A Great War ‘destroyer operations’ D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Rear-Admiral J. V. Creagh, Royal Navy, who, whilst in command of the destroyer Ariel, rammed and sank the U-12 on 10 March 1915

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s breast badge, frosted silver, with heraldic beasts in angles; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Cr. J. V. Greagh, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Commr. J. V. Creagh. R.N.); Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1917, with bronze Palme on riband, mounted court style as worn, minor chipping to wreaths of the first, otherwise good very fine (8) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards.

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Dix Noonan Webb, September 2006.

D.S.O. London Gazette 8 March 1918:
‘For services in destroyer and torpedo boat flotillas during the period ending 31 December 1917.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1917.

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 17 May 1917.

James Vandaleur Creagh was born at Taiping, Perak, Malaysia, on 30 August 1883. He passed out of H.M.S. Britannia as a Midshipman on 30 June 1900, and was promoted Sub-Lieutenant on 30 August 1903; Lieutenant on 1 April 1906; Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April 1914; and Commander on 30 June 1916.

Creagh was in command of the destroyer Ariel from 9 October 1914 to 29 November 1915, and fought in her at the battle of Dogger Bank. On 10 March 1915, U-12 was sighted on the surface of Fifeness by three Rosyth destroyers of the 1st Flotilla, Acheron, Attack and Ariel. Approaching at high speed the destroyers opened fire and hit the submarine in the conning tower; nevertheless, she dived as Attack passed over her. Within a short time Ariel spotted her periscope 200 yards to starboard and turned to ram. She struck the U-Boat just as it was in the process of surfacing, the earlier damage needing attention. Ariel was considerably damaged from the attack, the whole of her bottom plating was ripped open almost to amidships. The U-Boat sank right away and 10 survivors were subsequently picked up. Creagh received a Letter on Vellum expressing the approbation of the Admiralty.

In November 1915 Creagh took command of the destroyer Linnet, and received Their Lordships’ expression of appreciation for his conduct at the time of the mining and sinking of H.M.S. Arethusa, Admiral Tyrwhitt’s flagship, on 11 February 1916. In the destroyer action of 20 March 1916, he fought his ship (Linnet) in a most able manner under fire. Their Lordships expressed appreciation for his conduct in going to the assistance of the S.S. Siberia on 20 November 1916. He was in command of H.M.S. Sylph from 11 January 1917 to 12 August 1919. Commodore Tyrwhitt noted that Creagh served continuously throughout the war and distinguished himself on many occasions with the Harwich Force. Their Lordships expressed appreciation for his services on the capture of German Merchant vessels by the Harwich Force on 16 July 1917, when ‘he showed extraordinary tenacity and ability in bringing his prize safely to Harwich’. Their Lordships expressed appreciation for good services on the occasion of the loss of Surprise, Tornado and Torrent, and for the successful way Valkyrie was towed to base. Their Lordships appreciated the creditable manner in which services were rendered to the S.S. Alfraid in 1919. Vice-Admiral Keyes (DCNS) expressed his appreciation for Creagh’s duties temporarily in charge of Plans Division, 1923.

Creagh was invested with his D.S.O. by H.M. the King at Harwich on 26 February 1918. He was promoted to Captain on 30 June 1923, and commanded H.M.S. Shakespeare and the 1st Destroyer Flotilla from 1925 to 1927. He subsequently served on the staff at the Royal Navy War College 1928-30; was Flag Captain H.M.S. Egmont 1931-33; and was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the King 1935. He was promoted Rear-Admiral on the Retired List in 1935, and died on 14 January 1956.

Sold with copied record of service.