Francis Allen Newton Cromie

Acting Captain Francis Allen Newton Cromie, C.B., D.S.O., (30 January, 1882 – 31 August, 1918) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Waterford, Cromie gained seven months' time on passing out of Britannia. His first naval appointment was to Repulse, on 1 June, 1898.

Cromie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 June, 1903.

Cromie was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal for trying to save life at Spithead on 5 February, 1906.

Cromie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 June, 1911.

Cromie was appointed to Dido for command of the submarine E 4 on 31 August, 1912.

Lieutenant-Commander Cromie was appointed in command of the sloop Rosario on 5 November, 1913 and in command of a submarine flotilla operating out of Hong Kong.

On 13 March, 1915, Cromie returned from Hong Kong in the P. & O. steamer Sardinia, arriving 17 April. He was appointed to Maidstone, additional, to take command of E 19 upon her commissioning.

On 7 November, 1915, Cromie sank the light cruiser Undine in the Baltic.

Cromie was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1915.

Cromie was promoted to the rank of Acting Captain on 19 October, 1917.

Cromie was awarded the C.B. (mil) for his services as Naval Attacheé in Russia, but was shot dead by Bolshevik soldiers who resisted his entry into the British Embassy at Petrograd on 31 August, 1918, after killing three soldiers himself. His widow was invested with his C.B. by the King at Buckingham Palace on 29 October, 1918.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• Bainton, Roy. Honoured by Strangers: Captain Cromie’s Extraordinary First World War

Naval Appointments
Preceded by George B. Lewis	Captain of H.M.S. C 5 25 Aug, 1908 – 8 Aug, 1910	Succeeded by Julian T. Tenison
Preceded by ?	In Command, Devonport Submarine Flotilla 1 Mar, 1910 – 10 May, 1912	Succeeded by George H. Pownall as In Command, First Submarine Flotilla
Preceded by Ernest W. Leir	Captain of H.M.S. Onyx 8 Aug, 1910 – 15 Aug, 1912	Succeeded by George H. Pownall
Preceded by William R. D. Crowther	Captain of H.M.S. D 1 10 May, 1912 – 15 Aug, 1912	Succeeded by Archibald D. Cochrane
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. E 4 31 Aug, 1912 – Oct, 1913	Succeeded by Ernest W. Leir
Preceded by Nicholas E. Archdale	In Command, Hong Kong Submarine Flotilla c. mid Aug, 1913 – Mar, 1915	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Nicholas E. Archdale	Captain of H.M.S. Rosario 5 Nov, 1913 – Mar, 1915	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. E 19 1 Jul, 1915 – 1 May, 1917	Succeeded by George A. C. Sharp
Preceded by Harold G. Grenfell as Royal Navy Naval Attaché at St. Petersburg	Royal Navy Naval Attaché at Petrograd 10 Jan, 1918 – 31 Aug, 1918	Succeeded by ?