Autobiography of General Sir O'Moore Creagh, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I. (ePub)

Sir Garrett O'Moore Creagh (1848-1923) was born on 2nd April 1848 in Cahirbane, County Clare, Ireland. He was the son of Captain James Creagh, RN, and Grace Emily, daughter of The O'Moore, Cloghan Castle. He was educated at a private school, and at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was gazetted as an ensign by purchase into the 95th Regiment of Foot on 2nd October 1866, and, after serving at the Depot at Pembroke Dock until January 1869, he embarked for India, and service at Mhow.In 1878, he was promoted to Captain, and when the Merwara Battalion volunteered for service on the outbreak of the Afghan War, Creagh was the only European officer present. He was second in command during the campaign in the Peshawar Valley Field Force at Ali Musjid until March 1879. His services in the Afghan campaign included the Bazar Valley, and soon afterwards, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross for his actions on 22nd April 1879 at Kam Dakka.On the 21st April, he was detached from Dakka with two Companies of the Battalion to protect the village of Kam Dakka on the Kabul River. On the following morning, Creagh's detachment of 150 men was attacked by a larger force of Mohmunds (around 1,500 men) and Creagh was faced with having to retire from the village. He found a defensive position within a cemetery, and they held off the enemy repeatedly with the bayonet until 3 o'clock in the afternoon. They were then relieved by a troop of the Bengal 10th Lancers, who charged the enemy to disperse them....He was present when the attack on Ali Khel on 14th October took place and then served in the Zaimusht and Cham Kanni Expeditions. Creagh was then promoted to Brigade Major and returned to the Merwara Battalion. From 1882 to 1886 he was in command of the 44th Merwara Infantry, when he was given command of the 2nd Baluchis.