Reginald Henderson's extreme workload was not simply a matter of personal habits. As Third Sea Lord and Controller, Henderson handled the six years before the Second World War without the senior support later given to Bruce Fraser. Fraser received an assistant controller, a chief of staff, and almost twice the staff within a short period. The comparison points to an institutional staffing failure at the centre of Royal Navy rearmament. It also gives concrete context to Henderson continuing Admiralty work even from hospital.
Notable Point · 16:02-16:51
Understaffing magnified Henderson's Admiralty workload
Bruce Fraser inherited more deputies and almost twice the staff, revealing how much prewar rearmament work Henderson had carried without comparable support.