| HM Dockyard, Bermuda | |
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| Type | Naval Dockyard |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1795 |
| Abolished | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Bermuda |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Controlled by | Navy Board (1759-1832) |
| Controlled by | Board of Admiralty (1832-1964) |
| Sub-component | Victualling Yard Deptford |
HMD Bermuda (Her/His Majesty's Dockyard, Bermuda) was the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic between American independence and the Cold War. In 1818 the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda officially replaced the Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax as the British headquarters for the North America and West Indies Station in 1905. it was in operation from 1795 to 1995.
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Table of Contents
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1) History
HMD Bermuda (Her/His Majesty's Dockyard, Bermuda) was the principal base of the Royal Navy in the Western Atlantic between American independence and the Cold War. Bermuda had occupied a useful position astride the homeward leg taken by many European vessels from the New World since before its settlement by England in 1609. French privateers may have used the islands as a staging place for operations against Spanish galleons in the 16th century. Bermudian privateers certainly played a role in many Imperial wars following settlement. Despite this, it was not until the loss of bases on most of the North American Atlantic seaboard (following US independence) threatened Britain's supremacy in the Western Atlantic that the island assumed great importance as a naval base (the attendant Bermuda Garrison of the British Army existed primarily to protect the naval base). In 1818 the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda officially replaced the Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax as the British headquarters for the North America and West Indies Station.
2) Location
3) Plan of the Dockyard
4) Administration of the Dockyard
Administration of the dockyard
Up until 1831 all navy dockyards, were administered by a Resident Commissioner on behalf of the Navy Board in London. By An Order in Council dated 27 June 1832 the role of the Resident Commissioner was replaced by either a Captain or Commodore or Admiral Superintendent depending on the size of the yard.[11][12]
4.1) Commissioner of the Navy, Bermuda (1816-1832)
- Captain Fitzherbert Evans 1816 - 1817
- Captain J. M. Lewis 1817 - 1821
- Captain Thomas Briggs 1823 - 1829
- Captain, the Hon. Thomas Ussher, 1830 - 1831
4.2) Captain/Commodore/Rear-Admiral Superintendent, Bermuda (1832-1944)
Note: no superintendents appointed from 1839 to 1847 just a resident store-keeper.
- Commodore, Sir Thomas Ussher, 1832-1838
- Captain Henry John Carr, 1 January 1892
- Captain John William Brackenbury, 7 June 1894
- Captain William Harvey Pigott, 28 January 1897 – 1 September 1899
- Captain Thomas MacGill, 28 June 1899 – 7 August 1902
- Captain Henry Leah, 28 June 1902 – 29 March 1905
- Captain Henry H. Bruce, 1 March 1905 – 20 March 1906
- Commander Noel Grant, 20 March 1906 – 9 January 1909
- Captain Basil Hew Fanshawe, 9 January 1909 – 1 July 1911
- Commander Godfrey E. Corbett, 1 July 1911 – 15 June 1914
- Rear-Admiral Morgan Singer, 15 December 1917
- Captain Basil Hew Fanshawe, 1 June 1919 – 16 April 1921
- Captain Cecil Horace Pilcher, 1 October 1922 – November, 1924
- Captain Aubrey T. Tillard, 23 October 1924 – c. 18 November 1926
- Captain Colin A. M. Sarel, 21 October 1926 – 16 November 1928
- Captain Reginald Vesey Holt, 18 October 1928 – November, 1930
- Captain Henry Bradford Maltby, 16 October 1930 [17]
- Captain Francis H. G. Walker, 23 November 1932 – 6 November 1934
- Captain Edye K. Boddam-Whetham, 6 November 1934 – 17 November 1936
- Captain Edward Conyngham Denison, 21 October 1936 – 16 December 1938
4.3) Commodore in Charge, Bermuda (1944-1946)
- Commodore Charles Hugo Knox-Little, 15 January 1944 – 31 January 1944
- Commodore Charles Hugo Knox-Little, 7 August 1944 – July, 1946
4.4) Commodore, West Indies and Senior Naval Officer (1956-1976)
- Commodore George E. Hunt: April 1956-June 1958
- Commodore W. John Parker: June 1958-January 1960
- Commodore Hinton C.J. Shand: January 1960-June 1961
- Commodore John E.L. Martin: June 1961-July 1963
- Commodore Edward B. Ashmore: July 1963-December 1964
- Commodore Hubert H. Dannreuther: December 1964-August 1966
- Commodore John M. Townley: August 1966-November 1968
- Commodore Martin N. Lucey: November 1968-June 1970
- Commodore David G. Roome: June 1970-March 1972
- Commodore Cameron Rusby: March 1972-May 1974
- Commodore Bryan J. Straker: May 1974-June 1976
5) Sources
- Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Bermuda Royal Dockyard - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 15 February 2018.
- Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865: Commodore West Indies" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p. 172. Scotland. UK.