1st Battlecruiser Squadron

The first two British battlecruisers of the {{sclass|Invincible|battlecruiser|4}}—{{HMS|Inflexible|1907|2}} and {{HMS|Indomitable|1907|2}}—were commissioned into the Nore Division of the Home Fleet in October 1908.{{cite book |title=Battlecruiser |last=Roberts |page=122 }} In early 1909, the Nore Division became the First Division of a reorganised Home Fleet,{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The North Sea Fleet |department=News |date=15 February 1909 |page=9 |issue=38883 |column=C }} and Inflexible and Indomitable were transferred to the new First Cruiser Squadron in March 1909; they were joined by their recently completed sister {{HMS|Invincible|1907|2}}. Also part of the squadron were the armoured cruisers {{HMS|Minotaur|1906|2}} and {{HMS|Drake|1901|2}} (flagship).{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval and Military Intelligence |department=Official Appointments and Notices |date=15 April 1909 |page=6 |issue=38984 |column=B }} Rear-Admiral the Honourable Stanley Colville took command of the squadron on 24 February{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval and Military Intelligence |department=Official Appointments and Notices |date=18 January 1909 |page=5 |issue=38859 |column=E }} and transferred his flag to Indomitable on 29 July. Drake then became flagship of the Fifth Cruiser Squadron in the Atlantic Fleet.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Fleet in the Thames |department=News |date=17 July 1909 |page=8 |issue=39014 |column=A }}

On 24 February 1911, Rear-Admiral Lewis Bayly assumed command of the First Cruiser Squadron, which had been joined in February by the new {{sclass|Indefatigable|battlecruiser|2}} {{HMS|Indefatigable|1909|2}}. Upon joining on 4 June 1912, {{HMS|Lion|1910|2}} became Rear-Admiral Bayly's flagship. {{HMS|Princess Royal|1911|2}} joined on 14 November. A reorganisation of the fleet renamed the First Cruiser Squadron to First Battlecruiser Squadron on 1 January 1913.{{cite book |title=Battlecruiser |last=Roberts |page=123 }} During 1913 gradually all the older battlecruisers left to join the Second Battlecruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet. Rear-Admiral David Beatty was selected to command the squadron and succeeded Bayly on 1 March 1913.{{cite book |title=Beatty Papers |volume=I |page=57 }} The near-sister to the {{sclass|Lion|battlecruiser|4}}—{{HMS|Queen Mary||2}}—joined on 4 September.

The First Battlecruiser Squadron at the outbreak of war was composed of the four newest battlecruisers in the Royal Navy. On 3 October, it was joined by the recently completed {{HMS|Tiger|1913|2}}. The squadron took part in the successful Battle of Heligoland Bight against the Imperial German Navy on 28 August 1914 and participated in the abortive attempt to engage the Germans during their bombardment of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool on 16 December.{{cite book |title=Beatty Papers |volume=I |pages=107–110 }} On 15 January 1915, New Zealand left to become flagship of the Second Battlecruiser Squadron and was joined by Indomitable, which had served with the First Battlecruiser Squadron over the New Year.

The Squadron took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank, where Beatty's battlecruisers forced the Germans to retreat, and in the process sank the German armoured cruiser {{SMS|Blücher||6}}, while Lion suffered heavy damage. As a result of the battle, in February the battlecruiser force was reorganised, and a Battlecruiser Fleet (BCF) was incorporated, with Beatty reappointed to command it.{{cite book |title=The Life and Letters of David, Earl Beatty |last=Chalmers |page=201 }} Captain Osmond De B. Brock of Princess Royal was appointed Commodore, First Class and given command of the First Battlecruiser Squadron, until he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral in March.Brock service record. ADM 196/43. p. 49. At the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, all ships were damaged by German shell fire as the First Battle Squadron under Rear-Admiral Brock and Beatty in Lion lead the British line against the enemy. Early in the action, Queen Mary was lost and all but a small number of her crew were killed. Two other battlecruisers—Invincible and Indefatigable—were sunk during the battle.

The squadron's losses were made up for by the arrival of the new battlecruisers {{HMS|Repulse|1916|2}} and {{HMS|Renown|1916|2}} in September 1916 and January 1917 respectively. Brock was replaced by Rear-Admiral Richard F. Phillimore. When Phillimore left to become Rear-Admiral Commanding, Aircraft Carriers,{{cite book|title= Beatty Papers |volume=I |page=453 }} he was superseded by Rear-Admiral Henry Oliver on 14 March 1918.Oliver service record. ADM 196/42. p. 319.

• {{HMS|Drake|1901|2}}. Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral the Honourable Stanley C. J. Colville.
• {{HMS|Minotaur|1906|2}}. Captain William O. Boothby.
• {{HMS|Indomitable|1907|2}}. Captain Herbert G. King-Hall.
• {{HMS|Inflexible|1907|2}}. Captain Henry H. Torlesse.
• {{HMS|Invincible|1907|2}}. Captain Mark E. F. Kerr.

• Indomitable. Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral the Honourable Stanley C. J. Colville. Captain C. M. de Bartolomé.
• Minotaur. Captain William O. Boothby.
• Inflexible. Captain Henry H. Torlesse.
• Invincible. Captain Mark E. F. Kerr.

File:1st Battlecruiser Squadron in Kronstadt, June 1914.jpg, Russia, in June 1914. HMS Boadicea is in the foreground]]

• {{HMS|Lion|1910|2}}.{{cite book |title=British Warships 1914–1919 |last=Dittmar |author2=Colledge |page=15 }} Captain A. E. M. Chatfield.{{cite book |title=Navy List. December 1914 |page=348}}
• {{HMS|Princess Royal|1911|2}}. Captain Osmond De B. Brock.{{cite book |title=Navy List. December 1914 |page=375a }}
• {{HMS|Queen Mary||2}}. Captain W. R. Hall.{{cite book |title=The Eyes of the Navy |last=James |page=20 }}
• {{HMS|New Zealand|1911|2}}. Captain Lionel Halsey.{{cite book |title=Navy List. December 1914 |page=361 }}

• Lion. Flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty. Captain A. E. M. Chatfield.{{cite book |title=Beatty Papers |volume=I |page=323 }}
• Princess Royal Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Osmond De B. Brock. Captain W. H. Cowan.
• Queen Mary. Captain Cecil I. Prowse.
• Tiger. Captain Henry B. Pelly.

• {{HMS|Repulse|1916|2}}.{{cite book |title=British Warships 1914–1919 |last=Dittmar |author2=Colledge |page=22 }} Flying the Flag of Rear-Admiral Richard F. Phillimore. Captain John S. Dumaresq (Temporary).{{cite book |title=Navy List. November 1917 |page=397k }}
• {{HMS|Renown|1916|2}}. Captain Michael H. Hodges.{{cite book |title=Navy List. November 1917 |page=397j }}
• Princess Royal. Captain Sidney R. Drury-Lowe (Temporary).{{cite book |title=Navy List. November 1917 |page=397d }}
• Tiger. Captain Arthur A. M. Duff.{{cite book |title=Navy List. November 1917 |page=398l }}

• Repulse. Flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Henry F. Oliver. Captain William H. D. Boyle.{{cite book |title=Navy List. December 1918 |page=892 }}
• Renown. Captain Arthur W. Craig.{{cite book |title=Navy List. December 1918 |page=891}}
• Princess Royal. Captain John D. Kelly.{{cite book |title=Navy List. December 1918 |page=885a }}
• Tiger. Captain Arthur A. M. Duff.{{cite book |title=Navy List. December 1918 |page=920}}

Post holders included:{{cite web|last1=Mackie|first1=Colin|title=Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf|website=gulabin.com|publisher=Colin Mackie. pp.203–204. March 2018|access-date=12 March 2018}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite book |title=The Beatty Papers |last=Beatty |first=David |volume= I |editor=Ranft, Bryan McL. |year=1989 |publisher=Navy Records Society |location=London |isbn=978-0-85967-807-0}}
• {{cite book |title=The Life and Letters of David, Earl Beatty |last=Chalmers |first=W. S. |year=1951 |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |location=London }}
• {{cite book |title=British Warships 1914–1919 |last=Dittmar |first=F.J. |author2=Colledge, J.J. |year=1972 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=London }}
• {{cite book |title=The Rules of the Game: Jutland and British Naval Command |last=Gordon |first=Andrew |year=1996 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |isbn=0-7195-5533-7 }}
• {{cite book |last=James |first=William |title=The Eyes of the Navy: A Biographical Study of Admiral Sir Reginald Hall |url=https://archive.org/details/eyesofnavybiogra0000jame |url-access=registration |year=1956 |publisher=Methuen & Co. |location=London }}
• {{cite book |title=Battlecruisers |last=Roberts |first=John Arthur |year=2003 |publisher=Caxton Editions |location=London |isbn=1-84067-530-6 }}

• [http://www.gwpda.org/naval/fdrn0004.htm Composition of the Grand Fleet]

{{Battle Cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy|state=collapsed}}

Category:Battlecruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy

Category:Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War I