Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Hi
 
Found your web site after searching for Crutchley.  Apparently he (Crutchley) was a cousin of my late grandfather (who migrated to Australia just after the war).
 
Any comments regarding his personality, character or any other peice of information would be greatly appreciated.
 
Your website is truly inspirational and if not for people like yourself history would be lost.
 
Yours in anticipation
Cathy De Marco

Hello Cathy,

Thank you for your E-Mail and generous comments.

Ahoy: Mac's Web Log results from my friend Terry in Atlanta, Georgia setting it all up, and coping with all the material I write and send off to him. It truly is a joint effort, but without his expertise and dedication none of it would appear. We both enjoy it all, and it is very gratifying to have a message such as yours.

When I knew Rear Admiral Crutchley he was in charge of the Australian Squadron, and at the Battle Of Savo Island in August of 1942 was second in Command to Rear Admiral Kelly Turner USN and in charge of the support and bombardment force.

With his full beard and height well over six feet he cut an imposing figure, looking like your true sea dog, he was I believe a good commander and was well liked in the Royal australian Navy.

Having won a Victoria Cross in 1918 at Ostend, as a young Lieutenant in WW1, his courage and bravery could never be in question.

I recall a story about the Admiral when he was in HMAS Australia, true or not I cannot vouch for but here goes:

One morning the action alarms had sounded off, and the Admiral was climbing rather slowly up a ladder from below decks, behind him was a young sailor in a hurry to reach his action station.

He yelled out to the feet and figure he could make out ahead of him: "Hurry up you poor, slow old bastard."

On reaching the top of the ladder, and seeing it was his Admiral he had addressed, the sailor was beside himself stammering out an apology. The Admiral's response was typical of him, " I may be old, and poor and slow, but I can assure you young man never ever has my parentage been in any doubt!"

He was eventually knighted, and I believe became an Admiral, to die in England in 1986.

Victor Crutchley was a true Naval Officer and a gentleman.

Nice to hear from you Cathy,

Best Regards,
Mackenzie Gregory.

Greetings Mackenzie,

Just a short note of thanks for your quick response to my request for information re the Admiral. It is an amazing thing to correspond with some one with first hand knowledge!

Once again thank you and best wishes for the future,
Cathy De Marco

back to letters index