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.

As an element in the Grand Fleet, the Squadron participated in the Battle of Jutland.

[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.