O'Moore Creagh

General Sir Garrett O'Moore Creagh VC GCB GCSI (2 April 1848 - 9 August 1923), known as Sir O'Moore Creagh, was born in Cahirbane, County Clare and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 31 years old, and a captain in the Bombay Staff Corps, Indian Army during the Second Afghan War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 22 April 1879 at Kam Dakka, on the Kabul River, Afghanistan, Captain Creagh, who had been ordered to take a detachment of 150 men to protect the village against a threatened incursion of the Mohmands, had to repel an attack by about 1500 of the enemy. The inhabitants of Kam Dakka joined with the Mohmands and Captain Creagh's force was compelled to retire, so he took up a position in a cemetery and held it, repulsing repeated attacks with the bayonet until a relief force arrived, when the enemy was finally routed and many of them were driven into the river.

Further information

Creagh was the eighth son of captain James Creagh (Royal Navy) and his wife, Grace O'Moore. He was married twice, firstly to Mary Longfield (or possibly Brereton) in 1874, who died in 1876, and then to Elizabeth Reade in 1891.

He was commissioned into the 95th Foot in 1866 and went to India in 1869, being transferred to the Indian army in 1870. In 1878 he became Captain of the Merwara battalion, commanding them from 1882 until 1886. He assumed command of the 29th Bombay Infantry in 1890, later promoted to assistant quarter-master general (1896). He led the Indian contingent during the Boxer Rebellion. Further promotions culminated in a K.C.B in 1904 , general in 1907 and succeeding Lord Kitchener as commander-in-chief in India in 1909. He died at 65 Albert Hall Mansions, London SW9 9 August 1923.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum (Chelsea, England).

Footnotes

References

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
• Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Surrey)
• Find-A-Grave profile for O'Moore Creagh