Beresford's central grievance was that Fisher's promotion to Admiral of the Fleet allowed him to remain First Sea Lord and blocked the vacancy Beresford expected to inherit. Fisher's tenure of more than five years was not exceptional: Astley Cooper Key, Frederick Grey, Charles Adam, Frederick Richards, and Walter Kerr had also served for long periods in the senior naval office. Beresford's expectation therefore turned ordinary institutional continuity into a personal barrier. The feud over authority and promotion then widened into a fight that damaged debate about the Royal Navy's future direction.
Chapter · 51:36-54:32
Why Fisher becoming First Sea Lord mattered
The Fisher-Beresford feud intensified when Fisher's tenure as First Sea Lord blocked the senior post Beresford believed he deserved.