Admiral Commanding, Reserves


The Admiral Commanding, Reserves, was a senior Royal Navy post that existed from 1875 to 1976.

History

Before 1857 the HM Coast Guard was attached to the Customs Service for revenue duties, and was a Controller-General of the Coastguard. In January, 1869, Captain Willes was called to the Admiralty to assist the First Naval Lord in conducting the duties of the Coastguard and the Royal Naval Reserve, as well as to give general assistance in other matters, and, in October, 1870, was confirmed in office with the title of Chief of the Staff, Naval Reserves. The office of Chief of the Staff was continued but for a brief term, and, following an Order in Council of December 12, 1874, an Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves was appointed to take charge of the Naval Reserve afloat. He was also given charge of Coastguard stations ashore, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, and the Seamen Pensioners' Reserve. In 1903 responsibility for the HM Coast Guard passed to the Admiralty on 21 May 1903 the office of Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves was established the first incumbent being Admiral Sir Ernest Rice. In March 1923 responsibility for the majority of the functions of the coast guard was passed to two other organisations the Board of Customs and Excise and the Board of Trade. In July 1923 the office was then re-styled Admiral Commanding, Reserves this remained the current format until this separate post was abolished in 1976.
Successive post holders were supported in their duties by an assistant until 1902 and then a chief of staff until 1976.

Post 1976 role

Responsibility for administering reserves then came under the Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command as a dual role until 1994 when the Second Sea Lord became responsible for managing reserves until 1996. Later that year the new post of Flag Officer, Training and Recruitment took over responsibility for reserves until 2004. In 2005 the Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland became responsible for Royal Naval Reserve he held the joint title of Flag Officer, Reserves. In 2015 Naval Secretary/Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff assumed responsibility for reserves when the post of was renamed Flag Officer, Maritime Reserves.

Duties

At various times his duties were:
Post holders included:

Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves

From 1968 until 1976 this post holder co-held the title, Director-General Naval Recruiting.
Post holders included:

Fleet Reserve

Included:
Included: