Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 8


A superb Great War 1915 ‘2nd Ypres’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Colonel C. W. H. Crichton, 10th Hussars, who, while suffering from enteric fever, was captured by De Wet’s Boers at Sannah’s Post in March 1900; wounded at Zillebeke in October 1914, he was awarded the D.S.O. for his conspicuous gallantry near Ypres on 13 May 1915, where, having taken command of the regiment following the death of the C.O., in a counter-attack ‘he continued to direct operations, giving great encouragement to his men whilst he lay in the open under heavy shell fire with his leg shattered’; an expert yachtsman, he sailed the British boat to gold medal victory in the 6 metre class at the 1908 Olympic Games


Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, centres depressed, with red enamel damage; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Lieut. C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hussars) top lugs filled with retaining rod; 1914 Star with copy clasp (Major C. W. H. Crichton. 10/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. C. W. H. Crichton.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear, generally very fine, unless otherwise stated (6)


£2,200-£2,600 D.S.O. London Gazette 3 July 1915.


The original recommendation states: ‘Near Ypres on 13th May, 1915, showed conspicuous gallantry and ability in collecting and rallying men who were retiring under heavy shell fire through the 10th Hussars’ position. In our counter-attack he continued to direct operations, giving great encouragement to his men whilst he lay in the open under heavy shell fire with his leg shattered.’


M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916


Charles William Henry Crichton was born in 1872. Claiming a notable aristocratic pedigree, he was the son of Colonel the Honourable Sir H. G. L. Crichton K.C.B., of Netley Castle and the grandson of both the Earl of Erne and the Earl of Northbrook. Educated at Radley College, he was commissioned, from the Militia, Second Lieutenant in the 10th (The Prince of Wales’s Own) Royal Hussars on 7 December 1895. Promoted Lieutenant on 25 June 1897, he served in South Africa during the Boer War, arriving at the Cape in December 1899. Present with General Broadwood’s Brigade at the Relief of Kimberley, operations at Paardeberg and the action at Driefontein. On 31 March, by now suffering from enteric fever, he was captured when the skeleton remnants of the 10th Hussars were ambushed by De Wet at Sannah’s Post on 31 March:


‘After a considerable detour the Household Cavalry discovered a place to cross and the Tenth found one on their left. They crossed and made for the ridge above with a view to a flanking movement, but owing to their greatly reduced strength were ordered to retire slowly on Springfontein, where they bivouacked. The Tenth’s casualties in the ambush were three killed, five wounded, two officers and twenty-six N.C.O.s and men missing, taken prisoner, the two officers and several others being patients in the ambulance wagon with enteric fever.’ (The 10th Hussars by Michael Brander refers)


Crichton was later released by the Boers due to his illness and returned to England on 27 July 1900. Promoted Captain, 16 November 1901 and Major 4 May 1907, Crichton then served with his regiment in India from 27 December 1903 until 6 November 1912 (Delhi Durbar medal 1911), also finding time, in 1908, to represent Great Britain at the Summer Olympic Games. An expert yachtsman he competed in the 6 metre class, with fellow crew members, Gilbert Laws and Thomas McMeekin, in the Gold Medal winning British boat, Dormy.


Posted to South Africa in November 1912, the regiment was then recalled from Potchefstroom to England at the outbreak of the Great War and joined the 6th Cavalry Brigade as part of the 3rd Cavalry Division in France on 8 October 1914. Crichton, in command of a squadron, was wounded, suffering a gun shot wound to his left arm, during the 1st Battle of Ypres in the desperate fighting around Hooge and East of Zillebeke on 30 October 1914. Here, the 7th Cavalry Brigade, supported by the 6th Cavalry Brigade, was forced to vacate the Zandvoorde Ridge, and after a gallant resistance, the Germans captured Hollebeke, Wytschaete and Messine, many casualties being incurred by both brigades. The Regimental War Diary for this date states:


‘Regiment marched out to act as reserve to infantry 3/4 mile east of Kleinzebe and Zanvoorde Road and took up post with Royals on right flank and Scots Guards on left. Regiment ordered to take up line of trenches. Relieved at dusk by XII Brigade. Captain Kincaid and 4 men killed. Major Crichton, Captain Fielden, Captain Stewart, Captain Baring and 15 men wounded.’


Major Crichton was wounded a second time, this time severely, at the 2nd Battle of Ypres, having assumed command of the regiment after Lieutenant-Colonel Shearman was killed. The 10th (P.W.O.) Royal Hussars and The Essex Yeomanry, during the European wars, 1914-18 by Lt-Col. F. H. D. C. Whitmore provides a narrative with specific reference to Crichton’s gallantry:


‘When the 1st and 2nd Life Guards were forced to retire from the front line trenches near Verlorenhoek, Lieut-Colonel E. R. A. Shearman, commanding 10th Royal Hussars, Major C. W. H. Crichton, and Capt. G. C. Stewart, Adjutant, worked hard to rally the men, and all the time shelling became more and more severe. At 8am the order was given to leave all kit behind in the trenches; rifles, bandoliers, bayonets, and spades only to be carried. The task of the Regiment was to dig in on the right of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays). Whilst concentrating behind Potijze Chateau, Capt. M. de Tuyll and several other ranks were killed by shell fire. Advancing alongside the road the leading Squadron “A” came under very heavy artillery and rifle fire. Half the squadron, under Lieut. R. Gordon Canning, went forward to fill in a gap between the Queen’s Bays and the Dragoon Guards, and later on supported the counter-attack of the 8th Cavalry Brigade by rifle fire.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236