Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

A Great War D.S.O. group of five attributed to Lieutenant-Commander F. W. Craven, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his ‘magnificent courage and seamanship’ in rescuing of some 600 souls from H.M.S. Otranto - many of them American troops and in consequence of which he was also awarded - uniquely - the Army D.S.M.: having then joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary as a Detective Inspector, he was killed in an ambush in February 1921

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. F. W. Craven, R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. F. W. Craven, R.N.); United States Distinguished Service Medal, Army, later type for display; United States of America, Navy Cross, later type for display, very fine and better (5) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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The above described 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal were sold in these Rooms on 22 June 1999 (Lot 640), the remainder of the group since having been added for display purposes.

D.S.O. London Gazette 17 March 1919:

‘In recognition of his services when H.M.S. Otranto was wrecked on 6 October 1918. H.M.S. Otranto was damaged in collision with the S.S. Kashmir whilst carrying a large number of American troops. Lieutenant Craven displayed magnificent courage and seamanship in placing H.M.S. Mounsey alongside H.M.S. Otranto, in spite of the fact that the conditions of wind, weather and sea were exceptionally severe. After going alongside and embarking a certain number of men, it was reported that the Mounsey had sustained considerable damage, and that there was a large quantity of water in the engine-room. Lieutenant Craven, therefore, left the Otranto, but on finding the damage was not so serious as had been reported, he again went alongside, though he had previously experienced great difficulty in getting away. His action resulted in the saving of over 600 lives, which would certainly otherwise have been lost. His performance was a remarkable one, and in personal courage, coolness and seamanship ranks in the very highest order.’



U.S.A. Distinguished Service Medal (Army) London Gazette 17 March 1919.

U.S.A. Navy Cross London Gazette 27 July 1920.



Francis Worthington Craven was born in Manchester in July 1888 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in May 1903. Clearly a colourful and forceful character, who on one occasion was warned to limit his consumption of alcohol, he was ‘tried by Court Martial on 24 August 1912 for wilful disobedience of lawful command’, as a result of which he forfeited nine months seniority, was severely reprimanded and dismissed his ship. Here, then, possible evidence for his subsequent gallantry in October 1918 - namely a wilful determination to win through.

Be that as it may, he commenced his wartime career as a Lieutenant in the battleship H.M.S. Audacious, and was similarly employed when she was mined on 27 October 1914, Their Lordships noting his good work on the same occasion. Having then joined the battleship Queen Elizabeth at the end of the year, he served in the Dardanelles 1915-16 and was noted as ‘a good turret officer and a good seaman’. He then held a brace of destroyer commands, namely the Cherwell from August 1917 and the Mounsey from January 1918, in which latter ship he won his D.S.O.

Taffrail’s Endless Story states of the Otranto rescue operation:

‘According to the account of one survivor, the ship had anchored but was dragging, when, at about 10 a.m., the destroyer Mounsey appeared in answer to the distress signal. In the huge seas the destroyer rolled and plunged violently as she approached, at times all but hidden from the sight of those in the Otranto as she fell into the troughs of the waves. But, circling round the Otranto's stern, she came up on her starboard side.

Captain Davidson advised the Mounsey's captain, Lieutenant F. W. Craven, not to attempt to come alongside. To do so seemed to be risking almost certain disaster. But Craven replied that it was the only chance of saving life, which was the simple truth. The Otranto lowered two of her lifeboats almost to the water's edge to act as fenders, and the Mounsey, unable to come alongside in the ordinary way because of the sea, lay off close to the liner's lee side and allowed the larger ship to drift down on top of her. On board the Otranto, all the men were still fallen in at their boat stations wearing lifebelts, and word was passed advising them to take off their heavier clothing and overcoats. Many, realising they would have to jump for it, also removed their boots.

The Otranto was heeling over considerably. Nearer and nearer the Mounsey drifted, staggering, rolling, pitching in the sea, borne high on the back of a great comber at one moment, and the next sliding into a watery valley. It seemed impossible that so frail and so lightly built a ship, with plating no stouter than thick cardboard, could withstand the shock of meeting a larger vessel broadside on in such weather conditions. She might beat in her side, become hopelessly disabled, perhaps sink alongside.

Fenders were lowered, and with the splintering of wood as the suspended lifeboats took the weight and collapsed, the two ships met with a crashing, grinding shudder. On board the Otranto there was no confusion or panic. The men in the first line were ordered to jump for their lives when the opportunity came. They did so as the destroyer was lifted on a sea, and though a few missing their footing, fell between the ships and were crushed to death, many more landed on board the Mounsey, where willing hands were waiting to receive them. Some, jumping too late as the destroyer fell into a hollow, broke their arms or legs as they landed on her steel deck.

After being alongside for some time, it was reported to Craven that the Mounsey was damaged, and that there was a large amount of water in the engine-room. He was forced to abandon the work of rescue for a time, and, managing to claw his way clear of the Otranto with the greatest difficulty, found that the damage was not so serious as he expected.

So he took his ship alongside again - in all, four times - saving many men on each occasion. Altogether, he rescued 596 officers and men, of whom 300 were American soldiers. Then, with his little ship crowded as she had never been crowded before, and without room on board for another soul, he was forced to steam away.

The gale persisted, and the helpless Otranto eventually drifted ashore on Islay, where, in the raging sea, she became a total loss. Of the 447 officers and men who remained on board, only 16 were saved when the vessel struck, Captain Davidson and most of his officers being numbered among the drowned.

The Kashmir, it may be added, managed to make a Scottish port, where she landed her troops.

Craven's action in rescuing 596 lives that would otherwise have been lost was a magnificent feat, for which he was afterwards awarded the D.S.O. and, by the President of the United States, the American Distinguished Service Medal. No man deserved these honours more. ‘His performance’, in the words of the London Gazette of 17 March 1919, ‘was a remarkable one, and in personal courage, coolness, and seamanship ranks in the very highest order.’

It is difficult to write of such an episode in cold blood, more difficult still to write in such a way that a reader may realise something of the awful difficulty and danger of taking a fragile little ship of 1,000 tons alongside a vessel more than ten times her own size in a howling gale and a raging sea. Craven risked his ship, his own life, and the life of every man on board the Mounsey. Moreover, he knew the risk he was running. But it was justified, and his cool judgment and seamanship brought him out triumphant.

There are many tales of heroic rescues at sea: but for calm determination and gallantry there are few that I have come across that equal Craven's saving of those men from the Otranto. Even in the Royal Navy, which sets a high standard upon personal merit and regards as an everyday occurrence an incident which would provide a " scoop " story for a popular newspaper, the Mounsey's feat is not forgotten.’

The above award of the American D.S.M. was in fact of the Army variety, in recognition of Mounsey having rescued so many American troops and would have required President Wilson’s approval as an award to a foreign serviceman; likewise, Craven’s subsequent award of the Navy Cross.

Placed on the Retired List at his own request in April 1920, the gallant Craven next joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary as a Detective Inspector, but he was killed in an ambush on 2 February 1921. His mother was sent his D.S.O. in the following month.