The Naval Intelligence Department (NID )[ 1] 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] [ 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 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 Operating Fleet Ships Administration Senior Personnel Equipment Former
Direction and control Boards and offices under Direction of Secretariat and staff under Operational planning, policy Divisions and sections Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments 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 Direction of Naval Administration Branches and offices under the Civil Administration Departments under the Legal
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