Augustus Willington Shelton Agar

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Captain Augustine Willington Shelton Agar, V.C., D.S.O. (4 January, 1890 – 30 December, 1968) served in the Royal Navy. His first name was probably "Augustus", but his Service Records appear to reliably offer it as Augustine, only.

For a man who would deliver such personal fortitude in action, his evaluations as a young sailor during the Great War are amongst the most uniformly abysmal to be found.

Life & Career

Born in Ceylon, the thirteenth child.

Agar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1912.[1]

In mid-1913, he was evaluated by Lieutenant-Commander Lawrie of Ruby as being "Capable when he tries but at times shows lack of interest."[2]

In mid 1916, Captain Haggard evaluated Agar as "Clever but unreliable. Apt to do foolish things. Deaf one ear." At the end of the year, the same officer again recorded, "Clever but unreliable."[3]

In early 1918, Lieutenant-Commander Parker wrote that Agar was "[h]ardworking at times spasmodic. not tactful. violent temper. conceited but good knowledge at bottom. Better when older."[4]

On 17 June, 1919, Agar led two Coastal Motor Boats in infiltrating Kronstadt harbour to attack Bolshevik naval assets. When mechanical difficulties afflicted one of the boats, Agar continued his mission in Template:UK-CMB4 and succeeded in torpedoing and sinking the protected cruiser Oleg despite suffering a motor breakdown that obliged him to stop at a breakwater to effect repairs for fully twenty minutes while in clear view of the enemy. Agar was awarded the Victoria Cross for his audacious success.

Agar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1920.[5]

Agar was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1925.[6]

Agar was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1933.[7]

World War II

Agar was mentioned in despatches on 8 April, 1942 for good services when Dorsetshire and Cornwall were sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Indian Ocean.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Ralph Kerr
Captain of H.M.S. Witch
22 Apr, 1926[8] – 1927
Succeeded by
Eric P. Vivian
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Scarborough
30 Sep, 1930[9]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Oswald W. Cornwallis
Preceded by
Charles E. S. Farrant
Captain of H.M.S. Curlew
9 Jan, 1936[10] – 14 Oct, 1936[11]
Succeeded by
Basil C. B. Brooke
Preceded by
John G. Crace
Captain of H.M.S. Emerald
15 Jan, 1937[12] – 1 Jun, 1940[13]
Succeeded by
Edward S. F. Fegen
Preceded by
George H. Creswell
Captain of H.M.S. Malcolm
25 Jun, 1940[14] – 13 Jul, 1940[15]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Charles F. Harris
Captain (D), First Destroyer Flotilla
25 Jun, 1940[16] – 13 Jul, 1940[17]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Benjamin C. S. Martin
Captain of H.M.S. Dorsetshire
Aug, 1941[18] – 5 Apr, 1942[19]
Succeeded by
Vessel Lost

Footnotes

  1. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  2. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  3. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  4. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  5. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  6. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  7. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  8. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 290.
  9. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 268.
  10. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  11. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  12. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  13. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  14. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  15. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  16. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  17. Agar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/301. f. 656.
  18. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  19. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.