Vice-Admiral of the White

Vice-Admiral of the White was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank Vice-Admiral of the Red (see order of precedence below). Royal Navy officers holding the ranks of commodore, rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral of the fleet are sometimes considered generically to be admirals. From 1688 to 1805, this rank was fifth in order of precedence; after 1805, it was the sixth. In 1864, it was abolished as a promotional rank (pictured opposite is the command flag for a Vice-Admiral of the White).^[1]

Vice-Admiral of the White
Command flag (1805–1864)
Country	United Kingdom
Service branch	Royal Navy
Abbreviation	VAW
Next higher rank	Vice-Admiral of the Red
Next lower rank	Vice-Admiral of the Blue

Command flag of the Vice-admiral of the White (Royal Museums Greenwich)

History

The Navy Royal inaugurated squadron colours during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) to subdivide the English fleet into three squadrons. There were three classes of admirals and differentiated by using coloured flags.^[2] In 1620 the official flag ranks of admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral were legally established that arose directly out of the organisation of the fleet into three parts. Admiral of the Fleet as an official flag rank was formally created in 1688.^[3]

Vice-Admiral of the White was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Red (see order of precedence below). Such senior ranks or offices generally qualified the Royal Navy officers holding them to be considered admirals, a category that consists of the ranks of commodore, rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral of the fleet.^[4] From 1688 to 1805 the rank of Vice-Admiral of the White was fifth in the order of precedence; after 1805 it was the sixth. In 1864 it was abolished as a promotional rank.^[5]

Order of precedence of Admirals of the Colour

The Navy was divided into three squadrons-Red, White and Blue-in order of seniority. Admirals were appointed to these squadrons and therefore their rank and squadron split the seniority originally into nine bands, later ten with the Admiral of the Fleet being senior to all others.^[6]

Seniority was therefore from 1805 to 1864:

1. Admiral of the Fleet
2. Admiral of the Red Squadron (rank created in 1805)
3. Admiral of the White Squadron
4. Admiral of the Blue Squadron
5. Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron
6. Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron
7. Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron
8. Rear-Admiral of the Red Squadron
9. Rear-Admiral of the White Squadron
10. Rear-Admiral of the Blue Squadron

Seniority was therefore from 1688 to 1805:

1. Admiral of the Fleet, (rank created in 1688)
2. Admiral of the White Squadron
3. Admiral of the Blue Squadron
4. Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron
5. Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron
6. Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron
7. Rear-Admiral of the Red Squadron
8. Rear-Admiral of the White Squadron
9. Rear-Admiral of the Blue Squadron

Admirals without an appointment were colloquially referred to as yellow admirals. Ships of the Royal Navy flew the Ensign that coincided with the squadron of their commanding officer.^[7]

Former command flag 1625 to 1805

• 
  Vice Admiral of the White Squadron command flag 1625 to 1805.

See also

• List of command flags of the Royal Navy
• Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson