Second Sea Lord Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Office of the Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Incumbent Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell since 12 January 2022
Ministry of Defence
Abbreviation	2SL/DCNS
Member of	Admiralty Board Navy Board
Reports to	First Sea Lord
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 4–5 years)
Inaugural holder	Rear Admiral George Dundas
Formation	Second Naval Lord, 1830–1904 Second Sea Lord from 1904

The Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff is a very important job in the Royal Navy. This person is the second-highest officer, right after the First Sea Lord. They are in charge of all the people in the Navy and the places on land where the Navy works.

This role was first called the Second Naval Lord in 1830. Later, in 1904, its name changed to Second Sea Lord. Today, the office is located at Navy Command, Headquarters.

What Does the Second Sea Lord Do?
Past Leaders of the Second Sea Lord Role
Images for kids
See also

What Does the Second Sea Lord Do?

The Second Sea Lord is like the head of human resources for the entire Royal Navy. They make sure that Navy personnel are well-trained and supported. This includes everything from recruiting new sailors to managing their careers and welfare.

They also look after the Navy's land-based facilities, known as shore establishments. These are important places where sailors live, train, and work when they are not at sea.

How the Role Has Changed Over Time

The job of the Second Sea Lord has changed a lot since it began. In 1805, specific tasks were given to the 'Naval' Lords, who were the professional leaders. The Second Naval Lord became the second most senior leader on the Board of Admiralty.

This person was known as the Chief of Naval Personnel. Their main job was to handle all matters related to the people serving in the Royal Navy. In 1917, the title officially changed to the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel.

Joining Forces: Naval Home Command

In 1994, the role of Second Sea Lord was combined with another important job: Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command (CINCNAVHOME). This happened because the British Armed Forces were being made smaller after the Cold War.

The Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command, was a role created in 1969. It brought together the leaders of the Navy's main bases in Portsmouth and Plymouth.

Where is the Second Sea Lord Based?

Today, the Second Sea Lord is based in Portsmouth. They work in a shared headquarters with the Fleet Commander on Whale Island.

For many years, until October 2012, the Second Sea Lord used to fly their special flag from HMS Victory. This famous ship is the world's oldest warship still officially in service, and it's kept in a dry dock in Portsmouth. The right to use HMS Victory came from the Second Sea Lord's role as CINCNAVHOME.

However, after 2012, the separate Commander-in-Chief roles were stopped. Now, the First Sea Lord has full command responsibility and flies their flag from Victory. This change was part of bigger reforms in the Navy.

The Role Today: Second Sea Lord & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff

In 2016, the job title was updated again to Second Sea Lord & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. This new title clearly states that the person in this role is responsible for:

Making sure the Navy has the right people, now and in the future.
Providing the right equipment for sailors to do their jobs.
Maintaining the buildings and facilities (infrastructure) the Navy needs.

Past Leaders of the Second Sea Lord Role

Many important officers have held this position throughout history. Here are some of the people who served in this key role.

Second Naval Lords (1830–1904)

Rear Admiral George Dundas, 1830–1834
Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, 1834
Vice-Admiral Sir John Beresford, 1835–1841
Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, 1835–1841
Rear Admiral Sir Edward Troubridge, 1841
Vice-Admiral Sir William Gage, 1841–1846
Vice-Admiral Sir James Dundas, 1846–1847
Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Prescott, 1847
Vice-Admiral Sir Maurice Berkeley, 1847–1852
Vice-Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, 1852
Vice-Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, 1852–1853
Vice-Admiral Sir Maurice Berkeley, 1853–1854
Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas, 1854–1855
Vice-Admiral Henry Eden, 1855–1857
Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas, 1857
Vice-Admiral Henry Eden, 1857–1858
Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas, 1858–1859
Rear Admiral Frederick Pelham, 1859–1861
Vice Admiral Sir Charles Eden, 1861–1866
Vice-Admiral Sir Sydney Dacres, 1866–1868
Vacant, 1868–1872
Vice Admiral Sir John Tarleton, 1872–1874
Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hornby, 1874–1877
Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hood 1877–1879
Admiral The Earl of Clanwilliam, 1879–1880
Admiral Lord John Hay, 1880–1883
Admiral Lord Alcester, 1883–1885
Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins, 1885–1888
Vice-Admiral Sir Vesey Hamilton, 1888–1889
Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax, 1889–1892
Admiral Sir Frederick Richards, 1892–1893
Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, 1893–1895
Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, 1895–1899
Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, 1899
Vice-Admiral Archibald Douglas, 1899–1902
Admiral Sir John Fisher, 1902–1903

Second Sea Lords (1904–1917)

Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Drury, 1903–1907
Admiral Sir William May, 1907–1909
Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman, 1909–1911
Vice-Admiral Sir George Egerton, 1911
Vice-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, 1911–1912
Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, 1912–1914
Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Hamilton, 1914–1916
Vice-Admiral Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe, 1916
Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, 1916–1917

Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel (1917–1995)

Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, 1917
Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert Heath, 1917–1919
Admiral Sir Montague Browning, 1919–1920
Admiral Sir Henry Oliver, 1920–1924
Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 1924–1925
Vice-Admiral Sir Hubert Brand, 1925–1927
Admiral Sir Michael Hodges, 1927–1930
Admiral Sir Cyril Fuller, 1930–1932
Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, 1932–1935
Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, 1935–1938
Admiral Sir Charles Little, 1938–1941
Admiral Sir William Whitworth, 1941–1944
Admiral Sir Algernon Willis, 1944–1946
Admiral Sir Arthur Power, 1946–1948
Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt, 1948–1950
Admiral Sir Alexander Madden, 1950–1953
Admiral Sir Guy Russell, 1953–1955
Admiral Sir Charles Lambe, 1955–1957
Vice-Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin, 1957–1959
Admiral Sir St John Tyrwhitt, 1959–1961
Admiral Sir Royston Wright, 1961–1965
Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer, 1965–1967
Admiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton, 1967
Admiral Sir Frank Twiss, 1967–1970
Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Lewis, 1970–1971
Admiral Sir Derek Empson, 1971–1974
Admiral Sir David Williams, 1974–1977
Admiral Sir Gordon Tait, 1977–1979
Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi, 1979–1982
Admiral Sir Simon Cassels, 1982–1986
Admiral Sir Richard Fitch, 1986–1988
Admiral Sir Brian Brown, 1988–1991
Admiral Sir Michael Livesay, 1991–1992
Admiral Sir Michael Layard, 1992–1995

Second Sea Lords and Commanders-in-Chief Naval Home Command (1995–2012)

Rank	Name	In office
Admiral	Sir Michael Boyce	1995–1997
Admiral	Sir John Brigstocke	1997–2000
Vice-Admiral	Sir Peter Spencer	2000–2003
Admiral	Sir James Burnell-Nugent	2003–2005
Vice-Admiral	Sir Adrian Johns	2005–2008
Vice-Admiral	Sir Alan Massey	2008–2010
Vice-Admiral	Sir Charles Montgomery	2010–2012

Second Sea Lords and Chiefs of Naval Personnel and Training (2012–2015)

Rank	Name	Image	In office
Vice Admiral	Sir Charles Montgomery		2012 (and see above)
Vice Admiral	Sir David Steel		2012–2015

Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (2015–Present)

See: Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff

Rank	Name	In office
Vice Admiral	Sir Jonathan Woodcock	2SL: 2015–2018, Deputy CNS: 2016–2018
Vice Admiral	Tony Radakin	2018–2019
Vice Admiral	Nick Hine	2019–2022
Vice Admiral	Sir Martin Connell	2022–present

Images for kids

From 1995 to 2012 the Second Sea Lord was (as Commander-in-Chief) based in Admiralty House within HMNB Portsmouth (note the Vice-Admiral's flag in this 2006 photo).

Second Sea Lord facts for kids

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