World War Two Naval Long Service group to SPO Craze RN / survived the blue on blue sinking of HMS Hussar

1939 to 45 Star

Atlantic Star with France and Germany Bar

Africa Star with North Africa 1942-43 Bar

Pacific Star

War Meda

G.V.I. Naval Long Service Good Conduct Medal. Correctly impressed KX 80808 C. H. T. Craze. S.P.O. H.M.S. Venerable.

 

Swing mounted as worn.

 

Condition NGVF.

 

Sold with full-service papers, hurt sheets, educational records and certificates, ribbon bar from uniform, association tie and badge and Submariners badge. 

 

Bought directly from the family.

 

Charles Henry Thomell Craze was born in Redruth, Cornwall, on the 6th of March 1913. In civilian life, he worked as a Labourer; he joined the Royal Navy at Devonport on the 4th of May 1931 as a Stoker.

 

He served on several ships in the prewar years, including Caledon,  Leander, Hornet and Drake.

 

On the 24th of July 1940, Craze joined H.M.S. Hussar, a Minesweeper. At the time, his rank was Acting Leading Stoker. During his early service on the ship , he took part in escort duties, Minesweeping in the English Channel and Artic Convoys. From December 1941 until February 1942, H.M.S Hussar was based in Hartlepool, being fitted with more insulation for Artic Convoy Duties.

 

It was in Hartlepool that Charles met his wife, Miriam Davison; the couple married in January 1944, which explains why Charles settled in Hartlepool.

 

In late 1942 H.M.S. Hussra was serving in patrol to Gibraltar and took part in Operation Torch, after which more Artic Convoys beckoned. On the 22 Nay 1943, Craze was promoted to Senior Petty Officer. 

 

After D - Day and the Normanby Landings, minesweeping was carried out around the Channel Ports. Hussar was part of the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla, along with Britomart, Jason and Salamander. On the 27th of August 1944 , 1MF was sweeping off Cap d'Antifer. Sadly the commander Act Cdr D N Venables DSC RN, who had ordered the operation, failed to inform Rear‑Admiral Rivett‑Carnac, who was in charge of protecting and defending the beaches. He believed the vessels to be German E-boats and requested an RAF attack. Typhoons from 263 and 266 Squadrons attacked out of the sun; even though it was a perfectly clear and sunny day, they failed to see the ships were British. Hussar and Britomart were sunk, and Salamander had to be scrapped. 

 

Eighty-six British sailors were killed, and 124 were injured. Act Cdr D N Venables DSC RN was given a severe reprimand over the incident. 

 

Craze survived and was posted to HMS  Drake. On the 5th of October 1944, he joined the crew of HMS Venerable and served in the Pacific until June 1947. While on Venerable, he was awarded the LSGC.

 

While serving on HMS Vanguard, he was injured twice, breaking his fingers on a steel desk and being struck on the left eyebrow with a cricket ball. 

 

He left the Navy on 20th November 1953 and moved to Hartlepool. He passed away in 2005.