Beschreibung:

A Great War D.S.O. group of five attributed to Lieutenant-Commander F. W. Craven, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his ‘magnificent courage and seamanship’ in rescuing of some 600 souls from H.M.S. Otranto - many of them American troops and in consequence of which he was also awarded - uniquely - the Army D.S.M.: having then joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary as a Detective Inspector, he was killed in an ambush in February 1921 Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. F. W. Craven, R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. F. W. Craven, R.N.); United States Distinguished Service Medal, Army, later type for display; United States of America, Navy Cross, later type for display, very fine and better (5) £600-800 Footnote The above described 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal were sold in these Rooms on 22 June 1999 (Lot 640), the remainder of the group since having been added for display purposes. D.S.O. London Gazette 17 March 1919: ‘In recognition of his services when H.M.S. Otranto was wrecked on 6 October 1918. H.M.S. Otranto was damaged in collision with the S.S. Kashmir whilst carrying a large number of American troops. Lieutenant Craven displayed magnificent courage and seamanship in placing H.M.S. Mounsey alongside H.M.S. Otranto, in spite of the fact that the conditions of wind, weather and sea were exceptionally severe. After going alongside and embarking a certain number of men, it was reported that the Mounsey had sustained considerable damage, and that there was a large quantity of water in the engine-room. Lieutenant Craven, therefore, left the Otranto, but on finding the damage was not so serious as had been reported, he again went alongside, though he had previously experienced great difficulty in getting away. His action resulted in the saving of over 600 lives, which would certainly otherwise have been lost. His performance was a remarkable one, and in personal courage, coolness and seamanship ranks in the very highest order.’ U.S.A. Distinguished Service Medal (Army) London Gazette 17 March 1919. U.S.A. Navy Cross London Gazette 27 July 1920. Francis Worthington Craven was born in Manchester in July 1888 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in Britannia in May 1903. Clearly a colourful and forceful character, who on one occasion was warned to limit his consumption of alcohol, he was ‘tried by Court Martial on 24 August 1912 for wilful disobedience of lawful command’, as a result of which he forfeited nine months seniority, was severely reprimanded and dismissed his ship. Here, then, possible evidence for his subsequent gallantry in October 1918 - namely a wilful determination to win through. Be that as it may, he commenced his wartime career as a Lieutenant in the battleship H.M.S. Audacious, and was similarly employed when she was mined on 27 October 1914, Their Lordships noting his good work on the same occasion. Having then joined the battleship Queen Elizabeth at the end of the year, he served in the Dardanelles 1915-16 and was noted as ‘a good turret officer and a good seaman’. He then held a brace of destroyer commands, namely the Cherwell from August 1917 and the Mounsey from January 1918, in which latter ship he won his D.S.O. Taffrail’s Endless Story states of the Otranto rescue operation: ‘According to the account of one survivor, the ship had anchored but was dragging, when, at about 10 a.m., the destroyer Mounsey appeared in answer to the distress signal. In the huge seas the destroyer rolled and plunged violently as she approached, at times all but hidden from the sight of those in the Otranto as she fell into the troughs of the waves. But, circling round the Otranto's stern, she came up on her starboard side. Captain Davidson advised the Mounsey's captain, Lieutenant F. W. Craven, not to attempt to come alongside. To do so seemed to be risking almost certain disaster. But Craven replied that it was the only chance of saving life, which w