Augustine William Shelton Agar
Lieutenant (later Commodore), Royal Navy
- 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

Lt Agar VC - Alton, Hants (gallery)
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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