Crew list of Ships hit by U-boats
Reginald Sharpe Craston
Merchant Navy. British
Born | 1899 |
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Roster information listed for Reginald Sharpe Craston
Ship | Type | Rank / role | Attacked on | Boat | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ena de Larrinaga | Steam merchant | Master | 5 Apr 1941 | U-105 | |
Ocean Venture | Steam merchant | Master | 8 Feb 1942 | U-108 |
Personal information
Award Citation for OBE as published in London Gazette on 2 December 1941:
The ship was torpedoed at night and sank in fifteen minutes. The Master ordered the crew to the boats and to stand by. He then searched the ship and stepped from the rail into one of the two boats just before the ship sank. The boats kept together through the
night. At dawn the Master determined to make for an island about 500 miles away. The crew was divided, nineteen to each boat. After five days sailing one boat was met by a ship. On the eleventh day the Master sighted
the island but, owing to wind, sea and current, could not make it. He then made
for the mainland 200 miles away and reached it two days later. br>The Master set a fine example. His powers of command were shown in the organisation
and discipline that prevailed when abandoning the ship, and during the thirteen days voyage in the boat. His courage and good seamanship saved the lives of his companions.
Reginald Sharpe Craston was also commended for his actions after the sinking of Ocean Venture and when in command of Ocean Courier, which was torpedoed and damaged by a German motor torpedo boat in the English Channel during the night of 30/31 July 1944.
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