Charles W. Crawford

Her Majesty's Torpedo Boat 107, launched 1900 or 1901, that was to come under the command of Crawford

Capt. Charles Wispington Glover Crawford C.B.E. (1873 – 16 October 1934) was a British Royal Navy officer who commanded the Devonport flotilla of motor torpedo boats. In his spare time he was a noted philatelist. He signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1934.[1]

Naval career

Crawford was educated for a naval career and joined the Britannia at Dartmouth in 1886. He became a midshipman on HMS Northumberland in 1888 and later that same year joined HMS Canada at Bermuda. In 1893 he became Lieutenant and subsequently attained the rank of Commander and was given the command of a Royal Navy motor torpedo boat HMTB 107 launched in 1901.[2] Crawford was also given command of the Devonport flotilla of the 160 footer torpedo boats.[3]

He travelled widely and was in charge of wireless telegraphy in Somaliland in actions against Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, known as the "Mad Mullah" by the British.[4] He retired in 1910 but was recalled to active service on the outbreak of the First World War. He was involved with the landing of the naval division at Dunkirk and the evacuation of Ostend for which he was mentioned in dispatches.[4] In 1919 he was awarded the honour of being made a commander of the order of the British Empire in recognition of his work during the war.[5]

Philately

Crawford first became interested in stamps as a boy and formed a collection with his step-father. During his naval career he often sent stamps home from the various ports that he visited. His philatelic interests were broad but he was a particular expert on the stamps of the Australian States and New Zealand. He was elected to the Royal Philatelic Society London in June 1918 and was a member of their Expert Committee. He was convenor of the Queensland Reference List Committee who were charged with reporting on the papers, perforations and plates of that territory.[4][6]

Death

Crawford died at his home in Seaford on 16 October 1934 after having suffered two heart attacks in August of that year. He was buried at Morden Cemetery on 19 October and was survived by his wife.[4]

Selected publications

References

  1. Background notes on The Roll of Distinguished Philatelists September 2011, Roll of Distinguished Philatelists Trust, London, 2011. Archived here.
  2. Navy List 1908 Other Lists Crew Lists, battleships-cruisers.co.uk, retrieved 16 August 2014
  3. Torpedo Boats in Home Waters, RN June 1906, retrieved 16 August 2014
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "The Late Captain C.W.G. Crawford, C.B.E., R.N.", R.B.Y., The London Philatelist, Vol. XLIII, No. 514, October 1934, pp. 2057.
  5. 31432 - 1 JULY 1919, Naval History.net, retrieved 16 August 2014
  6. Who Was Who in British Philately, Association of British Philatelic Societies, 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014. Archived here.
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