James Vandeleur Creagh

Rear-Admiral James Vandeleur Creagh, D.S.O. (30 August, 1883 – 14 January, 1956) was an successful destroyer commander in the Royal Navy during the Great War.

Life & Career

Creagh was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1906.

On 1 February, 1909, Creagh was appointed as Lieutenant & Commander of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 034.

Creagh was appointed in command of the destroyer Myrmidon on 13 June, 1913.

Creagh was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1914.

Great War

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Ariel on 9 October, 1914, and was in command when she helped sink U 12 by ramming on 10 March, 1915. He received a letter on vellum expressing the Admiralty's approbation for the feat, to be considered equivalent to a mention in despatches.

Creagh was praised for his work on the occasion of the sinking of light cruiser Arethusa on 11 February 1916 and in a destroyer action of 20 March in which he "[h]andled and fought his ship in a most able manner under a hot fire."

Creagh was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Sylph on 11 January, 1917.

On 16 July, 1917, Creagh captured German merchant vessels and showed "extraordinary tenacity and ability in bringing his prize safe to Harwich."

On 3 January, 1918, the Admiralty expressed its appreciation for Creagh's good service on the occasion of the loss of Surprise, Torrent and Tornado in a minefield, and for successfully taking Valkyrie under tow and getting her back to base. On February 1926, the King invested Creagh with the D.S.O. at Harwich for his services in destroyer flotillas up to the end of 1917.

Post-War

Creagh was appointed in command of the destroyer Viscount on 13 August, 1920. At some point, a chronometer would go missing from the ship and Creagh would be chastised and charged two pounds Sterling for replacing it.

Shortly after being superseded in Viscount on 6 May, 1921, Creagh was appointed to join the Plans Division vice Dorling. He was superseded there on 1 July, 1923, having at some point actually run the Division during the absence of both the Director and Deputy Director.

Creagh was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1923.

At the end of his career, Creagh was busy performing the initial work to create a new naval base in the Persian Gulf, having been appointed as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf vice Crabbe on 21 April, 1933 and superseded on 2 May, 1935.

Creagh was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 20 June, 1935 and was placed on the Retired List on 21 July.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Randal B. McCowen	Captain of H.M. T.B. 034 1 Feb, 1909 – 31 Jul, 1911	Succeeded by Arthur B. Nesling
Preceded by Richard W. U. Bayly	Captain of H.M.S. Myrmidon 13 Jun, 1913 – 9 Oct, 1914	Succeeded by Robert H. B. Hammond-Chambers
Preceded by Dashwood F. Moir	Captain of H.M.S. Ariel 9 Oct, 1914 – 29 Nov, 1915	Succeeded by Arthur G. Tippet
Preceded by James F. Houstoun	Captain of H.M.S. Linnet 29 Nov, 1915 – 11 Jan, 1917	Succeeded by Joseph H. L. Yorke
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Sylph 11 Jan, 1917 – 12 Aug, 1919	Succeeded by Reginald T. Amedroz
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Thanet 13 Aug, 1919 – Aug, 1920	Succeeded by George Wilson
Preceded by John M. Porter	Captain of H.M.S. Viscount 13 Aug, 1920 – 6 May, 1921	Succeeded by Thomas C. C. Bolster
Preceded by Lewis G. E. Crabbe	Captain of H.M.S. Shakespeare 15 Jan, 1925 – 11 May, 1925	Succeeded by James V. Creagh
Preceded by Lewis G. E. Crabbe	Captain (D), Seventh Destroyer Flotilla 15 Jan, 1925 – 1 Apr, 1925	Succeeded by Lewis G. E. Crabbe
Preceded by Lewis G. E. Crabbe	Captain (D), Ninth Destroyer Flotilla 1 Apr, 1925 – 11 May, 1925	Succeeded by John C. Tovey
Preceded by Kenneth MacLeod	Captain of H.M.S. Wallace 11 May, 1925 – 10 Oct, 1925	Succeeded by Kenneth MacLeod
Preceded by Kenneth MacLeod	Captain (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla 11 May, 1925 – 10 Oct, 1925	Succeeded by Lewis G. E. Crabbe
Preceded by James V. Creagh	Captain of H.M.S. Shakespeare 7 Jul, 1925 – 10 Oct, 1925	Succeeded by Guy L. Coleridge
Preceded by Edward O. B. S. Osborne	Captain (D), First Destroyer Flotilla 7 Jul, 1925 – Oct, 1927	Succeeded by John H. K. Clegg
Preceded by Edward O. B. S. Osborne	Captain of H.M.S. Montrose 10 Oct, 1925	Succeeded by John H. K. Clegg
Preceded by John H. K. Clegg	Captain of H.M.S. Montrose Oct, 1927 – 2 Jul, 1928	Succeeded by Edward D. Marston
Preceded by John Harding	Captain of H.M.S. Shoreham 21 Apr, 1933	Succeeded by Vernon S. Butler
Preceded by Lewis G. E. Crabbe	Senior Officer, Persian Gulf 21 Apr, 1933 – 2 May, 1935	Succeeded by Charles A. Browne