Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley VC, DSC, RN
| Born | 2 Nov 1893 | Chelsea, London, England | |
| Died | 24 Jan 1986 | (92) | Mappercombe Manor, Nettlecombe, Bridport, Dorset, England |
| Ranks
Retired: 3 May 1947 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Warspite (03) | Capt. | Battleship | 1 May 1937 | 27 Apr 1940 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Battleship HMS Warspite (03)
18 Nov 1939
Convoy HX 9.
This convoy departed Halifax on 18 November 1939. It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Arakaka (British, 2379 GRT, built 1933), Arletta (British, 4870 GRT, built 1925), Baron Loudoun (British, 3164 GRT, built 1925), Barrwhin (British, 4998 GRT, built 1929), Beckenham (British, 4636 GRT, built 1937), Brockley Hill (British, 5287 GRT, built 1918), Cerinthus (British (tanker), 3878 GRT, built 1930), Charles Pratt (Panamanian (tanker), 10050 GRT, built 1916), Conch (British (tanker), 8376 GRT, built 1931), Crispin (British, 5050 GRT, built 1935), Culebra (British, 3044 GRT, built 1919), Darcoila (British, 4084 GRT, built 1926), Darlington Court (British, 4974 GRT, built 1936), Diloma (British (tanker), 8146 GRT, built 1939), Hadleigh (British, 5222 GRT, built 1930), Harry G. Seidel (Panamanian (tanker), 11395 GRT, built 1930), Innerton (British, 5276 GRT, built 1919), Jhelum (British, 4038 GRT, built 1936), Queen City (British, 4814 GRT, built 1924), Regent Panther (British (tanker), 9556 GRT, built 1937), San Adolfo (British (tanker), 7365 GRT, built 1935), San Cirilo (British (tanker), 8012 GRT, built 1937), San Fabian (British (tanker), 13031 GRT, built 1922), San Tiburcio (British (tanker), 5995 GRT, built 1921), San Ubaldo (British (tanker), 5999 GRT, built 1921), Sinnington Court (British, 6910 GRT, built 1928), Trehata (British, 4817 GRT, built 1928), Venetia (British, 5728 GRT, built 1927), Weirbank (British, 5150 GRT, built 1925) and Whitford Point (British, 5026 GRT, built 1928).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the battleship HMS Warspite (Capt. V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN) and the destroyers Assiniboine (Cdr. E. Mainguy, RCN) and HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. H.G. de Wolf, RCN).
Around 1610Q/20, HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS St. Laurent parted company to return to Halifax.
Around 1020OP/23, the Daloma straggled from the convoy due to engine trouble. She was not able to rejoin until 2100O/24.
At daylight on the 24th, besides the already missing Daloma three more ships had straggled from the convoy, these were the Harry G. Seidel, Jhelum and Queen City. Of these only the Harry G. Seidel managed to rejoin the convoy around 1400O/25. The other two ships proceeded independently to Liverpool where both arrived on 3 December 1939.
Around 1245O/24, in position 50°01'N, 40°15'W, HMS Warspite parted company with the convoy to proceed to Portsmouth.
During the night of 28/29 November 1939, the Darcoila straggled from the convoy. She did not rejoin and arrived at Liverpool on 5 December 1939.
Around 0030Z/30, the Trehata straggled from the convoy with engine defects. She arrived at Southend on 5 December 1939 and from there went on to her final destination which was Leith.
Around 1100Z/30, the destroyer HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Barnes, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 1100Z/1, the convoy split into two sections.
The Irish Sea / West Coast section of 11 ships was initially not escorted after having parted company as the intended escort vessels had not arrived at the rendezvous position on time. This section was joined by the destroyers HMS Walker (Cdr. W.J.C. Robertson, RN) and HMS Vanoc (Lt.Cdr. J.G.W. Deneys, RN). HMS Walker and HMS Vanoc arrived at Liverpool very early on 3 December 1939. Irish Sea / West Coast section that had been detached at 1100Z/1, had been made up of the following ships; Arakara, Arletta, Baron Loudoun, Cerinthus, Crispin, Culebra, Diloma, Innerton, San Tiburcio, San Ubaldo and Whitford Point.
The Channel / East Coast section, made up of the remaining ships, was escorted by HMS Witch and HMS Wren (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN). This last destroyer had joined around 1340Z/1. HMS Wren and HMS Witch escorted the convoy to vicinity of Dover. They arrived at Dover in the evening of 3 December 1939.
From the Channel / East Coast section, the Regent Panther was detached to Avonmouth shortly after HMS Wren had joined. Her original destination had been Falmouth but this had been changed. Around 0730Z/2, the Conch, San Adolfo and San Cirilo were detached to Falmouth. Around 0930Z/2, the Venetia was detached to Plymouth. Around 0700Z/3, the Charles Pratt and Harry G. Seidel were detached to Saint Helens Roads. They later proceeded to Le Havre. The Sinnington Court with destination Southampton was detached at the same time. (1)
13 Apr 1940 (position 68.29, 17.30)
German U-boat U-64 was sunk in the Herjangsfjord near Narvik, Norway, in approximate position 68°29'N, 17°30'E, by a bomb from Swordfish aircraft L 9767 carried on the British battleship HMS Warspite (Capt. V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN).
Sources
- ADM 53/110918 + ADM 53/111059 + ADM 53/111094 + ADM 53/111225 + ADM 53/111226 + ADM 53/111272 + ADM 199/52
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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