John Stuart Crawford DSO, RN

Born  24 Mar 1900

Ranks

1 Jan 1916 Mid.
15 Jan 1918 A/S.Lt.
15 Sep 1918 S.Lt.
15 Aug 1920 Lt.
15 Aug 1928 Lt.Cdr.
30 Jun 1934 Cdr.
31 Dec 1940 Capt.

Retired: 7 Jan 1950


Decorations

24 Sep 1940 DSO
1 Jan 1971 OBE

Warship Commands listed for John Stuart Crawford, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Zulu (F 18)Cdr.Destroyer15 Feb 193814 Jan 1941
HMS Menestheus (M 93)Capt.Minelayer12 Feb 194115 Jan 1942
HMS Jervis (F 00)Capt.Destroyer22 Jun 194316 Nov 1943

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Minelayer HMS Menestheus (M 93)


8 Nov 1941

Minelaying operation SN 83B.

Minelaying operation by the 1st Minelaying Squadron.

At 0810A/8, the auxiliary minelayers HMS Menestheus (Capt. J.S. Crawford, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, OBE, RN), HMS Port Quebec (Capt.(Retd.) E.C. Watson, RN) and the destroyers HMS Brighton (Cdr. (Retd.) C.W.V.T.S. Lepper, RN), HMS Charlestown (Lt.Cdr. T. Johnston, RN), HMS Newark (Lt.Cdr. R.H.W. Atkins, RN) and HMS Montrose (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Phipps, OBE, RN) departed Port Z.A. (Loch Alsh) to lay minefield SN 83B.

Cover for this minelaying operation was provided by the light cruiser HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN) and the destroyers HMS Bedouin (Cdr. B.G. Scurfield, OBE, RN) and HMS Intrepid (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Lewes, DSC, RN) which departed from Seidisfjord, Iceland around 1315Z/8.

The minefield made up of 933 mines, was laid between 1320Z/9 and 1408Z/9, along a line joining positions, 62°49'8"N, 09°52'5"W and 63°02'8"N, 10°37'0"W.

The minelayers laid as follows; HMS Menestheus 410 mines and HMS Port Quebec 550 mines.

Very bad weather was experienced. During the night from 9/10 November the weather got even worse and as a result of it the force split up. HMS Brighton experienced two temporary engine breakdowns and HMS Newark had to steer by hand for two days.

HMS Port Quebec and HMS Charlestown arrived at Port Z.A. at 0430A/12. HMS Menestheus followed at 0700A/12 and finally HMS Brighton and HMS Newark arrived at 1145A/12.

HMS Montrose had been ordered to return to Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0800A/12.

HMS Kenya, HMS Bedouin and HMS Intrepid remained at sea, patrolling in the Iceland - Faeroer gap until returning to Seidisfiord around 1100Z/12. (1)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/114497 + ADM 199/396 + ADM 199/399 + ADM 234/560 + ADM 234/561

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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