Admiral of the Fleet
The right honourable
Sir Alfred ernle montacute chatfield
G.C.b., o.m., k.c.m.g., c.v.o, d.c.l.
first baron chatfield of ditchling in the county of sussex
Updated
18-Oct-2007
| Personal Details | ||
| Event | Date / details | Source |
| Date of Birth | 27 September 1873 | 1 |
| Place of Birth | Southsea, Hampshire | 1 |
| Name of father | Rear Admiral A.J. Chatfield | 1 / 3 |
| Profession of father | Rear Admiral, Royal Navy | 1 |
| Wife's Name | Lillian E. St. J Matthews | 1 |
| Date of Marriage | 29 July 1909 | 1 |
| Place of Marriage | Not known | 1 |
| Date of Death | 15 November 1967 | 3 |
| Place of Burial | Not known | 1 |
| Rank History | ||
| Rank | Date attained | Source |
| Entered Service | 15/07/1873 | 1 |
| Midshipman | 15/08/1888 | 1 |
| Sub-Lieutenant | 27/09/1892 | 1 |
| Lieutenant | 27/03/1894 | 1 |
| Commander | 31/12/1903 | 1 |
| Captain | 30/06/1909 | 1 |
| Rear-Admiral | 31/07/1920 | 1 |
| Vice-Admiral | 01/03/1926 | 1 |
| Admiral | 01/04/1930 | 1 |
| Admiral of the Fleet | 08/05/1935 | 1 |
| Honours and Knighthoods | |||
| Honour or Knighthood | Date awarded | Date Gazetted | Source |
| Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB (Military)) | 3 June 1916 | 2 June 1916 | 4 |
| CVO - before Sept 16 | |||
| Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael
and Saint George (C.M.G.) (For the Battle of Jutland) |
15 September 1916 | 15 September 1916 | 4 |
| Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) | 3 April 1919 | 3 April 1919 | 4 |
| Appd A.D.C. to H.M. the King | 26.1.20 | 1 | |
| Cross of the Order of the Phoenix | ?26/9/33? | 1 | |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
(G.C.B.) (New Year Honours) |
1 January 1934 | 29 December 1934 | 4 |
| Created Baron Chatfield of Ditchling in the County Of Sussex ( Coronation honours) |
4 June 1937 | 15 June 1937 | 4 |
| Order of Merit (O.M.) (New Year Honours) |
2 January 1939 | 30 December 1938 | 4 |
| Rewards & Distinctions |
| Source: ADM 196/43 Service History |
| Gained 11 mos. time on passing out of "Britannia" |
| CB (Military) Gazetted 3/6/16 |
| C.M.G. for Battle of Jutland Gazette 15.9.16 |
| Invested with C.B. (Military) by the King on board H.M.S. Q Elizabeth 24/6/17 |
| K.C.M.G. Gaz 3/4/19 |
| Awarded G.S.P. £150 a year from 2.12.19 |
| Appd A.D.C. to H.M. the King 26.1.20 |
| Gazette 26/9/33 Licence to wear Cross of the Order of the Phoenix awarded by Greek Govt. Chalcidice Earthquake |
| G.C.B. (Mil) Gazette 1.1.34 (Invested 27.2.34) |
| Coronation honours Created a Baron Gazette 11.5.37 Dignity of Baron conferred by Letters Patent dated 4.6.37 London Gaz 15.6.37 |
| O.M. New Year Honours Jan 1939 Gazette 2.1.39 |
| Gazette 3/2/39 appt member of Privy Council |
| Examinations |
| Source: ADM 196/43 Service History |
| Passed Seamanship 2nd Cl Cert 759 marks |
| Passed Torpedo May 1893 2 Cl Cert 824 mks |
| Passed College Part I Apl 93 2 Cl Cert 824 mks |
| Passed Gunnery Oct 93 1 Cl Cert 546 mks |
| Passed Pilotage Dec 93 1 Cl Cert 957 mks |
| Passed College Part 2 Apr 94 1st Cl Cert 1557 marks |
| Special Attainments or Qualifications |
| Source: ADM 196/43 Service History |
| Oct 92 Mean for certs of former service 100 marks (full) |
| June96 gained 1st Class theoretical gunnery certificate |
| June 97 gained 1st class practical gunnery certificate |
| 1st class final certificate in gunnery |
| Service / Appointments History | |||||
| Ship | Station | Date of appointment |
Date of discharge |
Cause | Source |
| Britannia | Training Ship | 15 July 86 | July 88 | 1 | |
| Iron Duke | Channel Squd | 16 Oct 88 | 29 ?June? 88 | Cleopatra | 1 |
| Cleopatra | ????? | 29 ?June? 88 | 14 Feb 90 | Warspite | 1 |
| Warspite addl | Pacific | 14 Feb 90 | 1 | ||
| Champion lent by ???? | Pacific | 7 Mar 92 | 31 May 92 | Warspite | 1 |
| Alexandra ???? | Manoeuvres | 11 July 93 | 1 | ||
| Royal Sovereign | Chan' Squadn | May 94 | 9 Sept 95 | Supd | 1 |
| Excellent to Qualify in Gunnery | 30 Sept 95 | 1 | |||
| Excellent to Qualify in Gunnery | 97 | 2 | |||
| Iris lent | Manoeuvres | 2 July 96 | Augt 96 | P.O. | 1 |
| Melampus (G) | Manoeuvres | 15 ?June? 1897 | 9 Aug 97 | Cambridge | 1 |
| Cambridge ??? Staff | Home | 9 Aug 97 | 8 July 98 | Vivid | 1 |
| Vivid addl for R.N. Barracks for (G) duties | Home | 8 July 98 | 5 Jan 99 | Caesar | 1 |
| Caesar G duties | Medn | 5 Jan 99 | 21 Jan 01 | 1 | |
| Wildfire addl for Sheerness G School - ????? Senior Staff | Home | 21 Jan 01 | 1 | ||
| Wildfire addl for Sheerness G School - ????? Senior Staff | 02 | 2 | |||
| Immortalite (1st & G) | Manrs | 16 July 01 | 16 Aug 01 | P.O. | 1 |
| D. of W. add for Good Hope 1st & G | 15 Oct 02 | 8 Nov 02 | Good Hope | 1 | |
| Good Hope (1st & G) | Cruiser | 8 Nov 02 | 5.1.04 |
Supd | 1 |
| 03 | 2 | ||||
| Venerable | Med | 25.1.04 | 15.3.06 | 1 | |
| Excellent | 15.3.06 | 1.7.09 | Supd | 1 | |
| Albermarle (Flag) | Atl | 26.8.09 | 8.2.10 | London | 1 |
| London (Flag) and as Flag Capt1 |
Atl | 8.2.10 | 26.8.10 | Supd | 1 |
| President for T & G courses | 3.10.10 |
11.11.10 | 1 |
||
| Sept 10 | 2 | ||||
| President for N courses | 15.11.10 | 12.10 | 1 | ||
| President for Signal courses | 13.2.11 | 1 | |||
| President for War courses | 6.3.11 | 23.6.11 | 1 | ||
| Medina & as Flag Capt to R Adml Sir Colin Keppel | 10.10.11 | 15.2.12 | P.O. | 1 | |
| Aboukir | 2.7.12 | Manrs | 1 | ||
| President addl for special service tempy | 14.9.12 | X | 1 | ||
| Victory ----"---- Southampton | 24.9.12 | Trials | 1 | ||
| Southampton | 26.11.12 |
3.13 | 1 |
||
| Dec 12 | 2 | ||||
| Lion as Flag Capt to R Adml Beatty | 3.13 | 29.11.16 | 1 | ||
| Iron Duke as Flag Capt. |
29.11.16 | 18.2.17 | 1 | ||
| Queen Elizabeth as Flag Capt & for (G) duties in Grand Fleet | 2.17 | 7.4.19 | Supd | 1 | |
| President Addt for Special Svce (M. 12828/19) | 17.4.19 | 30.4.19 | 1 | ||
| A L.C. of the Admiralty 4th Sea Lord | 19.6.19 |
15.3.20 | 1 |
||
| 17.6.19 | 2 | ||||
| G.S.P.1 | 2.12.19 | 2 | |||
| A.D.C.1 | 26.1.20 | 31.7.20 | 2 | ||
| Assistant Chief of Naval Staff | 15.3.20 | 1/2/22 |
Supd | 1 |
|
| 11/12/22 | 2 | ||||
| Rear Ad. Cdg. 3rd L.C. Sq (H.M.S Cardiff) (M. 22422/24) |
11.12.22 | 1.25 Struck flag 22.1.25 |
Supd | 1 | |
| Rear Ad. Cdg. 3rd L.C. Sq (H.M.S Cardiff) (M. 22422/24) |
18/12/24 | 2 | |||
| Lord Commissioner of Admlty, 3rd Sea Lord &
Controller President addl. for tempy service inside Admlty |
30.4.25 31.3.25 |
1.11.28 |
Supd | 1 | |
| 31/10/28 | 2 | ||||
| Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet (M. 4540/28) Assumed Cd 17/4/29 |
17/4/29 | 27.5.30 26/05/301 |
Supd | 1 | |
| Commander in Chief Mediterranean (CW 2424/30) | 27.5.30 | Abt 1 Oct 32 | 1 | ||
| President addl. for duty inside Admiralty & as a Lord Comm of the Admiralty & Chief of Naval Staff vice Field (CW 5717/32 & 11376/32) | 14.1.33 |
7.9.38 (DL 2.2.38) |
1 | ||
| First Sea Lord | 21/1/33 | 2 | |||
| President addl. for duty outside Admty (DL 17/10) (Chairman of India Office Cttee) |
22.9.38 | 4.2.39 | 1 | ||
| Reports | |||||||
| Source: ADM 196/ | |||||||
| Date of Report | General Conduct | Ability | Professional knowledge, specifying any particular branch | Whether temperate habits | Special knowledge or acquirements (Languages, Drawing, & c.) | Remarks, mentioning any special defects or high qualifications as regards Zeal, Judgment, Physical Qualities, & c., and if specially recommended for advancement. | Remarks |
| July 88 | VG | Fair | Capt. Bedford | ||||
| 1 Jan 90 | VGI | VG | G | Yes | Nil | Promising officer | Capt. Musgrave |
| 5 Jan 91 | VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | VG physique, very zealous | Capt. Lambton | |
| Warspite Jan 92 |
VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | Capt. Lambton | ||
| Nov 92 Warspite |
VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | Capt. Lambton | ||
| Feb 04 | VGI | VGI | VGI (G) | Yes | A very capable G & executive offr. Good gymnast. Zealous & efficient. | Capt. Madden | |
| Nov 04 | VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | Tact & Judgt. Specially recd. | Capt. Patey | |
| ?July? 05 | VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | Great administrative ability & tact. Recd. | Capt. Henniker | |
| Mar 08 | VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | An exceptional officer. Recd. | Capt ?Humpan? | |
| July 09 | VGI | VGI | VGI | Yes | Great zeal tact ability ???? advancement | Capt. Hamilton | |
| Special Reports or Service |
| Source: ADM 196/43 Service History |
| Transfer from Cleopatra to Warspite to take effect when the two ships meet in the ????? in event of ships not meeting ?? fact he reported when ??? Chatfield's appt will be cancelled. |
| Arrived home in Tyne 15 Nov 92 |
| 11 Jan 93 Joined College Part I |
| Jd College Part 2 11 Jan 94 |
| Informed name noted to qualify for Gunnery duties 4 Oct 94 |
| 15 May 95 Selected to qualify for gunnery duties |
| 1 May 01 Satisfactory inspection of Gunnery School by VA Kennedy |
| M 8801 6 July 1901 Infd incurred the severe displeasure by navigating T.B.D. "Zebra" at excessive rate of speed on River Thames on 1 June 01 |
| G11702 Nov 02 TLs appreciation expressed of services on Committee revising "Rifle & Field Exercises Vol. II |
| Arrived in England 28/1/04 |
| N. 16481:11:03 Specially recd for Promn by Adml Fawkes |
| G10887/04 Satis firing results in Good Hope |
| NL 14138 Saty Inspn of Venerable by V Ad. Custance 28.10.04 |
| NL 11900/12/06 Very satis inspection of Excellent by Admiral Douglas & strongly recd for advancement |
| NL 12461 29/11/07 Very satisfy inspect of Whale Isd by C-in-C |
| NL 9075 Very cred Inspn of Excellent by Adl Fanshawe 17.8.08 |
| Recommended by Adml Fanshawe (addl) Nov 08 |
| 5/09 Recd for prom by Adml Fanshawe (special) |
4/8/09 Granted leave to travel abroad |
| Arrived home 22/8/09 |
| Contd on bks of President 11-14 Nov 10 |
| Compd Nav Co 23.6.11 1st Cl. |
| Coronation Dunbar Medal, Dehli 1911 |
| To attend Army Amnoeuvres ??? 14197/12 to date on joining |
| NL 6669 Feb 13 Satis Inspn of Southampton |
| Dogger Bank action on 24/2/15 |
| Greatest credit due to him for remarkable manner in which Lion was taken in tow under difficult circumstances ?2nd Supp to? London Gazette of 2/3/15 M 0894 |
| Battle of Jutland Gaz 15.9.16 Commanded and fought Flagship with great skill and gallantry |
| Assumed Cd of Iron Duke 29/11/16 |
| K.C.M.G. for services as Principal Gunnery Officer of the Fleet Gaz ?3?/4/19 CW 1305/19 |
| Invested to K.C.M.G. Buckingham Palace 17.5.19 |
| Relinquishes A.D.C. & promoted to Flag Rank |
| Relinquishes G.S.P. on promotion to Flag Rank |
| Mentioned in despatches Gaz 6.7.16 |
| 24/4/22 appointed to Committee to consider question of retirement of Captains RN |
| CE 3214/22 - T.Ls express appreciation of services rendered at the Washington Conference |
| Rear Ad. Chatfield's Flag as RAC 3LCS will be transferred to "Cardiff" 19.1.23 |
| M. 1047/39 Appreciation of services as Chairman of the Expert Committee on Indian Defence, 1938 20/2/39 |
| CW 22822/42 Naval Identity Card Issued (no. 123811) 25/6/43 |
| Gazette 22/6/51 Deputy Lieutenant of County of Buckinghamshire 15/6/51 |
| Captain's Confidential Reports | ||
| Source: ADM 196/89 -Captain's Confidential Report | ||
Date |
Remarks | Reporting Officer |
| 1901 | Censured for damage caused by wash of T.B.D. in Thames due to excessinve speed | |
| Jan 02 | Capt. Campbell recomds for promh | |
| 1902 | V high abilities: attention to all duties. Good athlete. Popular. Strongly recomd for promn, | Adm Markham |
| 1903 | On Cee for revising "Rifle & Field Exercises" Vol. II T. Ls appreciation of result expressed. | |
| 1903 | Excellent as an Executive Offe | Adm. Hawkes |
| Feb 04 | A v. capable G executive offr. Has performed his duties with zeal & efficiency. A good gymnast. | Capt. Madden |
| Adm. Fawkes fully concurs & remarks that "Comr C has done much for Gunnery in the ships." | ||
| Dec 04 | V. zealous. Great tact & judgt. Good organiser. Specially recomd for advancement. | Capt. Patey |
| Aug 05 | An admirable executive offr. Great administrative ability & exercises great firmness & tact. | Capt. Henniker-Hughan |
| July 05 | Satisfy inspn of Venerable by Adml Grenfell | |
| Mar 06 | An exceptional offr. in every way. | Capt. Henniker-Hughan |
| Nov 06 | Much has been done to restore the good discipline of the G school - there has been an undoubted smartening up all round & instrn in shooting has lost none of its thoroughness & is efficiently carried out. I strongly recomd Comr Chatfield for promn | Sir A Douglas Inspn of Whale Island |
| July 07 | As Comr of G. Estabt has performed duties with great zeal, tact & ability. Is worthy of early promn. | Comdre Hamilton |
| Dec 07 | Whale Island Estabt is in a v. creditable condition | Inspn by Sir D. Bosanquet |
| Aug 08 | Inspn of Whale Is by Sir A Fanshawe. "In extremely good order." | |
| Dec 08 | Sir A Fanshawe recom addly for promn as an offr of whom he has a very high opinion & who would do extremely well in the higher ranks | |
| July 09 | Most zealous, hardworking & trustworthy. Has exhibited great tact in the performance of his duties as Comr of the G School at Whale Is. I consider Capt. C as one of the best offrs I have met & am sorry to lose his services. VG physical qualities. VG at all games. Would be the right sort of Capt to comd a Cadet sea going training cruiser. | Capt. Tupper |
| Sir A Fanshawe fully concurs & adds: "I feel much grateful that their Lordships have seen fit to promote this officer." | ||
| Aug 10 | In all respects an excellent officer. More cannot be said. | R Adl Keppel |
| 12/5/16 | An exceptional offr who has proved his great ability by the manner in which he has fought his ship on three occasions. Will make a fine admiral. | V. Adm. Beatty |
| Aug 16 | V. Adm Beatty says: (re Jutland Battle) "Comd & fought my flagship with great skill & gallantry." Awarded C.M.G. (Gazette 15/9/16) | |
| Gazette 5/4/19 | K.C.M.G. for Services as Principal G offr., Grand Fleet. | |
| Apr 1919 | "A v. exceptional offr. with a knowledge & experience not equalled by any Capt. in the service. Has served with me for six years & has never failed to meet the situation & many difficult with skill & success. | Adm. Beatty |
| 1922 | Birthday Honours - Promoted to K.C.B. | |
| 1934 | New Year Honours - Promoted to G.C.B. | |
| 1937 | Coronation Honours - promoted to Baron | |
| Commander's Confidential Reports | ||
| Source: ADM 196/ | ||
| Date |
Remarks | Reporting Officer |
| Sources | ||
| 1 | ADM 196/43 Service History | National Archives |
| 2 | ADM 196/89 Captain's Confidential Reports | National Archives |
| 3 | Times, 16 November 1967 | Worcestershire County Council Library Service |
| 4 | London Gazette (various dates) | www.gazettes-online.co.uk |