Rear-Admiral, Alexandria

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]

Rear-Admiral, Alexandria
Active	1939–1944
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Part of	Mediterranean Fleet (1939–1943) Commander-in-Chief, Levant (1943–1944)
Garrison/HQ	HMS Nile, Alexandria, Egypt
Commanders
Notable commanders	Rear-Admiral Allan Poland

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 HMS Nile (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]

Incumbent admirals

Rear Admiral Poland at a parade in Alexandria

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][1] Also Playfair, Vol. I., Annex 9, p. 478.
2	Rear Admiral		George H. Creswell	February, 1941 – August, 1942	[1][8]
3	Rear Admiral		Allan Poland	November, 1942 – October, 1944	elevated to Acting Vice-Admiral and Knighted[9][1][10]

Headquarters staff

Base HQ was HMS Nile, borne in HMS Maidstone II.

Chief Staff Officer and Flag Captain, Alexandria

	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)[1]
2	Captain		B.C.B. Brooke	12 January 1941 – August 1942	[1]
3	Flag Captain		C.H. Rolleston	16 November 1942 – October 1943	(retd)[1]
4	Captain		D. Young-Jameson	October – December 1943	[1]

Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria

Post holders included:

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes/Ref
Captain-Superintendent, Alexandria
1	Captain		W.Y. La R. Beverley	14 August 1940 – April, 1942	[1]
2	Captain		C. Coppinger	April, 1942 – December, 1943	[1][11]

Levant Area

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 [1]

Cyprus Area

Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports

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	[1]