The Paul Bentley Collection

Three: Captain R. B. Creyke, Royal Navy

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (R. B. Creyke, Mate.); Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; St. Jean d’Acre 1840, silver, unnamed as issued, fitted with contemporary replacement silver bar suspension, each medal fitted with silver ribbon buckle and long pin for wearing, nearly extremely fine (3) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Paul Bentley Collection.

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Glendining’s, March 1998, when mounted in glass fronted display case, the black-on-gold painted labels from which accompany the group.

Richard Boynton Creyke entered the Navy in July, 1829, as first-class volunteer on board the Atholl, on the west coast of Africa, from which vessel, in April 1831, he was transferred to the Medina, where he remained until July of the same year. He joined the Ocean as a midshipman in December 1831, the Magpie in November 1832, and the Rolla in November 1833. In these vessels he was employed at Sheerness, and on the North Sea and Lisbon stations. He went to the Mediterranean in April 1834, in the Revenge, and as a Mate became attached to the Bellerophon in May 1838. In the Bellerophon, as a Mate, he took part in the operations on the coast of Syria, and was present at the bombardment of St. Jean D’Acre.

In July 1841, he was appointed to the revenue cutter Defence, employed in the North Sea, and was transferred, in July 1843, to the steam vessel Blazer, Captain John Washington (afterwards Hydrographer) employed on surveying service in the same neighbourhood. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in September 1843. From February 1844, to October 1845, he served on the west coast of Africa in the Penelope, Alert, and Growler, the former being the Commodore’s vessel on that station. He commanded the boats of the Alert in an attack on pirates at the Arguin islands, near Cape Blanco, for which he was mentioned favourably in the despatches of the Commodore.

In January 1846, he was appointed to the survey of the west coast of Scotland, under Captain C. G. Robinson, in the Shearwater, and in October of the same year was made an Assistant-Surveyor. In October 1847, his name was transferred to the books of the San Josef and subsequently to the Impregnable and Fisgard, his services throughout being continued in the survey of the west coast of Scotland.

In February 1855, Lieutenant Creyke was appointed First Lieutenant of the Merlin, Captain Bartholomew J. Sulivan, attached to the Baltic fleet, in which vessel he assisted in surveying the north part of Cronstadt, as well as the vicinity of Sweaborg, previous to its bombardment, at which he was present. For his services on this occasion he was so strongly recommended by the Commander-in-Chief to the favourable consideration of their lordships, that he was promoted to the rank of Commander in September of the same year, and in the following November again resumed his duties as an Assistant-Surveyor on the west coast of Scotland, under Captain E. J. Bedford, with whom, as Chief Assistant-Surveyor, he continued to serve until about the year 1861. He was promoted to be Retired Captain on 11 February 1862, in consideration of his services and the impaired state of his health. For his war services Captain Creyke has received the Syrian and Baltic medals.