The 1st Battle Squadron was initially part of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet.

The squadron changed composition often as ships were damaged, retired or transferred.

[4] For many years the squadron served in the Mediterranean as the main British battle force there.

On 3 September 1939 the 1st Battle Squadron, serving in the Mediterranean Fleet, consisted of Barham, Warspite and Malaya, with headquarters at Alexandria, Egypt, under the command of Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Layton.

[5] In December 1943 the Squadron was under the command of Vice Admiral Arthur Power.