A Great War ‘Armed Merchant Cruisers’ D.S.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant P. P. Crawford, Royal Naval Reserve

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. P. P. Crawford, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.N.R.) extremely fine (4) £800-1000

D.S.C. London Gazette 31 March 1916: ‘In recognition of their services in the Patrol Cruisers, under the Command of Rear Admiral Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair, K.C.B., M.V.O., during the period ending 31 December 1915.’

Percy Palfrey Crawford was a Mercantile Marine Officer who joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant on 10 February 1915. He was appointed on 20 March 1915 to H.M.S. Alsation, an Armed Merchant Cruiser and Flag Ship of Rear Admiral Dudley R. S. de Chair, Commanding the 10th Cruiser Squadron of the Northern Patrol.

He transferred to H.M.S. Hildebrand on 14 April 1915, for Navigating Duties and served in this ship for nearly 3 years. During this time his duties included leadership of armed boarding parties that inspected ships that were suspected of carrying contraband cargo to Germany.

On 29 July, information was received of the sinking of the Norwegian steamer Trondhjemsfjord by a German submarine on 26 July. This vessel was proceeding to Kirkwall in charge of an armed guard from the Hildebrand, under Lieutenant Crawford, when she was fired at by the submarine, the shot passing over the bows. The Master altered course to bring the submarine astern and proceeded at full speed. After a chase of half an hour, the submarine fired a second shot and the Trondhjemsfjord, which was being rapidly overhauled, stopped. The Master was ordered on board the submarine with the ship's papers, but before leaving he arranged for the disguise of the armed guard, his wife, who was on board, providing Lieutenant Crawford with some of her husband's clothes in place of his own. The rifles etc., belonging to the guard were concealed in the fore peak. Soon after the Master got on board the submarine, the crew of the Trondhjemsfjord were directed to abandon ship immediately. When all the boats were clear of the ship the submarine fired a torpedo amidships from a distance of about 130 yards, and the Trondhjemsfjord listed heavily to port. Amongst other cargo this steamer was carrying a large quantity of sulphuric acid, which burst with a loud explosion and flew to the height of the mastheads on the ship being hit by the torpedo. After the vessel had sunk the submarine towed the crew and armed guard in their boats about four miles to the southward, where the Norwegian barque Glance was met with and ordered by the German officer to embark them.

Crawford was appointed next to H.M.S. Jesamine, Armed Merchant Cruiser on 6 September 1917, and on 20 February 1918 he returned to H.M.S. Alsation in which he continued to serve until demobilised early in 1919.