Brighlingsea Naval Base[1] was an installation of the British Royal Navy[2] located at Brightlingsea, Essex, on the East Coast of England. In both wars it was part of the Nore Command, which had its HQ at Chatham, and in the Second was part of Harwich Sub-Command. It existed from late 1914 to 1921, and from early 1940 to 1947,
HMS Wallaroo (1914-1916) HMS City of Perth (1916-1939) HMS Nemo (1939-1945)
Brightlingsea is a coastal town in the Tendring district of Essex, England. It is situated between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, at the mouth of the River Colne, on Brightlingsea Creek.
51°49′N1°02′E / 51.81°N 1.03°E / 51.81; 1.03 In World War I Brightlingsea naval base was in charge of the protective anti-torpedo net barrier around the Swin Anchorage, used at various times by the 3rd Battle Squadron, the Dover Patrol, and other naval units. It installed, maintained and finally dismantled the booms and nets, patrolled around them, and also patrolled the local Essex river estuaries and coastline, using trawlers, drifters, and Motor Launches (MLs). After mid-1916 it was also the base for the steam gunboat HMS Cockchafer. The local shipyards also maintained its craft and some of those from the Dover Patrol. Rear-Admiral C L Napier was in command from late 1914 till Spring 1916, then Commander R Hartland Mahan replaced him. Including the old light cruiser HMS Wallaroo which was attached in 1915–1916, manpower varied from about 300 to 500. The shore base was initially named HMS Wallaroo (after the ship), then City of Perth (after a net drifter).
Unconnected with the Navy was the Army School of Military (Field) Engineering, and from Summer 1916 the Australian Engineer Training Depot (AETD), with a combined strength of up to 1260 personnel.
In early 1940 naval personnel and craft from HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, used the harbour to test the newly-invented LL magnetic mine sweep. That June, after their departure, the Navy set up the shore base HMS Nemo, for Essex coast auxiliary patrol. In the autumn minesweeping drifters and training landing craft were attached, together with naval air-sea rescue craft, and personnel for operating and guarding estuary observation minefields. Manpower ashore and afloat varied from about 200 to 600. A separate Coastal Forces equipping unit was also attached (from 1941), which used the local shipyards to equip and test-run many hundreds of MLs, MTBs and MGBs. The same shipyards also serviced and repaired many such craft from other bases, besides building 16 in the case of Aldous's yard. In 1942 landing craft training was separated out under HMS Helder, which moored its craft (up to 90) in the Creek but had its shore HQ opposite at St Osyth.
Senior naval officerEdit
The station was administered initially by the Rear-Admiral, Brightlinsea and later by the Senior Naval Officer, Brighlingsea
Name
Flag Ship
Brighlingsea Station
HMS Wallaroo (1914-1915), HMS City of Perth (1916-1939), HMS Nemo (1940-1945)
^Navy lists, Quarterly. London: H.M. Stationery Office. October 1915. p. 1631.
^Shipbuilding & shipping record: a journal of shipbuilding, marine engineering, dock, harbours & shipping (Volume 14). 1919. p. 697.
^Watson, Dr Graham. "British Admiralty, Shore Establishments, Fleets and Station, World War 1". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 23 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
^Watson, Dr Graham. "British Admiralty, Shore Establishments, Fleets and Station, World War 1". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 23 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
^Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939-1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^The Navy List. London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. January 1920. p. 693.
^The Navy List. London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. October 1919. p. 699.
^Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939-1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939-1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939-1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939-1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939-1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
SourcesEdit
Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy Nore Command 1939-1945: Brighlingsea". unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes.
Navy lists, Quarterly. London: H.M. Stationery Office. October 1915.
The Navy List. London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. October 1919.
The Navy List. London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. January 1920.
The Navy List. London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. October 1944.
Reebeck, Amanda. "The Anzacs of Brightlingsea: The Australian War Memorial". awm.gov.au. Australian War Memorial.
Shipbuilding & shipping record: (1919), a journal of shipbuilding, marine engineering, dock, harbours & shipping (Volume 14).
Watson, (2015), Dr Graham. "British Admiralty, Shore Establishments, Fleets and Station, World War 1". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
J P Foynes "Brightlingsea & the Great War" and "Under the White Ensign", based mainly on National Archive Admiralty files, and interviews.
J P Foynes "The Australians at Brightlingsea 1916-1919", based mainly on Australian Engineer War Diaries and Personnel Files at Australian National Archives and Australian War Museum, plus photo-collections and famuly research.
August 25, 2023
brightlingsea, station, confused, with, brightlingsea, railway, station, brighlingsea, naval, base, installation, british, royal, navy, located, brightlingsea, essex, east, coast, england, both, wars, part, nore, command, which, chatham, second, part, harwich,. Not to be confused with Brightlingsea railway station Brighlingsea Naval Base 1 was an installation of the British Royal Navy 2 located at Brightlingsea Essex on the East Coast of England In both wars it was part of the Nore Command which had its HQ at Chatham and in the Second was part of Harwich Sub Command It existed from late 1914 to 1921 and from early 1940 to 1947 Brightlingsea Naval BaseActive1914 1921 1939 1945CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal NavyTypeNaval stationPart ofRoyal NavyGarrison HQHMS Wallaroo 1914 1916 HMS City of Perth 1916 1939 HMS Nemo 1939 1945 Brightlingsea is a coastal town in the Tendring district of Essex England It is situated between Colchester and Clacton on Sea at the mouth of the River Colne on Brightlingsea Creek Contents 1 History 2 Senior naval officer 2 1 Rear Admiral Brightlingsea 2 2 Naval Officer in Charge Brightlingsea 3 References 4 SourcesHistory Edit51 49 N 1 02 E 51 81 N 1 03 E 51 81 1 03 In World War I Brightlingsea naval base was in charge of the protective anti torpedo net barrier around the Swin Anchorage used at various times by the 3rd Battle Squadron the Dover Patrol and other naval units It installed maintained and finally dismantled the booms and nets patrolled around them and also patrolled the local Essex river estuaries and coastline using trawlers drifters and Motor Launches MLs After mid 1916 it was also the base for the steam gunboat HMS Cockchafer The local shipyards also maintained its craft and some of those from the Dover Patrol Rear Admiral C L Napier was in command from late 1914 till Spring 1916 then Commander R Hartland Mahan replaced him Including the old light cruiser HMS Wallaroo which was attached in 1915 1916 manpower varied from about 300 to 500 The shore base was initially named HMS Wallaroo after the ship then City of Perth after a net drifter Unconnected with the Navy was the Army School of Military Field Engineering and from Summer 1916 the Australian Engineer Training Depot AETD with a combined strength of up to 1260 personnel In early 1940 naval personnel and craft from HMS Vernon Portsmouth used the harbour to test the newly invented LL magnetic mine sweep That June after their departure the Navy set up the shore base HMS Nemo for Essex coast auxiliary patrol In the autumn minesweeping drifters and training landing craft were attached together with naval air sea rescue craft and personnel for operating and guarding estuary observation minefields Manpower ashore and afloat varied from about 200 to 600 A separate Coastal Forces equipping unit was also attached from 1941 which used the local shipyards to equip and test run many hundreds of MLs MTBs and MGBs The same shipyards also serviced and repaired many such craft from other bases besides building 16 in the case of Aldous s yard In 1942 landing craft training was separated out under HMS Helder which moored its craft up to 90 in the Creek but had its shore HQ opposite at St Osyth Senior naval officer EditThe station was administered initially by the Rear Admiral Brightlinsea and later by the Senior Naval Officer Brighlingsea Name Flag ShipBrighlingsea Station HMS Wallaroo 1914 1915 HMS City of Perth 1916 1939 HMS Nemo 1940 1945 Rear Admiral Brightlingsea Edit Included 3 Rank Flag Name Term Notes RefRear Admiral Brightlingsea1 Rear Admiral Charles Lionel Napier November 1914 May 1916 4 Naval Officer in Charge Brightlingsea Edit Incomplete list of post holder included 5 Rank Flag Name Term Notes RefNaval Officer in Charge Brightlingsea1 Captain J P Landon 1916 1919 6 2 Commander Ernest E M Betts CBE 1919 4 February 1920 7 3 Vice Admiral Gordon Campbell 1 June July 1940 retired 8 4 Captain Arthur Henniker Heaton July 1940 May 1942 retired 9 5 Captain J P Farquharson May 1942 retired 10 6 Captain C C Bell June December 1942 retired 11 7 Captain J P Landon December 1942 May 1945 retired 12 References Edit Navy lists Quarterly London H M Stationery Office October 1915 p 1631 Shipbuilding amp shipping record a journal of shipbuilding marine engineering dock harbours amp shipping Volume 14 1919 p 697 Watson Dr Graham British Admiralty Shore Establishments Fleets and Station World War 1 naval history net Gordon Smith 23 July 2015 Retrieved 5 July 2018 Watson Dr Graham British Admiralty Shore Establishments Fleets and Station World War 1 naval history net Gordon Smith 23 July 2015 Retrieved 7 July 2018 Houterman J N Royal Navy Nore Command 1939 1945 Brighlingsea unithistories com Houterman and Koppes Retrieved 1 July 2018 The Navy List London England H M Stationery Office January 1920 p 693 The Navy List London England H M Stationery Office October 1919 p 699 Houterman J N Royal Navy Nore Command 1939 1945 Brighlingsea unithistories com Houterman and Koppes Retrieved 1 July 2018 Houterman J N Royal Navy Nore Command 1939 1945 Brighlingsea unithistories com Houterman and Koppes Retrieved 1 July 2018 Houterman J N Royal Navy Nore Command 1939 1945 Brighlingsea unithistories com Houterman and Koppes Retrieved 1 July 2018 Houterman J N Royal Navy Nore Command 1939 1945 Brighlingsea unithistories com Houterman and Koppes Retrieved 1 July 2018 Houterman J N Royal Navy Nore Command 1939 1945 Brighlingsea unithistories com Houterman and Koppes Retrieved 1 July 2018 Sources EditHouterman J N Royal Navy Nore Command 1939 1945 Brighlingsea unithistories com Houterman and Koppes Navy lists Quarterly London H M Stationery Office October 1915 The Navy List London England H M Stationery Office October 1919 The Navy List London England H M Stationery Office January 1920 The Navy List London England H M Stationery Office October 1944 Reebeck Amanda The Anzacs of Brightlingsea The Australian War Memorial awm gov au Australian War Memorial Shipbuilding amp shipping record 1919 a journal of shipbuilding marine engineering dock harbours amp shipping Volume 14 Watson 2015 Dr Graham British Admiralty Shore Establishments Fleets and Station World War 1 naval history net Gordon Smith J P Foynes Brightlingsea amp the Great War and Under the White Ensign based mainly on National Archive Admiralty files and interviews J P Foynes The Australians at Brightlingsea 1916 1919 based mainly on Australian Engineer War Diaries and Personnel Files at Australian National Archives and Australian War Museum plus photo collections and famuly research Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brightlingsea Station amp oldid 1156538692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
