Victor Crutchley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Victor Crutchley
|
|
|---|---|
Victor Crutchley in 1942
|
|
| Born | 2 November 1893 Chelsea, London |
| Died | 24 January 1986 (aged 92) Nettlecombe, Dorset |
| Buried |
St Mary's Churchyard, Powerstock
|
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1906–1947 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Royal Navy Dockyard, Gibraltar (1945–47) HM Australian Squadron (1942–44) HMNB Devonport (1940–42) HMS Warspite (1937–40) Fishery Protection and Mine-Sweeping Flotilla (1936–37) HMS Diomede (1930–32) |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Cross Mentioned in Despatches Croix de guerre (France) Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland) |
Admiral Sir Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley VC, KCB, DSC, DL (born November 2, 1893 – died January 24, 1986) was a brave British naval officer. He was known for his courage during the First World War. For his actions, he received the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery given to British and Commonwealth soldiers. He also served as a senior officer in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
Contents
Victor Crutchley was born on November 2, 1893, in Chelsea, London. His mother, Frederica Louisa, was a maid of honour to Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria was even his godmother. He joined the navy in 1906. He studied at the Royal Naval College, Osborne. This college trained young people to become naval officers.
Bravery in the First World War
In September 1915, Crutchley became a lieutenant. He joined the battleship HMS Centurion. This ship took part in the Battle of Jutland. Later, Captain Roger Keyes was impressed by Crutchley.
The Zeebrugge and Ostend Raids
Keyes chose Crutchley for a daring mission called the Zeebrugge Raid in April 1918. Crutchley was on the ship Brilliant. The plan was to sink Brilliant and another ship to block a canal at Ostend. But the Germans had moved a navigation buoy. So, the ships ended up in the wrong place. They were under heavy enemy fire. Still, Crutchley did very well. He was given the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery.
Crutchley then volunteered for a second raid on Ostend in May. He was on the cruiser Vindictive. When his commander was killed, Crutchley took charge. A part of the ship was damaged, stopping it from fully blocking the canal. Crutchley ordered the ship to be sunk. He personally made sure everyone got off safely while under fire.
He then moved to a damaged motor launch, ML 254. The captain of this boat was wounded and collapsed. Crutchley took command again. He helped bail water out of the boat, standing in water up to his waist. Eventually, a destroyer came to help them.
Receiving the Victoria Cross
Even though the second raid did not fully block the canal, Crutchley, along with two other men, received the Victoria Cross. When there were more brave people than VCs to give out, the men were allowed to vote for who should receive the award. Crutchley was one of the last people to receive a VC this way. Towards the end of the war, he served on HMS Sikh.
Between the World Wars
After the First World War, Crutchley served on several different ships. These included a minesweeper and royal yachts. He also spent four years with the Mediterranean Fleet. There, he served under Roger Keyes again.
Crutchley was a good polo player. He even played on a team with Keyes, the Duke of York, and Louis Mountbatten. In 1928, he was promoted to commander. In 1930, he married Joan Elisabeth Loveday.
From 1930 to 1933, Crutchley served on HMS Diomede in New Zealand. He helped with relief efforts after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. He even took command of Diomede for a time when its captain was ill. In 1937, Crutchley took command of HMS Warspite. This ship became the flagship for Admiral Dudley Pound and then Admiral Andrew Cunningham.
Service in the Second World War
Battles in the North Sea
When the Second World War began in September 1939, Warspite joined the Home Fleet. On April 13, 1940, Crutchley commanded Warspite in the second battle of Narvik. Warspite and nine destroyers went into Ofotfjord. There, eight German destroyers were sunk. Warspite even had a plane that sank a German U-boat.
After this battle, Crutchley was put in charge of the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport. He helped prepare crews for their ships.
Leading in the Pacific
When Japan entered the war, Crutchley was promoted to rear admiral. He was sent to help the Royal Australian Navy in the South West Pacific Area. In June 1942, he took command of the Australian Squadron, called Task Force 44.
The Battle of Savo Island
During the landings on Guadalcanal in August 1942, Crutchley was in charge of a group of ships. His ship was HMAS Australia. This group included Australian and American cruisers and destroyers. Their job was to protect the landings and fight off Japanese air attacks.
On August 8, the aircraft carriers providing air cover left. The commander of the amphibious force decided his ships also needed to leave the next day. He called Crutchley and other leaders to a meeting on his ship that evening. Crutchley took Australia to the meeting, leaving other ships to guard the area.
That night, a strong Japanese cruiser force attacked. They surprised Crutchley's group. Four Allied cruisers were sunk, including HMAS Canberra. Crutchley faced some criticism for leaving his command and for how the ships were placed. However, his leaders still trusted him. He continued to command the Australian Squadron for another 23 months. In September 1944, he received the American Legion of Merit award.
Later Life and Retirement
Crutchley's last command was in Gibraltar after the war, from 1945 to 1947. He retired from the navy in 1947. In 1949, he was promoted to admiral.
He lived a long retirement in Dorset. In 1955, he became High Sheriff of Dorset. In 1957, he became Deputy Lieutenant for Dorset. He passed away in 1986 at the age of 92. He was one of the last admirals from World War II still alive. He also donated two paintings to a museum in 1988.
