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Flag Officer, Middle East

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The Flag Officer, Middle East was a command appointment of the Royal Navy, established for two distinct periods from 1946–58 and then from c. 1962–1967. From c. 1946–1958 the appointment was located in the Suez Canal Zone or, after the Suez Crisis, in the Cyprus area; when reestablished from the post of Flag Officer, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf, the focus was on the other side of Arabia. The headquarters moved from HMS Juffair in Bahrain to HMS Sheba, Steamer Point, Aden in 1962, and was located there until the British evacuation from Aden in 1967.

In August 1946 the title Commander-in-Chief, Levant was discontinued. Instead the title Senior British Naval Officer and Flag Officer Liaison, Middle East was adopted. In 1958 the last Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, hauled down his flag. His former units and establishments were transferred to the joint-service Middle East Command at Aden. In 1959 the former East Indies Persian Gulf Division and Red Sea division were amalgamated under the Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf.[1] In early 1962, the Flag Officer moved his headquarters from Bahrain to Aden, and by that time, the title Flag Officer Middle East was in use again.

In October 1967, Middle East Command in Aden was abolished, and the remaining naval forces 'East of Suez' were transferred to the Far East Fleet.

Flag Officer Middle East, 1946 - 58

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Senior British Naval Officer and Flag Officer Liaison, Middle East
1 Rear-Admiral Henry W. U. McCall 11 August 1946 – 9 September 1948 [2][3] HMS Stag
2 Rear-Admiral Albert L. Poland 4 September 1948-March 1950 [4] HMS Stag
3 Rear-Admiral Ian M.R. Campbell March 1950-June 1952 [5] HMS Osiris
Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Middle East
1 Rear-Admiral Graham H. Stokes June 1952-April 1954 [6]
2 Rear-Admiral Patrick W. Brock April 1954-March 1956 [6]
3 Rear-Admiral Anthony C.C. Miers March 1956 – 1958 [6]

Bahrain and Aden, 1959-67

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Flag Officer, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf

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Post holders included:

Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf
1 Commodore G. F. M. Best October 1959 - August 1960 [7] National Archives holdings include [8]
2 Rear-Admiral Fitzroy Talbot August 1960 - August 1962 [6] Title changed to Flag Officer Middle East by May 1, 1962,[9] the date his HQ moved from Bahrain to Aden.

Flag Officer, Middle East

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Post holders included:[6]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Middle East
1 Rear-Admiral John E. Scotland August 1962-August 1964 [6]
2 Rear-Admiral Peter N. Howes August 1964-September 1966 [6]
3 Rear-Admiral John E.L. Martin September 1966-September 1967 [6] Then became Commander, British Forces Gulf at Juffair from Sept 1967 to August 1968.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 18. ISBN 9781848320437.
  2. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - M". www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  3. ^ "Scottish Surname History". www.family-crests.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  4. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - P". www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  5. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - C". www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865: Commander-in-Chief, Levant: Flag Officer, Middle East" (PDF). gulabin.com. C. Mackie, p. 171, June 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  7. ^ "OP SHIPS". Naval Review. 47: 105. 1959.
  8. ^ Catalogue description. 1951–1958.
  9. ^ Mideast Mirror. 1962.
  10. ^ "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 -- M".
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