The Naval Intelligence Department (NID )[ 1] was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty from 1887 until 1912 when most of its subsidiary divisions were absorbed during the creation of the Admiralty War Staff department that included a new Naval Intelligence Division that concentrated in that sphere solely. It dealt with intelligence matters concerning British naval plans, and with the collection of naval intelligence in regard to coastal defences, foreign powers, mobilisation, trade and war.
The Foreign Intelligence Committee was established in 1882[ 2] and it evolved into the Naval Intelligence Department in 1887.[ 1]
The NID staff were originally responsible for fleet mobilisation and war plans as well as foreign intelligence collection; thus in the beginning there were originally two divisions: (1) intelligence (Foreign) and (2) Mobilisation. In 1900 another division, War, was added to deal with issues of strategy and defence, and in 1902 a fourth division, Trade, was created for matters related to the protection of merchant shipping. The Trade Division was abolished in October 1909 in the wake of the Committee of Imperial Defence inquiry into the feud between the First Sea Lord , Admiral Sir John Fisher and former Commander-in-Chief Channel Fleet , Admiral Lord Charles Beresford , when it was discovered that the captain heading the Trade Division had been supplying the latter with confidential information during the inquiry.[ 3]
In 1910, the NID was shorn of its responsibility for war planning and strategy when the outgoing Fisher created the Navy War Council as a stop-gap remedy to criticisms emanating from the Beresford Inquiry that the Navy needed a naval staff—a role the NID had been in fact fulfilling since at least 1900, if not earlier. After this reorganisation, war planning and strategic matters were transferred to the newly created Naval Mobilisation Department and the NID reverted to the position it held prior to 1887—an intelligence collection and collation organisation.[ 4]
In 1912 the department was restructured with most of its divisions and functions being absorbed within the Admiralty War Staff organisation the department was abolished and re-emerged as the Naval Intelligence Division of the new department.
Directors of Naval Intelligence [ edit ]
Directors of Naval Intelligence included:[ 5]
Assistant directors [ edit ]
Included:[ 6]
Assistant Director Mobilisation Division
Captain Reginald N. Custance, February, 1887 – January, 1890.
Captain Tynte F. Hammill, January, 1890 - April, 1892.
Captain Arthur Barrow, May, 1892 – March, 1895.
Captain Richard W. White, April, 1895 - October 1897
Captain Arthur Barrow, November, 1897 – 28 June 1899
Captain H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg , June, 1899 – May, 1901.
Captain Frederick S. Inglefield , 15 October 1902 – February, 1904.[ 7]
Captain Charles J. Briggs , 11 February 1904 – December, 1904.
Captain Charles L. Ottley, December, 1904 - January 1905.
Captain Charles L. Vaughan-Lee, January, 1905 – December, 1905.
Captain Francis F. Haworth-Booth, December, 1905 – 19 March 1908.
Captain Michael Culme-Seymour, 20 March 1908 – 11 October 1909.
Assistant Director War Division
Captain Charles J. Briggs, March, 1900 – December, 1901.
Captain Herbert L. Heath, January, 1902 – December, 1903
Captain George A. Ballard , January, 1904 – January, 1906.
Captain Harry Jones, January, 1906 – 8 May 1907.
Captain Osmond Brock , May, 1907 – March, 1909
Captain Arthur R. Hulbert, March, 1909 – October, 1909 .
Assistant Director Foreign Division
Captain Sydney M. Eardley Wilmot, February, 1887 - March 1890.
Captain The Hon. Maurice A. Bourke, April, 1890 – August, 1891.
Captain The Hon. Assheton G. Curzon-Howe, August, 1891 – September, 1892.
Captain Henry D. Barry, October, 1892 - October 1895.
Captain Charles G. Dicken, November, 1895 – October, 1897.
Captain Robert S. Lowry, October, 1897 - December 1899.
Captain F. C. Doveton Sturdee , January, 1900 – 16 October 1902.
Captain Stuart Nicholson , October, 1902 – March, 1906.
Captain Herbert G. King-Hall, March, 1906 – June, 1908.
Captain William L. Grant, June, 1908 – December, 1909.
Captain Thomas Jackson, December, 1909 – January, 1912.
Assistant Director Trade Division
Captain Edward F. Inglefield, September, 1901, (temporary, until 28 July 1902).
Captain Harry Jones, 1905 – 15 January 1906.
Captain Robert F. Scott, January, 1906, – August, 1906.
Captain Henry H. Campbell, August, 1906 – October, 1909.
Assistant Director Coastal Defences Division
The distribution of intelligence work within specialist divisions assigned for those tasks can be seen below.
Mobilisation division [ edit ]
Responsibilities included: [ 8]
Section
Responsibility
(A.D.M.D)
Armed Merchant Cruisers (Personnel), Auxiliary requirements of Home Ports for War, Control of railway traffic in times of War, Mobilisation arrangements, Retired officer lists and appointments.
Responsibilities included: [ 8]
Section
Responsibility
(A.D.W.D)
All questions related to Indian and Colonial defences, Consideration of all plans for expediation, Distribution of intelligence, Mobilisation arrangements, General questions of strategical policy (including war plans when directed by First Sea Lord and (D.N.I), Preparations on and reports for British manoeuvres and tactical exercises, War Order's for Fleet C-in-C's, Wireless telegraphy.
Responsibilities included: [ 8]
Section
Responsibility
(A.D.F.D)
Correspondence with Naval Attaches; Contraband of War; Estimates personnel and mercantile marine of foreign powers; Naval Administration, coast defences, government and private shipyards, arsenals, factories, naval ordnance and communications of foreign powers.
Responsibilities included: [ 8]
Section
Responsibility
(A.D.T.D)
Questions related to defence of British trade in war; Statistics relating to ocean commerce and trade.
Coastal defences division [ edit ]
Responsibilities included: [ 8]
Section
Responsibility
(A.D.CDD.)
Take over duties of Foreign Division with the notation and reports of coastal and port defences of foreign powers. .
^ a b "Obituary". Obituaries. The Times . No. 34523. London. 13 March 1895. col F, p. 10.
^ Allen. The Foreign Intelligence Committee . p. 68.
^ Hurd, Archibald (1921). "The Merchant Navy" . John Murray. Retrieved 7 November 2015 .
^ Strachan, Hew (2003). The First World War: Volume I: To Arms . Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199261918 .
^ "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF) . Retrieved 7 November 2015 .
^ Grimes, Shaun T. (2004). War Planning and Strategic Development in Royal Navy, 1888-1918 . Unpublished PhD thesis, King's College, University of London.
^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times . No. 36897. London. 13 October 1902. p. 7.
^ a b c d e Archives, The National. "Records of Naval Staff Departments, Naval Intelligence Department 'Distribution of Work' " . discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk . The National Archives, 1883-1978, ADM 231/45. Retrieved 22 February 2017 .
Leadership Components
History and future Operating forces Fleet Ships Administration Senior officers Personnel and training Equipment Former leadership
Direction and control of Admiralty and Naval affairs Boards and offices under the First Lord Direction of Admirals Naval/Sea Lords War and Naval Staff Secretariat and staff under the First Sea Lord Operational planning, policy strategy, tactical doctrine requirements Divisions and sections under the War and Naval Staff Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments and organisations under the Sea Lords
Admiralty Area Cash Offices
Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory
Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory
Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service
Admiralty Compass Observatory
Admiralty Constabulary
Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters
Admiralty Engineering Laboratory
Admiralty Experimental Station
Admiralty Experiment Works
Admiralty Gunnery Establishment
Admiralty Interview Board
Admiralty Labour Department
Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment
Admiralty Materials Laboratory
Admiralty Mine Design Department
Admiralty Mining Establishment
Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory
Admiralty Record Office
Admiralty Regional Offices
Admiralty Research Laboratory
Admiralty Signal Establishment
Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment
Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment
Admiralty Surveying Service
Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment
Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment
Architectural and Engineering Works Department
Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department
Air Department
Air Materiel Department
Air Personnel Department
Amphibious Warfare Headquarters
Armament Supply Department
Board of Invention and Research
Board of Longitude
Boom Defence Department
Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department
Britannia Royal Naval College
Chemical Board
Chemical Department
Civil Catering Department
Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department
Coastguard and Reserves Branch
Combined Operations Headquarters
Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department
Compass Department
Contract and Purchase Department
Council of Naval Education
Dental Examining Board
Department of Radio Equipment
Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy
Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research
Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development
Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord
Department of Naval Education
Operational Research
Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments
Department of Physical Research
Department of Physical Training & Sports
Department of Radio Equipment
Department of Research Programmes and Planning
Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation
Department of the Admiral of the Training Service
Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance
Department of the Chief of Naval Information
Department of the Chief Scientist
Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief
Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery
Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services
Department of the Controller of the Navy
Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding
Department of the Controller for Navy Pay
Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding
Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding
Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships
Department of the Director-General Aircraft
Department of the Director-General of Manpower
Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch
Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair
Department of the Director of Contract Labour
Department of the Director of Dockyards
Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering
Department of the Director of Manning
Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding
Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs
Department of the Director of Naval Construction
Department of the Director of Naval Equipment
Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting
Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service
Department of the Director of Personal Services
Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports
Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining
Department of the Director of Transports
Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons
Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials
Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs
Department of the Director of Warship Production
Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions
Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal
Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training
Department of the Engineer in Chief
Department of the Paymaster Director-General
Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons
Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts
Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets
Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy
Department of the Physician of the Navy
Department of the Physician General of the Navy
Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy
Department of the Surveyor of Buildings
Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards
Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training)
Directorate General Training
Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department
Dockyards Branch
Dockyard Expense Accounts Department
Dockyard Schools
Electrical Engineering Department
Engineer Branch
Engineering Department
Experimental Department
Fire Control Group
Greenwich Hospital Department
Inspector of Telegraphs
Inspector of Repairs
Joint Warfare Establishment
Medical Consultative Board
Medical Examining Board
Historical Section
Hydrographic Department
Marine Department
Marine Pay Department
Materials and Priority Department
Medical Consultative Board
Medical Department
Medical Examining Board
Movements Department
Nautical Almanac Office
Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department
Naval Engineering College
Naval Equipment Department
Naval Historical Branch
Naval Construction Department
Naval Intelligence Department
Naval Medical Service
Naval Law Division
Naval Manpower Department
Naval Mobilisation Department
Naval Ordnance Department
Naval Ordnance Inspection Department
Naval Ordnance Stores Department
Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department
Naval Publicity Department
Naval Regional Offices
Naval Reserve Department
Naval Security Department
Naval Stores Department
Naval Training Department
Naval Works Department
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
Navy and Army Canteen Board
Navy Works Department
Navigation Department
Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope
Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves
Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves
Office of the Admiralty Chemist
Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty
Office of the Assistant Controller
Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development
Office of the Clerk of the Journals
Office of the Chief Polaris Executive
Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy
Office of the Deputy Controller Production
Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord
Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings
Office of the Keeper of Records
Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval)
Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy
Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages
Office of the Vice Controller Air
Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy
Organisation and Methods Department
Packet Service
Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Marine Police
Royal Marines Office
Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet
Royal Naval Academy
Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops
Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Stations
Royal Naval Armaments Depot
Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
Royal Naval Cordite Factories
Royal Naval Propellant Factory
Royal Naval College
Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Royal Naval College, Keyham
Royal Naval College, Osborne
Royal Naval Engineering College
Royal Naval Film Corporation
Royal Naval Hospital
Royal Naval Medical Depot
Royal Naval Minewatching Service
Royal Naval Mine Depot
Royal Naval Patrol Service
Royal Naval Scientific Service
Royal Naval Sick Quarters
Royal Naval Torpedo Depot
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval War College
Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth
Royal Navy Dockyard
Royal Navy Medical Service
Royal Navy Shore Signal Service
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Royal School of Naval Architecture
Salvage Department
School of Mathematics and Naval Construction
Scientific Research and Experiment Department
Sea Transport Branch
Sea Transport Department
Sea Transport Division
Ship Department
Ship Design Department
Signal Department
Signal School
Sixpenny Office
Statistics Department
Steam Department
Superintendent of De-magnetisation
Torpedo Experimental Establishment
Transport Department
Undersurface Warfare Department
Victualling Department
Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps
Weapons Department
Weapons Department (Naval)
Women's Royal Naval Service
Wireless Telegraphy Board
Direction/Command of the Fleet Naval formations after 1707
1st Fleet
2nd Fleet
3rd Fleet
Commander-in-Chief, Africa
Atlantic Fleet
Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf
Australia Station
Cape of Good Hope Station
Cape and West Africa Station
Battle Cruiser Fleet
Battle Cruiser Force
Caspian Flotilla
Channel Fleet
Channel Squadron
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland
Cork Station
Coast of Scotland
Commander-in-Chief, China
Commander-in-Chief, Dover
Flag Officer, East Africa
East Indies Station
East Indies and China Station
Eastern Fleet
Far East Fleet
English Channel
Grand Fleet
Flag Officer Gibraltar
Harwich Force
Home Fleet
Jamaica Station
Leith Station
Commander-in-Chief, Levant
Levant and East Mediterranean
Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands
Mediterranean Fleet
Medway
Newfoundland Station
New Zealand Division
New Zealand Naval Forces
Nore
North America and West Indies Station
Commander-in-Chief, North Sea
Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands
Pacific Fleet
Pacific Station
Admiral of Patrols
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Queenstown Station
Royal East African Navy
Royal Indian Navy
Flag Officer Submarines
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth
Reserve Fleet
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic
South East Coast of America Station
Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway
West Africa Squadron
Flag Officer, West Africa
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Naval formations before 1707 Direction of Naval Finance Departments under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary Direction of Naval Administration and the Admiralty Secretariat Branches and offices under the Permanent Secretary Civil Administration Departments under the Civil Lords Legal