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{{LCommRN}} '''Francis Worthington Craven''', D.S.O., D.S.M., Navy Cross (29 February, 1888 &ndash; 2 February, 1921) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]]. His career would be marked by a Court Martial and drinking before he came through in life-saving efforts following the loss of the {{UK-Otranto|f=t}} in 1918. ==Life & Career== Craven was born in Manchester and was raised by his mother. In September 1907, Captain Hinckley recorded that Craven distinguished himself when appointed to {{UK-Illustrious}} at Liverpool by prompt careful action he took that probably saved a boat and its crew after they were run down.<ref>Craven Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/295.|D7605050}} f. 311.</ref> Craven's evaluations were becoming ridden with warning signs. In January, 1910 it was noted that he was ill-organised and was forgetful and prone to letting things slide.<ref>Craven Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/295.|D7605050}} f. 311.</ref> Craven was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 October, 1910. Craven was further evaluated in April, 1911 as "Careless. Takes every opportunity of leaving ship without permission. Shd. be sent to a big ship. Not suitable for destroyers." In July, he was appointed to the {{UK-Superb|f=t}}. Time in a big ship did not prove a panacea as criticism mounted over a course of thirteen months in ''Superb''. Though Captain [[Herbert Leopold Heath|Heath]] in September 1911 found Craven did well when he "limits his consumption of alcohol as he is doing now", in August 1912, Heath's successor Captain [[Ernest Frederick Augustus Gaunt|Gaunt]] recorded that Craven was not temperate and was "weak in money matters." This came to a head on 24 August, 1912, when Craven was convicted in a Court Martial for willful disobedience of a lawful command. He forfeited nine month's seniority, severely reprimanded and dismissed the ship. This resulted in his seniority as Lieutenant was now antedated to 1 July, 1911. He was appointed to the {{UK-1Grafton|f=t}} on 6 September, 1912.<ref>Craven Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/295.|D7605050}} f. 311.</ref> Craven was appointed to the {{UK-Audacious|f=c}} on 3 October, 1913 and would distinguish himself with good work performed when the ship was lost to a mine north of Ireland on 22 November, 1914. Craven served in {{UK-QueenElizabeth}} from her commissioning in December, 1914. In 1916, he was endorsed by Captain [[George Price Webley Hope|Hope]] for his work in command of a turret, it was noted that Craven required "tactful handling." Reports of continued heavy drinking coloured the edges of his service record. Craven left ''Queen Elizabeth'' upon being superseded on 1 January, 1917. He undertook a patrol craft and a destroyer command appointment and then was appointed in command of {{UK-Mounsey}} on 14 January, 1918.<ref>Craven Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/295.|D7605050}} f. 311.</ref> {{UK-Mounsey}} was in the right place at the right time when the {{UK-Otranto|f=t}} was wrecked and lay sinking after a collision on 5 October, 1918. Craven drove ''Mounsey'' in, repeatedly, to allow men to jump to his deck. Injuries and deaths resulted from the effort, but certain death was the alternative for all. Craven ferried three loads of men to a place near Glasgow in an increasingly unseaworthy destroyer. The American Admiral [[William Sowden Sims]] forwarded a letter to Buncrana endorsing Craven's conduct in saving American troops as the former passenger ship went down. In the final tally, Craven was credited, overall, with saving 600 lives (320 American souls, by American accounting) and awarded a D.S.O. for the feat, as well as two American awards, the Distinguished Service Medal and Navy Cross.<ref>Craven Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/295.|D7605050}} f. 311.</ref> ==Post-War== Craven was appointed in command of the {{UK-Tirade|f=t}} on 11 January, 1919.{{NLFeb19|p. 920''a''}} This would be very brief, but was followed one in command of {{UK-Spear}} which would last until the end of 1919. Promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 1 July, 1919, Craven was appointed from ''Spear'' to {{UK-Martin}} in January, 1920.<ref>Craven Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/295.|D7605050}} f. 311.</ref> Craven was placed on the Retired List on 27 April, 1920 postdated to 13 May, 1921 with a gratuity of 2,500 pounds sterling. Craven was killed in an Irish Republican Army ambush whilst serving as a District Inspector in the Auxiliary Division. Royal Irish Constabulary, a mere six weeks after undertaking the role. On 9 March, 1921, his insignia of D.S.O. was forwarded to his mother. It is difficult to document a career as varied and yet ultimately heroic as this and not be saddened at such an end.<ref>Craven Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/51/295.|D7605050}} f. 311.</ref> ==See Also== {{refbegin}} * [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Francis+Worthington+Craven Service Records] {{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Worthington_Craven}} * [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=125131875 Account of Craven's deeds in ''Mounsey''] {{refend}} <div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}} {{TabNaval}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Reginald Mayo Geake|Edward R. M. Geake]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. P33 (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''P33'']]'''<br>9 Jan, 1917{{NLAug17|p. 396''e''}} &ndash; 16 Aug, 1917|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stanley William Moughtin|Stanley W. Moughtin]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edward Conyngham Denison|Edward C. Denison]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cherwell (1903)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cherwell'']]'''<br>16 Aug, 1917{{NLNov17|p. 392''j''}} &ndash; 14 Jan, 1918|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Donald Francis Lawrence|Donald F. Lawrence]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Ralph Vincent Eyre|Ralph V. Eyre]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Mounsey (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Mounsey'']]'''<br>14 Jan, 1918 &ndash; 1 Nov, 1918|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Francis Worthington Craven|Francis W. Craven]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Francis Worthington Craven|Francis W. Craven]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Mounsey (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Mounsey'']]'''<br>18 Nov, 1918 &ndash; 11 Jan, 1918|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Fawcett|John Fawcett]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Tirade (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Tirade'']]'''<br>11 Jan, 1919{{NLFeb19|p. 920''a''}} &ndash; 25 Jan, 1919|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alexander Leslie Fletcher|Alexander L. Fletcher]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alexander Leslie Fletcher|Alexander L. Fletcher]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Spear (1919)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Spear'']]'''<br>''c''. Jan, 1919 &ndash; Jan, 1920|Succeeded by<br>'''[[David James Robert Simson|David J. R. Simson]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[David James Robert Simson|David J. R. Simson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Martin (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Martin'']]'''<br>Jan, 1920|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}} {{TabEnd}} </div name=fredbot:appts> ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Craven, Francis}} {{CatPerson|UK|1888|1921}} {{CatLComm|UK}} {{CatBritannia|May, 1903}}

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