In 1911 he was named Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, and his term in this command was announced to be extended to December 1914. However, on the outbreak of World War I some months before that, when Callaghan was at sea on his flagship, the battleshipIron Duke, his successor-designate Sir John Jellicoe received orders to immediately relieve the aging Callaghan of command of the fleet. Callaghan was transferred to the more defensive station of Commander-in-Chief, the Nore (sic) and served until 1918, by which time he had been promoted to the Navy's highest rank.