Biography of Lieutenant Noel Henry Cragg
H.M.S. “Victory” (Naval Siege Guns)., Royal Navy
Died 20th September 1915

Mother

• Name: Adelaide Alexandra Gilliat
• DOB: 4th June 1864
• Place Of Birth: New South Wales, Australia
• Marriage: 1882 Battle District

Relatives in services

• Noel’s brother John Francis also fought and was killed in WW1. John can be found on our page dedicated to the Threekingham War Memorial.

Marriage

• No marriage for Noel has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

• Boston Guardian Saturday 25th September 1915
  Officer Killed in Action.
  Lieut. Noel H. Cragg, R.N.., youngest son of Captain W. A. and Mrs. Cragg, of Threekingham House, near Billingborough, has been killed in action.  No particulars are at present to hand, but it is known that he was engaged with some Naval guns inland on the western battle front.  Captain Cragg has left for France in hope of learning further particulars of his son’s end.  Lieut. Cragg was a keen sportsman, and when at home on leave he frequently assisted the Billingborough Cricket Club.  He was about 22 years of age.  Captain and Mrs. Cragg had four sons all serving their country, the other tree being Captain W. G. Cragg (Loyal Lancashire Regiment), Captain E. Cragg (Royal Fusiliers, Sportsman’s Battalion) and Lieut. J. F. Cragg (8th Lincolns).

• Grantham Journal Saturday 25th september 1915
  THREEKINGHAM
  NEWS has been received that Lieut. Noel H. Cragg, T.N.., youngest son of Captain and Mrs. W. A. Cragg, of Threekingham House, has killed in action.  No particulars are at present, to hand, but it is known that deceased, who was an officer on H.M.S. Hind, was engaged with sone Naval guns inland on the western battle front.  The news has aroused deep sympathy and regret in the district, where the family is well known and respected.  Captain Cragg has left for London, in hope of learning further particulars of his son;’s end.  Deceased was a prominent sportsman, frquently assisted the Billingborough Cricket Club when at home on leave.  He was about twenty-two years of age.  Captain and Mrs. Cragg had four sons serving in the Army.  The other three are Capt. W. G. Cragg (Loyal North Lancashire Regiment), Lieut E. Cragg (23rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, 1st Sportsman’s), and Second-Lieut. J. F. Cragg (8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment).

• Grantham Journal Saturday 2nd October 1915
  THREEKINGHAM
  THE DEATH OF LIEUT. CRAGG, R.N. – Further particulars are to hand concerning the deat of Lieut. Noel H. Cragg, R.N., who was killed in action on the Western battle front, on Sept 20th.  It seems that he recieved his fatal wound in the region of Nieuport, Belgium, while in charge of a naval 6 inch gun in the rear of the French trenches.  When on the “Hind” torpedo boat destroyer, he took park in the battle of Heligoland Bight in August of last year, and the subsequent raid on Cuxhaven.  He also gained distinction when Sub-Lieutenant on board the “King Edward VII.,” for in May, 1914, he received the public thanks of Admiral Sir Lewis Bayley for saving life at sea, and was by him recommended to the favourable consideration of the Admiralty.

• Boston Guardian Saturday 16th October 1915
  Second Lieutenant J. F. Cragg, who has been wounded, received his commission in the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on December 29th last, is a son of Captain W. A. and Mrs. Cragg, of Threekingham House, Billingborough.  His brother, Lieutenant Noel H. Cragg, of the Royal Navy, was killed in action soon after the outbreak of the war.  He has two other brothers in the army, Captain W. G. Cragg, of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, and Captain E. Cragg of the Royal Fusiliers (Sportsmen’s Battalion).

• Boston Guardian Saturday 16th October 1915
  Threekingham Family’s Patriotism.
  THE KING”S APPRECIATION.
  Captain W. A. Cragg, of Threekingham House, near Billingborough, has been honoured with a letter from the King expressing his Majesty’s appreciation of the patriotic spirit which has prompted his four sons to give their services to the army and navy.
  One of Captain Cragg’s sons, Lieut. N. H. Cragg, R.N.., has been killed in action, and another, Lieut. J. F. Cragg, has been wounded.

• Garntham Journal Saturday 16th October 1915
  THREEKINGHAM
  LETTER FROM THE KING – It having come to the knowledge of the King that Captain W. A. Cragg, of Threekingham House, had four sons serving their country, his Majesty caused the following letter to be sent conveying his appreciation:- “Privy Purse Office, Buckingham Palace, S.W., 2nd October, 1915.
  Sir,- I am commanded by the King to convey to you an expression of his Majesty’s appreciation of the patriotic spirit which has prompted your four sons to give their service to the Army and Navy.  The King was much gratified to hear of the manner in which they have so readily responded to the call of their Sovereign and their country, and I am to express to you and to them his Majesty’s congratulations on having contributed in so full a measure to the great cause for which all people of the British Empire are so bravely fighting.  I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, F. M. POMSONBY, keeper of the , Privy Purse.”  It is only a week or two since the sad news arrived that one of these sons – Lieut. Noel H. Cragg, R.N. had been killed in action, while another Lieut. J. F. Cragg, of the 8th Lincolns, has been wounded while taking park in the recent advance on the Western front, and is now in a London hospital.  Now comes the news that a third son, Capt. W. G. Cragg (Loyal Lancashire Fusiliers), has been accidentally wounded at the Dardanelles.

• Boston Guardian Saturday 30th October 1915
  Captain W. W. Cragg, of Threeekingham House, near Billingborough, has received information that his eldest son, Captain W. G. Cragg, of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, has been wounded at the Dardanelles.  Another son, Lieut. J. F. Cragg, of the 8th Lincolns, is reciving from wounds. recieved in France, and has been home on leave, while a their son, Lieut. N. H. Cragg, R.N., has been killed in action.  There is a fourth son also serving with the colours.

• Boston Guardian Saturday 8th January 1916
  Lieut Noel Henry Cragg, R.N., killed in action at Nieuport when in charge of a naval siege gun on September 20th, 1915, has been mentioned in despatches.  He is the eldest son of Captain Cragg, of Threekingham House, Folkingham. The report that Captain W. G. Cragg, another son, has fallen in the war, is happily incorrect.

• Grantham Journal Saturday 8th January 1916
  MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES – Lieut. Noel H. Cragg, R.N., who was killed in action at Nieuport, when in charge of a nanal siege gun, on September 20th, 1915, has been mentioned in despatches.  He was the youngest son of Capt. W. A. Cragg and Mrs. Cragg, of Threekingham House, who have three other sons in the Army fighting on different fronts.

• Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Friday 14th July 1916
  LIEUT. JOHN FRANCIS CRAGG, Lincolnshire Regiment, was killed on July 1.  The son of Capt. W. A. Cragg, of Threekingham, Lincolnshire, he was 24 years of age.  His elder brother, Capt. N. H. Cragg, R.N., had previously died of wounds received in battle.

• Boston Guarian Saturday 15th July 1916
  LIEUT. J. F. CRAGG
  Lieut. John Francis Cragg, Lincolnshire Regiment, son of Capt. W. A. Cragg, of Threekingham, was killed when going into action on July 1st.  A few days prior to the receipt of communication of this sad event Capt. Cragg received a notification of the gallant conduct of another son, the late Lieut. Noel Henry Cragg, R.N., who was mentioned in despatches.

• Grantham Journal Saturday 22nd July 1916
  THREEKINGHAM
  CAPTAIN AND MRS. W. A. CRAGG, of Threekingham House, have suffered another heavy blow by the death of thier third son, Lieut. John Francis Cragg, of the Lincolns, and the deepest sympathy is exended to them.  The following letter has been received from the Officer Commanding:- “Dear Captain Cragg, – I am very sorry to inform you that your son went into action with us on July 1st and was killed.  His Company was the leading one of his Battalion to go over, and all his officers were hit.  He was very keen, and I much regret his loss.  Lieut. Cragg was wounded in the leg in the Battle of Loos, on September 25th, 1915, but he made a good recovery, and afterwards came home on leave.  In January, he was blown out of a trench, and suffered from shell shock.  Captain and Mrs. Cragg had four officer sons in the Army, and this is the second to fall, the other being Lieut. Noel Henry Cragg, killed in action at Nieuport on September 15th, 1915.  This gallant young officer was mentioned in a despatch from Field Marshal Sir John Frencin for gallantry and distinguished service in the field, and Captian Cragg subsequently received a communication in which the folling passage occurred: “I beg to express to you the King’s high appreciation of your son’s services, and to add that his Majsty trusts their public acknowledgment may be some consolation in your bereavement.”

• UK, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour
  CRAGG, NOEL HENRY, Lieut., R.N.., yst. s of Capt. William Alfred Cragg, of Threekingham, Folkingham, Lincolnshire, J.P., by his wife, Adelaide A., dau. of Richard Gilliat, of Barham, co. Sussex; educ, the Osborne and Dartmouth Royal Naval Colleges; entered the Navy 1905; bacame Midshipman Sept. 1910, Sub-Lieut. Feb 1913,  and Lieut. April 1914; served in European War 1914-15; while serving in H.M.T.B.D. Hind, took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight 28 Aug, 1914 and in the raid on Cuxhaven in Dec,; afterward served in charge of a naval gun with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in action at Nieuport, Belgium, 20 Sept. 1915.  He was mentioned in despatches [London Gazette, 1 Jan, 1916], for gallant and distinguished service in the field, and General T. Bridges. in his report (21 sept. 1915) to the Commander-in-Cheif, said:  “This officer (Lieut. N. H. Cragg, R.N.) has been with us in charge of a 6 inch gun since Feb. last.  He has shown great coolness andcheerfulness under all circumstances, and his gun has been a continual mark for the enemy, who, however, have never been able to silence it.  I consider his conduct has been worthy of mention in Despatches.”  When a Midshipman he received the public thanks of Admiral Sir L. Bailey for saving life at sea, and his name was notified to the Admiralty; unm.

Military Records

Medals

• The British Medal
  The Victory Medal
  The Star

Memorials

• UK:
• Threekingham, Roll of Honour in St Peter’s Church

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
• In memory of Lieutenant Noel Henry Cragg, Mentioned in Despatches, H.M.S. “Victory” (Naval Siege Guns)., Royal Navy who died on 20 September 1915 Age 22
• Son of Capt. William A. Cragg, J.P., of Threekingham House, Billingborough, Lincs.
• Remembered with honour, Malo-Les-Bains Communal Cemetery

© Ancestry UK

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

• This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

• WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• British Newspaper Archive.