Lot Archive

Lot

№ 410

.

12 June 1991

Hammer Price:
£260

Three: Lieutenant O'M. C. Creagh, Royal Field Artillery.

1914-15 STAR (2. Lieut.); BRITISH WAR and VICTORY MEDALS (Lieut), together with Bronze Memorial Plaque, extremely fine (4)

Lieutenant O'Moore Charles Creagh, R.F.A., younger son of the late Charles Vandaleur Creagh, C.M.G., of Cahirbane, Co. Clare (Governor of British North Borneo and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Labuan, retired 1905), and Mrs. Creagh, of 32, Charlton Road, Blackheath, S.E.; and godson of the late Capt. F. A. Edwardes, 30th Foot, of Rhyd-y-gors, Co Carmarthen; and nephew of General Sir O'Moore Creagh, V.C., G.C.S.I., late Commander-in-Chief in India; born Southsea, Co. Hants, 7 Dec 1896; educated Eastman's, Southsea, and Cheltenham College (Boyne House), from where he passed into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and obtained his commission 10 Feb. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 17 April following being appointed to the 117th Battery R.F.A. He subsequently volunteered for the Trench Mortars, and when in command of the 67th Trench Mortar Battery was wounded in the head, an invalided into hospital in England from Nov. to the end of Dec. On his recovery he returned to the Western front July 1916, and joined the 96th Brigade, C Battery; was later transferred to the 108th Army Brigade, R.F.A. In March 1917, he was appointed to the R.H.A. G Battery, and took part in the celebrated cavalry charge at Monchy on Easter Monday. The Major of his old battery applied for his return, which was effected. At the battle of Messines he was taking in signals from the infantry to his headquarters for fifteen hours, and on 1 Sept. was on liaison for the third attack, when he was complimented by the General through the Main Group Commander. He was reported killed in action at Fevillacourt, near Mont St. Quentin, 23 March, 1918. He took part in the actions at Richebourg 9-17 May, 1915, and those at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, Loos, Vermelles, Ypres, on the Somme, at Messines and Passchendaele, etc., and when he was killed was within a few days of obtaining his Captaincy. His Major, writing of him, said: 'I can honestly say I know of no one whose loss I should feel more, and the battery as a whole feel the same, both officers and men. He was one of the best officers I have ever met.' He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 21 May, 1918] by F.M. Sir Douglas Haig, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. On his mother's side he was related as nearly as his generation would allow to General Sir Thomas Picton, of Peninsular and Waterloo fame; unmarried.