1st Cruiser Squadron

The First Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of armoured cruisers that saw service as part of the Mediterranean and Grand Fleets during the First World War. It was originally formed in 1909, but was renamed on 1 January 1913 to First Battle Cruiser Squadron. It was reformed afterwards.

Background
When the First World War began, the squadron was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet where it participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser SMS Goeben and the light cruiser SMS Breslau. It joined the Grand Fleet by January 1915 where it participated in the battles of Dogger Bank and the Battle of Jutland. It was disbanded after the battle as three of its four ships had been sunk.

It was reformed in 1917 with the three large light cruisers of the. The squadron was the main British force in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in late 1917.

Armoured cruisers

 * HMS Defence (1907) - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Ernest C. T. Troubridge. Captain Fawcet Wray
 * HMS Black Prince (1904) - Captain Frederick D. Gilpin-Brown
 * HMS Duke of Edinburgh - Captain Henry Blackett
 * HMS Warrior (1905) - Captain George H. Borrett

Light cruisers

 * HMS Chatham (1911) - Captain Sidney R. Drury-Lowe
 * HMS Dublin (1912) - Captain John D. Kelly
 * HMS Gloucester (1909) - Captain Howard Kelly
 * HMS Weymouth (1910) - Captain William D. Church

24 January 1915

 * Duke of Edinburgh - Temporary flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
 * Black Prince
 * Warrior

22 February 1915

 * Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
 * Duke of Edinburgh
 * Black Prince
 * Warrior

30 May 1916

 * Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
 * Duke of Edinburgh
 * Black Prince
 * Warrior

October 1917

 * HMS Courageous (50)
 * HMS Glorious
 * HMS Furious (47)

17 November 1917

 * Courageous
 * Glorious

Post Second World War
Then-Rear Admiral Ralph Edwards, C.B.E. R.N. was Rear Admiral Commanding First Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet, and Flag Officer (Air), Mediterranean in the late 1940s. He commanded the squadron from his former command HMS Gambia (48).