Addison Joe Baker-Cresswell DSO, RN
| Born | 2 Feb 1901 | Mayfair, London, England | |
| Died | 4 Mar 1997 | (96) | Bamburgh, Northumberland, England |
 Captain Joe Baker-Cresswell | Ranks
Retired: 7 Jul 1951 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Addison Joe Baker-Cresswell, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Arrow (H 42) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 8 Jan 1941 | Feb 1941 |
| HMS Bulldog (H 91) | Cdr. | Destroyer | Feb 1941 | 27 Jan 1942 |
| HMS Philante (4.12) | Capt. | Armed Yacht | 23 Jan 1943 | 23 Dec 1943 |
| HMS Caradoc (D 60) | Capt. | Light cruiser | 1 Apr 1944 | early 1945 |
Career information
During the first week of March 1997, Captain Joe Baker-Cresswell passed away. He was captain of the British destroyer HMS Bulldog, which captured U-110. This led to a breakthrough in the decrypting of German U-boat codes.
He was born on 2nd February, 1902 and served in the Royal Navy from 1919. Late in 1940 he was appointed captain of the destroyer Bulldog, also leading the 3rd Escort Group. In that position he captured on 9th may, 1941 the U-110 and saved some of encryption equipment. (See also our U-110 page).
Bulldog setting out a cutter (on its port side) and U-110
He retired in 1951 and lived from then on in his native Northumberland, where he farmed.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Bulldog (H 91)
9 May 1941
HMS Bulldog was responsible for the capture of U-110, her Sub Lt David Balme finding the Enigma code machine ciphers and code books. U-110 was taken on tow and Bulldog kept her afloat for 17 hours then let the towline slip. The intention was to tow U-110 into Iceland but Admiralty realised this would have been a massive error of judgement. In the event, allegedly, U-110 resolved the matter herself by sinking. (1)
9 May 1941
German U-boat U-110 was captured on 9 May 1941 in the North Atlantic south of Iceland by the British destroyers HMS Bulldog (Cdr. A.J.B. Cresswell, RN) and HMS Broadway (Lt.Cdr. T. Taylor, RN) and the British corvette HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR). The U-boat was allowed to sink the day after to preserve the secret capture.
Light cruiser HMS Caradoc (D 60)
22 Nov 1944
At 0800 on 22 November 1944, the flag of Admiral Sir A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, C-in-C, East Indies, was hoisted in HMS Caradoc.
When Japanese annouced her surrender on 14 August 1945 HMS Caradoc was still at Colombo. She returned to the U.K. in late 1945. (1)
Sources
- Personal communication
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