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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 258

Three: Lieutenant-Commander J. H. Maitland-Makgill-Critchton, Royal Navy, who saw service with Agincourt at Jutland but was latterly invalided

1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. J. H. Maitland-Makgill-Critchton R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. J. H. Maitland-Makgill-Critchton. R.N.), contact marks, contact wear overall, very fine (3)

James Henry Maitland-Makgill-Critchton was born on 17 July 1883 at St. Andrews , Fife the son of 2nd Lieutenant David and Emily Maitland-Makgill-Critchton. Passing out of Britannia Royal Naval College on 15 January 1902 he was appointed Midshipman without exam on 15 March 1902. His naval career prior to the war was sadly not spotless, as he was twice the cause of collisions, between September and December 1910.

Maitland-Makgill-Critchton was again the cause of damage to a warship when, on 2 June 1912, H.M.S. Express suffered a broken propeller while trying to dock. He was cautioned on that occasion but clearly there was something wrong and he was placed on the Emergency List on 6 September 1912.

Reinstated on 9 June 1913, he soon proved his worth whilst aboard Lord Nelson when a fire broke out: Maitland-Makgill-Critchton's swift actions on that occasion earned him a commendation from his superiors.

The outbreak of war found him aboard H.M.S. Hibernia - however he was soon posted to the dreadnought Agincourt on 8 July 1915. This ship was one of those which joined the Grand Fleet in its great confrontation with the German High Seas Fleet on 31 May 1916.

At Jutland Agincourt was the last of the battleships in the British line, firing off 144 rounds of 12-inch ammunition and 111 rounds of 6-inch ammunition. She was noted to have scored a number of hits while taking none herself during the fighting.

Maitland-Makgill-Critchton continued to serve after Jutland, notably for three months in late-1917 as Acting Captain. However while at 52 General Hospital on 27 June 1918 he was invalided back to Britain and left the service the next year, on 24 June 1919.

Retiring to Australia he died there on 10 March 1948 and is buried at Toowoomba Cemetery. Maitland-Makgill-Critchton's son David became a noted Commander in the Royal Navy, earning the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the Dunkirk evacuations. He was later to win the Distinguished Service Order for Operation Harpoon, and the Danish Order of the Dannebrog; sold together with copied birth and death records, service records and information relating to Commander David Maitland-Makgill-Crichton.

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Sold for
£180

Starting price
£140