Henderson's career included destroyers and cruisers before he served as executive officer of HMS Erin. After Jutland he worked in the Admiralty's anti-submarine section and wrote on convoy warfare, then became flag captain and chief of staff on the China Station in HMS Hawkins. He later commanded HMS Furious, became the first Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers, and served as Third Sea Lord with responsibility for construction. In August 1938 his successor as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers became the first Fifth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Air Services, giving naval aviation a dedicated place at Sea Lord level. His mixed operational and staff career sits poorly with a simple 'battleship admiral' label.
Chapter · 23:24-29:17
Admiral Henderson's mixed sea and staff career
Admiral Henderson's destroyer, cruiser, convoy, carrier, and construction appointments challenge the image of a uniformly battleship-minded leadership.