Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley
Lieutenant, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 282 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Vindictive) all HMS Vindictive VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 May 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 28th August, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 2nd November, 1893 at London
- Died
- 24th January, 1986 at Mappercombe, Nettleton, Bridport,
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 9th/10th May 1918 at Ostend, Belgium, Lieutenant Crutchley took command of HMS Vindictive when the commanding officer had been killed and the second in command seriously wounded. He displayed great gallantry and seamanship both in Vindictive and ML254 which rescued the crew after the former vessel had been sunk between the Piers of Ostend harbour. He also took command of ML254 when the commanding officer of that vessel had collapsed from his wounds Crutchley kept her afloat until HMS Warwick came to the rescue
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CRUTCHLEY, Victor Alexander Charles. (reg No. 282).
Lieutenant. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 28th August, 1918.
Born on 2nd November, 1893 at London.
Died on 24th January, 1986 at Mappercombe, Nettleton, Bridport, Dorset.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th/10th May 1918 at Ostend, Belgium, Lieutenant Crutchley took command of HMS Vindictive when the commanding officer had been killed and the second in command seriously wounded. He displayed great gallantry and seamanship both in Vindictive and ML254 which rescued the crew after the former vessel had been sunk between the Piers of Ostend harbour. He also took command of ML254 when the commanding officer of that vessel had collapsed from his wounds *. ML254 was full of wounded and in a sinking condition, but Lieutenant Crutchley kept her afloat until HMS Warwick came to the rescue.
* See R R L BOURKE (Reg. No.111) and G.H. DRUMMOND (Reg No.352).
Additional information:. Admiral Sir Victor Crutchley was created a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KCB) and also held the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) the Croix de Guerre (France), the Polonia Restituta (Poland) and Commander, the Legion of Merit (USA). 1942-1944 he commanded the Australian Naval Squadron. From 1945-47 he was Flag Officer, Gibraltar. In 1957 he was the Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Dorset.
Additional information
Admiral Sir Victor Crutchley was created a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KCB) and also held the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) the Croix de Guerre (France), the Polonia Restituta (Poland) and Commander, the Legion of Merit (USA). 1942-1944 he commanded the Australian Naval Squadron. From 1945-47 he was Flag Officer, Gibraltar. In 1957 he was the Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Dorset.
*. ML254 was full of wounded and in a sinking condition, but Lieutenant
* See R R L BOURKE (Reg. No.111) and G.H. DRUMMOND (Reg No.352).
Dorset.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.