Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Great War 1915 ‘2nd Ypres’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Colonel C. W. H. Crichton, 10th Hussars, who, while suffering from enteric fever, was captured by De Wet’s Boers at Sannah’s Post in March 1900; wounded at Zillebeke in October 1914, he was awarded the D.S.O. for his conspicuous gallantry near Ypres on 13 May 1915, where, having taken command of the regiment following the death of the C.O., in a counter-attack ‘he continued to direct operations, giving great encouragement to his men whilst he lay in the open under heavy shell fire with his leg shattered’; an expert yachtsman, he sailed the British boat to gold medal victory in the 6 metre class at the 1908 Olympic Games

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, centres depressed, with red enamel damage; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Lieut. C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hussars) top lugs filled with retaining rod; 1914 Star with copy clasp (Major C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. C. W. H. Crichton.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear, generally very fine, unless otherwise stated (6) £2,200-£2,600

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 July 1915.

The original recommendation states: ‘Near Ypres on 13th May, 1915, showed conspicuous gallantry and ability in collecting and rallying men who were retiring under heavy shell fire through the 10th Hussars’ position. In our counter-attack he continued to direct operations, giving great encouragement to his men whilst he lay in the open under heavy shell fire with his leg shattered.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916

Charles William Henry Crichton was born in 1872. Claiming a notable aristocratic pedigree, he was the son of Colonel the Honourable Sir H. G. L. Crichton K.C.B., of Netley Castle and the grandson of both the Earl of Erne and the Earl of Northbrook. Educated at Radley College, he was commissioned, from the Militia, Second Lieutenant in the 10th (The Prince of Wales’s Own) Royal Hussars on 7 December 1895. Promoted Lieutenant on 25 June 1897, he served in South Africa during the Boer War, arriving at the Cape in December 1899. Present with General Broadwood’s Brigade at the Relief of Kimberley, operations at Paardeberg and the action at Driefontein. On 31 March, by now suffering from enteric fever, he was captured when the skeleton remnants of the 10th Hussars were ambushed by De Wet at Sannah’s Post on 31 March:

‘After a considerable detour the Household Cavalry discovered a place to cross and the Tenth found one on their left. They crossed and made for the ridge above with a view to a flanking movement, but owing to their greatly reduced strength were ordered to retire slowly on Springfontein, where they bivouacked. The Tenth’s casualties in the ambush were three killed, five wounded, two officers and twenty-six N.C.O.s and men missing, taken prisoner, the two officers and several others being patients in the ambulance wagon with enteric fever.’ (The 10th Hussars by Michael Brander refers)

Crichton was later released by the Boers due to his illness and returned to England on 27 July 1900. Promoted Captain, 16 November 1901 and Major 4 May 1907, Crichton then served with his regiment in India from 27 December 1903 until 6 November 1912 (Delhi Durbar medal 1911), also finding time, in 1908, to represent Great Britain at the Summer Olympic Games. An expert yachtsman he competed in the 6 metre class, with fellow crew members, Gilbert Laws and Thomas McMeekin, in the Gold Medal winning British boat, Dormy.

Posted to South Africa in November 1912, the regiment was then recalled from Potchefstroom to England at the outbreak of the Great War and joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade as part of the 3rd Cavalry Division in France on 8 October 1914. Crichton, in command of a squadron, was wounded, suffering a gun shot wound to his left arm, during the 1st Battle of Ypres in the desperate fighting around Hooge and East of Zillebeke on 30 October 1914. Here, the 7th Cavalry Brigade, supported by the 6th Cavalry Brigade, was forced to vacate the Zandvoorde Ridge, and after a gallant resistance, the Germans captured Hollebeke, Wytschaete and Messine, many casualties being incurred by both brigades. The Regimental War Diary for this date states:

‘Regiment marched out to act as reserve to infantry 3/4 mile east of Kleinzebe and Zanvoorde Road and took up post with Royals on right flank and Scots Guards on left. Regiment ordered to take up line of trenches. Relieved at dusk by XII Brigade. Captain Kincaid and 4 men killed. Major Crichton, Captain Fielden, Captain Stewart, Captain Baring and 15 men wounded.’

Major Crichton was wounded a second time, this time severely, at the 2nd Battle of Ypres, having assumed command of the regiment after Lieutenant-Colonel Shearman was killed. The 10th (P.W.O.) Royal Hussars and The Essex Yeomanry, during the European wars, 1914-18 by Lt-Col. F. H. D. C. Whitmore provides a narrative with specific reference to Crichton’s gallantry:

‘When the 1st and 2nd Life Guards were forced to retire from the front line trenches near Verlorenhoek, Lieut-Colonel E. R. A. Shearman, commanding 10th Royal Hussars, Major C. W. H. Crichton, and Capt. G. C. Stewart, Adjutant, worked hard to rally the men, and all the time shelling became more and more severe.
At 8am the order was given to leave all kit behind in the trenches; rifles, bandoliers, bayonets, and spades only to be carried. The task of the Regiment was to dig in on the right of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays). Whilst concentrating behind Potijze Chateau, Capt. M. de Tuyll and several other ranks were killed by shell fire. Advancing alongside the road the leading Squadron “A” came under very heavy artillery and rifle fire. Half the squadron, under Lieut. R. Gordon Canning, went forward to fill in a gap between the Queen’s Bays and the Dragoon Guards, and later on supported the counter-attack of the 8th Cavalry Brigade by rifle fire. The remaining 2 1/2 squadrons and Machine Guns then attempted to dig themselves in alongside the road, and they remained there until 2pm. Lieutenant J. M. Wardell was here wounded. At 2pm our guns opened a heavy fire on the enemy’s trenches, and at 2.20pm the Essex Yeomanry and Royal Horse Guards advanced up to the right of the 10th Royal Hussars.
At this moment the 10th Royal Hussars, led by Lieut.-Colonel Shearman, jumped up out of the dugouts and charged the attacking forces of the enemy. The Germans retired instantly, vacating their trenches. Both Lieut-Colonel Shearman and Captain Stewart were at this moment killed, and Major Gibbs was wounded. Major Crichton was severely wounded whilst directing the fire on the retiring enemy. He showed great gallantry, continuing to direct operations whilst lying out in the open, until he handed over command to Major the Hon. C. B. O. Mitford.’

Crichton was left out in no-man’s land with a shattered right thigh for two nights and a day before he was eventually found, brought in, and promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 15 May 1915. For this action he was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in despatches.

Retiring with rank of Colonel in 1923, he died at his home in North Wales in 1958, never having fully recovered from his wounds. His obituarist in the The Royal X Hussars Gazette wrote of him:

‘Had he not been wounded he would have continued to command the regiment and probably become a Brigadier. The writer was in the squadron which he commanded when first joining the regiment: a kinder, more helpful and efficient commander it would be impossible to imagine, he would have been a splendid commanding officer.’