land Saluting Battery near that point returned this salute with a similar number of guns.
   It is the first time in Bermuda's history that a government of an alien nation has been granted authority to establish a base in this colony.
   In order to meet various exigencies the establishment was opened shortly after the United States declared war on Germany. During its occupation, White's Island, Agar's Island, and other places have been under the control of the naval authorities, a number of naval units being stationed at each place.
   The existence of this base has been a boon to Bermuda in several ways, and Bermudians generally will regret its closing down and the departure of Uncle Sam's naval forces from the Colony..