Richard McCreery
Sir Richard McCreery
Sir Richard McCreery
1888-1967
1888-1967
A fine soldier-rider during the inter-war period, General Sir Richard Loudon ‘Dick’ McCreery, GCB, KBE, DSO, MC, was born on February 1, 1888, the eldest son of Walter Adolph McCreery of Bilton Park, Rugby, a Swiss-born American who spent most of his life in England but who represented the United States at polo at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
A fine soldier-rider during the inter-war period, General Sir Richard Loudon ‘Dick’ McCreery, GCB, KBE, DSO, MC, was born on February 1, 1888, the eldest son of Walter Adolph McCreery of Bilton Park, Rugby, a Swiss-born American who spent most of his life in England but who represented the United States at polo at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
He was educated at St Michel’s Preparatory School, Westgate-on-Sea and then at Eton College. Six months after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Richard sat the entrance examination for the Royal Military College Sandhurst, only days after his seventeenth birthday. He was commissioned as second-lieutenant into the 12th (The Prince of Wales’s Royal) Lancers and was initially posted to the 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, based in Dublin. He subsequently joined his regiment in France in January 1916.
He was educated at St Michel’s Preparatory School, Westgate-on-Sea and then at Eton College. Six months after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Richard sat the entrance examination for the Royal Military College Sandhurst, only days after his seventeenth birthday. He was commissioned as second-lieutenant into the 12th (The Prince of Wales’s Royal) Lancers and was initially posted to the 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, based in Dublin. He subsequently joined his regiment in France in January 1916.
He was shot in the right thigh during the Battle of Arras in April 1917. The wound led to gangrene in his leg but he refused to have the leg amputated. However, he lost two toes and parts of the others and was left with a hole in the riding muscle of his right leg, which led to him being affected by a pronounced limp for the rest of his life.
He was shot in the right thigh during the Battle of Arras in April 1917. The wound led to gangrene in his leg but he refused to have the leg amputated. However, he lost two toes and parts of the others and was left with a hole in the riding muscle of his right leg, which led to him being affected by a pronounced limp for the rest of his life.
He rejoined the 12th Lancers in September 1918. On November 9, two days before the armistice, he led No 3 Troop of B Squadron in a mounted attack on a German machine gun post near Solre-le-Chateau, capturing ten prisoners and a machine gun in the process. It was one of the last cavalry actions of the First World War and resulted in him being awarded the Military Cross. In the aftermath of the Great War he was appointed adjutant of his regiment.
He rejoined the 12th Lancers in September 1918. On November 9, two days before the armistice, he led No 3 Troop of B Squadron in a mounted attack on a German machine gun post near Solre-le-Chateau, capturing ten prisoners and a machine gun in the process. It was one of the last cavalry actions of the First World War and resulted in him being awarded the Military Cross. In the aftermath of the Great War he was appointed adjutant of his regiment.
As could be expected of a man who was associated with a cavalry regiment, he was a highly accomplished horseman. The inter-war years saw his greatest sporting achievements. He twice won the Grand Military Gold Cup, firstly on his own horse Annie Darling in 1923 and then on Dash o’ White, who was owned by Mr P. S. Akroyd of the Welsh Guards.
As could be expected of a man who was associated with a cavalry regiment, he was a highly accomplished horseman. The inter-war years saw his greatest sporting achievements. He twice won the Grand Military Gold Cup, firstly on his own horse Annie Darling in 1923 and then on Dash o’ White, who was owned by Mr P. S. Akroyd of the Welsh Guards.
In addition to his exploits on the racecourse, he represented the Army at polo. He also hunted throughout his life with the Blackmore Vale Hunt, of which he became joint Master of Foxhounds.
In addition to his exploits on the racecourse, he represented the Army at polo. He also hunted throughout his life with the Blackmore Vale Hunt, of which he became joint Master of Foxhounds.
In 1928 he married Lettice St. Maur, daughter of Major Lord Percy St. Maur and the Hon. Violet White. They had four sons and one daughter.
In 1928 he married Lettice St. Maur, daughter of Major Lord Percy St. Maur and the Hon. Violet White. They had four sons and one daughter.
During the Second World War, Dick McCreery was involved in the Battle of France, commanding the 2nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division, which found itself fighting alongside a regiment led by French General Charles de Gaulle. In December 1940 he was appointed General Officer Commander of the newly-created 8th Armoured Division.
During the Second World War, Dick McCreery was involved in the Battle of France, commanding the 2nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division, which found itself fighting alongside a regiment led by French General Charles de Gaulle. In December 1940 he was appointed General Officer Commander of the newly-created 8th Armoured Division.
In 1942 he served as General Auchinleck’s chief advisor on the Middle East. He then worked as Chief of General Staff for General Sir Harold Alexander at the time of the Second Battle of El-Alamein. In August 1943 he was given command of the X Corps, which played a key role at the Salerno landings and were involved in the first Battle of Monte Cassino in January 1944 and later in the capture of Rome. He was knighted in the field in July 1944 by King George VI at Palazzo del Pero in Italy.
In 1942 he served as General Auchinleck’s chief advisor on the Middle East. He then worked as Chief of General Staff for General Sir Harold Alexander at the time of the Second Battle of El-Alamein. In August 1943 he was given command of the X Corps, which played a key role at the Salerno landings and were involved in the first Battle of Monte Cassino in January 1944 and later in the capture of Rome. He was knighted in the field in July 1944 by King George VI at Palazzo del Pero in Italy.
He took command of the Eight Army on December 31, 1944 and conducted the 1945 spring offensive, culminating in a 23-day battle which resulted in the surrender of nearly a million German soldiers.
He took command of the Eight Army on December 31, 1944 and conducted the 1945 spring offensive, culminating in a 23-day battle which resulted in the surrender of nearly a million German soldiers.
From July 1945 to March 1946 General McCreery was Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces of Occupation in Austria and British representative on the Allied Commission for Austria. From 1946 to 1948, he was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine in Germany, succeeding Field Marshal Montgomery in that role.
From July 1945 to March 1946 General McCreery was Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces of Occupation in Austria and British representative on the Allied Commission for Austria. From 1946 to 1948, he was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine in Germany, succeeding Field Marshal Montgomery in that role.
In 1948/49, he was the British Army Representative on the Military Staff Committee at the United Nations, operating from an office on the 61st floor of the Empire State Building in New York.
In 1948/49, he was the British Army Representative on the Military Staff Committee at the United Nations, operating from an office on the 61st floor of the Empire State Building in New York.
He retired from the Army in December 1949 and lived the rest of his life at Stowell Hill in Somerset.
He retired from the Army in December 1949 and lived the rest of his life at Stowell Hill in Somerset.
General Sir Richard McCreery died on October 18, 1967 aged 69. His memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey.
General Sir Richard McCreery died on October 18, 1967 aged 69. His memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey.
His steeplechasing accomplishments were for many years commemorated by a race at Sandown Park, the Dick McCreery Hunters’ Steeple Chase, run on the day of the Grand Military Gold Cup.
His steeplechasing accomplishments were for many years commemorated by a race at Sandown Park, the Dick McCreery Hunters’ Steeple Chase, run on the day of the Grand Military Gold Cup.
His second son, Bob, inherited his father’s passion for steeplechasing, winning the 1953 Welsh Grand National on Cloncarrig and becoming champion amateur National Hunt jockey for the 1956/57 season, having dead-heated for the title with Danny Moralee the previous season.
His second son, Bob, inherited his father’s passion for steeplechasing, winning the 1953 Welsh Grand National on Cloncarrig and becoming champion amateur National Hunt jockey for the 1956/57 season, having dead-heated for the title with Danny Moralee the previous season.
1928: Dash O'White & Ghent of Old match strides
1928: Dash O'White & Ghent of Old match strides
