Augustine William Shelton Agar

Lieutenant (later Commodore), Royal Navy

VC
Register No.
12 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Lieutenant (later Commodore) (register: Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
Unit
Royal Navy (register: HM Coastal Motor Boat 4) all HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 VCs →
Date of action
17 June 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
Conflict / campaign
North Russia Relief Force
London Gazette
22 August 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
Born
4th January 1890 at Kandy, Ceylon
Died
30th December 1968 at Alton, Hampshire
Memorial / grave
at Alton Cemetery, Alton, Hampshire*
Medal held by
the Imperial War Museum

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

AGAR Augustine William Shelton (Reg No 12)

Lieutenant (later Commodore) Royal Navy.

London Gazetted on 22 August 1919 VC Medal's Custodian is the Imperial War Museum.

Born on 4th January 1890 at Kandy, Ceylon.

Died on 30th December 1968 at Alton, Hampshire.

Memorial on grave at Alton Cemetery, Alton, Hampshire*. One other Decorations: Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Digest of Citation reads: On 17 June 1919 at Kronstadt, Russia, Lieutenant Agar took HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 into the bay, penetrated a destroyer screen and was closing a larger warship further inshore when CMB4, whose hull had been damaged by gunfire, broke down. She had to be taken alongside a breakwater to do repairs and for 20 minutes was in full view of the enemy. The attack was then resumed and a Russian Cruiser was sunk, after which Lieutenant Agar retired to the safety of the open bay under heavy fire.

* Anyone visiting this grave may like to take the opportunity of seeing the grave of "Sweet Fanny Adams," the murdered child of the famous saying "I've got Sweet Fanny Adams" or "Sweet FA" also in Alton Cemetery.

Additional Information:Commodore Agar was President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich from 1943-45; He was the author of Footprints in the Sea, (Autobiography), Showing the Flag and Baltic Episode.

From Alf's photographs

Alf's notes on his life

One other Decorations: Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Digest of Citation reads: On 17 June 1919 at Kronstadt, Russia, Lieutenant Agar took HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 into the bay, penetrated a destroyer screen and was closing a larger warship further inshore when CMB4, whose hull had been damaged by gunfire, broke down. She had to be taken alongside a breakwater to do repairs and for 20 minutes was in full view of the enemy. The attack was then resumed and a Russian Cruiser was sunk, after which Lieutenant Agar retired to the safety of the open bay under heavy fire. of seeing the grave of "Sweet Fanny Adams," the murdered child of the famous saying "I've got Sweet Fanny Adams" or "Sweet FA" also in Alton Cemetery.

Additional information

Commodore Agar was President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich from 1943-45; He was the author of Footprints in the Sea, (Autobiography), Showing the Flag and Baltic Episode.

* Anyone visiting this grave may like to take the opportunity

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: at Alton Cemetery, Alton, Hampshire*

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

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