China Station
Encyclopedia
The China Station was a historical formation of the British
Royal Navy
. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China.
From 1831 to 1865 the East Indies Station
and the China Station were a single command known as the East Indies and China Station
. The China Station, established in 1865, covered the coasts of China
and its navigable rivers, the western part of the Pacific Ocean
, and the waters around the Dutch East Indies
. These responsibilities did not imply territorial claims, although the navy often co-operated with British commercial interests in the above areas.
The China Station had bases at Singapore
(Singapore Naval Base
), HMS Tamar
(1865–1941 and 1945–1997) in Hong Kong
and Wei Hai Wei
(1898-1930). A British naval squadron
can be either a permanent battle formation or an ad hoc grouping of warships. The China Station complement usually consisted of several older light cruisers and destroyers, and the Chinese rivers were patrolled by a flotilla of suitable, shallow-draught gunboat
s, referred to as "China gunboats"
. Ships on this station usually had a distinctive livery of white hull and superstructure and dark funnels. In response to increased Japanese threats, the separate China Station was merged with the East Indies Station
during December 1941 to form the Eastern Fleet.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China.
From 1831 to 1865 the East Indies Station
East Indies Station
The East Indies Station was a formation of the British Royal Navy from 1865 to 1941.From 1831 to 1865 the East Indies and the China Station were a single command known as the East Indies and China Station...
and the China Station were a single command known as the East Indies and China Station
East Indies and China Station
The East Indies and China Station was a formation of the British Royal Navy from 1831 to 1865.-History:The Station was formed in 1831; it ceased to exist when it was separated into the East Indies Station and the China Station in 1865. Its area covered the Indian Ocean and the coasts of China and...
. The China Station, established in 1865, covered the coasts of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and its navigable rivers, the western part of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, and the waters around the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. These responsibilities did not imply territorial claims, although the navy often co-operated with British commercial interests in the above areas.
The China Station had bases at Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
(Singapore Naval Base
Singapore Naval Base
The Singapore Naval Base , situated in Sembawang at the northern tip of Singapore, was a Royal Navy Shore establishment as well as being a cornerstone of British Defence policy in the Far East between the World Wars.-History:After the Great War, the British government devoted...
), HMS Tamar
HMS Tamar (shore station)
HMS Tamar was the name for the Royal Navy's base in Hong Kong from 1897 to 1997. It took its name from HMS Tamar a ship that was used as the base until replaced by buildings ashore.-19th Century:...
(1865–1941 and 1945–1997) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Wei Hai Wei
Weihai
Weihai is a city in eastern Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. It is the easternmost prefecture-level city of the province and a major seaport. Between 1898 and 1930, the town was a British colony known as Weihaiwei or the Weihai Garrison , and sometimes as Port Edward...
(1898-1930). A British naval squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
can be either a permanent battle formation or an ad hoc grouping of warships. The China Station complement usually consisted of several older light cruisers and destroyers, and the Chinese rivers were patrolled by a flotilla of suitable, shallow-draught gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s, referred to as "China gunboats"
Insect class gunboat
The Insect class patrol boats were a class of small, but well-armed Royal Navy ships designed for use in shallow rivers or inshore. They were intended for use on the Danube...
. Ships on this station usually had a distinctive livery of white hull and superstructure and dark funnels. In response to increased Japanese threats, the separate China Station was merged with the East Indies Station
East Indies Station
The East Indies Station was a formation of the British Royal Navy from 1865 to 1941.From 1831 to 1865 the East Indies and the China Station were a single command known as the East Indies and China Station...
during December 1941 to form the Eastern Fleet.
Commanding officers
| Dates | Admiral Commanding |
|---|---|
| 1865 - 1867 | Vice-Admiral Sir George King George King (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Sir George St Vincent King KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:... |
| 1867 - 1869 | Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Keppel Henry Keppel Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Keppel, GCB, OM was a British admiral, son of the 4th Earl of Albemarle and of his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Lord de Clifford.-Naval career:... |
| 1869 - 1871 | Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Kellett Henry Kellett Vice Admiral Sir Henry Kellett KCB was a British naval officer and explorer.-Naval career:Kellett joined the Royal Navy in 1822... |
| 1871 - 1874 | Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Shadwell Charles Shadwell (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Sir Charles Frederick Alexander Shadwell, KCB, FRS was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:... |
| 1874 - 1877 | Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred Ryder Alfred Phillips Ryder Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alfred Phillips Ryder KCB was a Royal Navy officer and an active member of the Church of England Purity Society.-Biography:... |
| 1877 - 1878 | Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Hillyar Charles Hillyar Admiral Sir Charles Farrell Hillyar KCB was a Royal Navy admiral who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:... |
| 1878 - 1881 | Vice-Admiral Robert Coote Robert Coote (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Robert Coote CB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:... |
| 1881 - 1884 | Vice-Admiral Sir George Willes George Willes Admiral Sir George Ommanney Willes GCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.-Naval career:... |
| 1884 - 1885 | Vice-Admiral Sir William Dowell William Dowell (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell GCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.-Naval career:Dowell joined the Royal Navy in 1839. He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War... |
| 1885 - 1887 | Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Hamilton Richard Vesey Hamilton Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton GCB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord. His father was rector of Little Chart in Kent.-Naval career:... |
| 1887 - 1890 | Vice-Admiral Sir Nowell Salmon Nowell Salmon Admiral of the Fleet Sir Nowell Salmon VC, GCB was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Naval career:Salmon was the son of Reverend H... |
| 1890 - 1892 | Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Richards Frederick Richards Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick William Richards GCB was the British First Naval Lord from 1893 to 1899.-Early life:... |
| 1892 - 1895 | Vice-Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle Edmund Fremantle Admiral Sir Edmund Robert Fremantle GCB CMG was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.-Naval career:... |
| 1895 - 1897 | Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Buller Alexander Buller Admiral Sir Alexander Buller GCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:... |
| 1897 - 1901 | Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour Edward Hobart Seymour Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, GCB, OM, GCVO , was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, China Station.- Early life :... |
| 1901 - 1904 | Vice-Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge Cyprian Bridge Admiral Sir Cyprian Arthur George Bridge GCB was a British Royal Navy officer towards the end of the era of Pax Britannica. He was Commander-in-chief of both the Australian Squadron and the China Squadron.-Early life:... |
| 1904 - 1906 | Vice-Admiral Sir Gerard Noel |
| 1906 - 1908 | Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Moore Arthur Moore (Royal Navy officer) |-|-|-... |
| 1908 - 1910 | Vice-Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux Hedworth Meux Admiral of the Fleet The Hon Sir Hedworth Meux GCB KCVO , formerly The Hon Hedworth Lambton was an English naval officer famous for bringing help to the British forces in the Siege of Ladysmith.... |
| 1910 - 1913 | Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred Winsloe Alfred Winsloe Admiral Sir Alfred Leigh Winsloe KCB CMG CVO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:... |
| 1913 - 1915 | Vice-Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram Martyn Jerram Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram GCMG KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:Jerram joined the Royal Navy in 1871.... |
| 1916 - 1917 | Vice-Admiral Sir William Grant William Lowther Grant Admiral Sir William Lowther Grant KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station.-Naval career:Grant joined the Royal Navy in 1877... |
| 1917 - 1919 | Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Tudor Frederick Charles Tudor Tudor Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Charles Tudor Tudor KCB KCMG was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Third Sea Lord.-Naval career:Tudor joined the Royal Navy in 1876. He was Commanding Officer of HMS Prometheus, HMS Challenger and HMS Superb. In 1910 he was given command of the Gunnery School at... |
| 24 July 1919 - 1922 | Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Duff Alexander Ludovic Duff Admiral Sir Alexander Ludovic Duff GCB GBE KCVO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:... |
| 10 September 1922 - November 1924 | Admiral Sir Arthur Leveson Arthur Leveson Admiral Sir Arthur Cavenagh Leveson GCB was a senior officer in the Royal Navy. He was the Rear Admiral Commanding His Majesty's Australian Fleet between 9 January 1917 and 3 September 1918 and later Commander in Chief, China Station between 10 September 1922 and 22 April 1925.-Biography:Born on... |
| November 1924 - 1925 | Rear Admiral Sir Allan Everett Allan Everett (admiral) Admiral Sir Allan Frederic Everett KCMG KCVO CB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be First Naval Member & Chief of the Australian Naval Staff.-Naval services:... |
| 1925 | Rear Admiral David Anderson David Murray Anderson Admiral Sir David Murray Anderson KCB, KCMG, MVO was a naval officer and governor. Anderson served in the Royal Navy from the age of 13 and served in many Colonial wars and was given various Empire postings, rising to the rank of Admiral in 1931... (acting) |
| 22 April 1925 - 8 November 1926 | Vice-Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair Admiral Sir Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, GCB, MVO was a British Royal Navy officer, notable for firing the first shots of the Battle of Jutland, and for leading a squadron of light cruisers in the Baltic to support independence of Estonia and Latvia in 1918-19.-Naval career:Born in Malta and... |
| 8 November 1926 - 28 November 1928 | Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt Reginald Tyrwhitt Admiral of the Fleet Sir Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet, GCB, DSO was a senior officer of the Royal Navy in World War I who commanded light forces stationed at Harwich on the east coast of England during the first part of the war.-Naval career:Tyrwhitt entered the Navy as a cadet in July, 1885... |
| 28 November 1928 - 28 February 1931 | Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Waistell Arthur Waistell Admiral Sir Arthur Kipling Waistell KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.-Naval career:Waistell joined the Royal Navy in 1892... |
| 28 February 1931 - 11 March 1933 | Vice-Admiral Sir Howard Kelly Howard Kelly (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Sir Howard Kelly GBE KCB CMG MVO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, China Station.-Naval career:Kelly joined the Royal Navy in 1886... |
| 11 March 1933 - 11 January 1936 | Admiral Sir Frederic Dreyer Frederic Charles Dreyer Admiral Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer, GBE, KCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who developed a fire control system for British warships... |
| 11 January 1936 - 5 February 1938 | Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Little Charles Little Admiral Sir Charles James Colebrooke Little GCB GBE was a senior Royal Navy officer who went on to be Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel.-Naval career:... |
| 5 February 1938 - 1940 | Admiral Sir Percy Noble |
| September 1940 - 1941 | Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton Geoffrey Layton Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton GBE, KCB, KCMG, DSO , was a British Royal Navy officer.-Early life and career:... |