Admiralty War Staff facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 8 January 1912 |
| Preceding |
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| Dissolved | May 1917 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Admiralty Building Whitehall London |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent department | Admiralty |
The Admiralty War Staff was a special group within the British Admiralty. It was in charge of planning naval operations for the Royal Navy. This group existed from 1912 to 1917.
Winston Churchill, who was the head of the Admiralty at the time, created it on January 8, 1912. The War Staff was like a special council that helped plan for war. Its leader reported directly to the First Sea Lord, who was the most senior naval officer. After the First World War, this group was replaced by the Admiralty Naval Staff.
Contents
How the War Staff Started
The idea for the War Staff began to form around 1887. It grew out of some tasks handled by the Naval Intelligence Department (NID). This department originally had two main sections: one for foreign information and one for getting ships ready for war.
In 1900, a new section was added to the NID. It was first called the Defence Division, then the War Division. This section focused on big picture plans and how to defend the country. Later, in 1902, a fourth section was created. This was the Trade Division, which looked after protecting merchant ships.
The Trade Division was closed down in 1909. This happened after an investigation showed that its leader had shared secret information. After this, the NID stopped being in charge of war planning. Instead, a new group called the Naval Mobilisation Department (NMD) took over. The NID went back to just collecting information.
Even before this, in 1902, Admiral Sir John Fisher believed the Navy needed a dedicated staff for planning. The Army already had a similar group, the General Staff, which started in 1904. The Navy was behind in having such a senior planning department.
In 1909, Rear-Admiral Alexander E. Bethell suggested creating a "Navy War Council." This council would include top naval leaders to help with war planning.
Setting Up the War Staff
In 1911, Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, pushed for a new naval staff. He told the Prime Minister that the current head of the Navy did not want this new staff. Because of this, Churchill insisted that the admiral be replaced.
Churchill kept the Prime Minister updated as the plan for the new staff developed. He explained what the new department would include:
- A section for war education.
- A section for war information.
- A section for war planning.
- A section for getting forces ready for war.
These sections would be led by a new "Chief of the War Staff." This chief would report to the Board of Admiralty. They would also have an "Assistant Chief of the War Staff" to help them. In January 1912, Churchill officially announced the new department. He also listed the first leaders for its main parts:
- Chief of the War Staff
- Director of the Operations Division
- Director of the Intelligence Division
- Director of the Mobilization Division
Over time, more sections were added, each with its own director. When the War Staff started, 12 officers were chosen for special training. Reginald Plunkett was the very first officer selected for this training.
What the War Staff Did
The main job of the War Staff was to give advice. As stated in the Churchill Memorandum on a War Staff for the Royal Navy:
- The War Staff's role was to offer advice.
- The Chief of the Staff helped make sure orders to the Fleet were correct.
- The Staff did not have direct power to command things.
- They did not handle day-to-day management.
- Their responsibility ended with giving good advice and making sure the facts they used were accurate.
The End of the War Staff
In early 1917, the name "War Staff" was changed. It became the "Admiralty Naval Staff." The First Sea Lord also took on a new title: Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). The staff's duties were then split under two new leaders: the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) and the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (ACNS).
Operational Divisions
By December 1916, the War Staff included several important divisions:
- Anti-Submarine Division: Formed in 1916 to deal with enemy submarines.
- Naval Intelligence Division: Formed in 1912, it gathered and analyzed information.
- Operations Division: Formed in 1912, it planned naval battles and movements.
- Mobilisation Division: Formed in 1912, it got naval forces ready for action.
- Signals Section (Combined Operations): Formed in 1916, it handled communications.
- Trade Division: Formed in 1914, it protected merchant shipping.
Images for kids
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Ernest Troubridge, the first Chief of the War Staff (1912–1913)
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Doveton Sturdee, Chief of the War Staff (1914)
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Henry Oliver, Chief of the War Staff (1914–1917)
