Craig Richard Newcombe Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) 95722
Personnel Entry
Name Craig Richard Newcombe
Army number 95722
Rank Captain - Chaplain 4th Class
Decorations M.C. - gazetted 20/12/1940. A copy of his citation, which arose from the evacuation from Calais, can be accessed from The National Archives here. The Citation - thanks to Tim Walton - is also set out below. His Military Cross was presented to him by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 18/7/1940.
Date of birth 8/10/1908 in the District of Donnybrook, Dublin. Mother's maiden surname Smith. Birth registered 13/10/1908.
Age 70 at the time of his death.
Unit Commissioned into the Royal Army Chaplains' Department. Chaplain to the Forces from RARO 26/5/1939 until 1945. Embodied 24/8/1939. Posted to 70th Infantry Brigade as one of the Brigade Chaplains September 1939. Attached to 12th Battalion DLI. Attached to 1st Tyneside Scottish 1/2/1940 on 12th Battalion being transferred to the Corps of the Black Watch. Served B.E.F. Evacuated from Calais. Served Iceland. Attached to 11th Battalion DLI 1/6/1942. Served Normandy. With 11th Battalion DLI on the disbandment of the Battalion August 1944. Attached to 30 Corps Troops REME Workshop. Senior Chaplain to a Division as at September 1944. Released from service 1945. Ceased RARO liability on age grounds 8/10/1963, retained Honorary Rank of Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class.
Company/Battery Brigade HQ. Battalion HQ.
Platoon or other sub-unit Not applicable.
Task or role Chaplain/Padre.
Joined Brigade September 1939.
Promotions
Wounded
Prisoner of War
Died/Killed in action Died 6/12/1978. Death registered December 1978 - Chesterfield. Probate granted 30/1/1979, Nottingham.
Home address Son of Very Reverend Herbert Newcombe, Dean of Kildare, County Kildare and Eleanor Beatrice Caroline. Educated Haileybury and Trinity College Dublin - First Class Bachelor of Arts Degree in Moral Science 1929. Awarded MA 1931 - Moral Science and Downes Liturgy Prize and Comp. Prize 1931. Divinity Test 1932. Appointed Deacon 1932. Ordained Priest 1933. Appointed to Church of St Mary, Tyne Dock, 1932 - 1936. Appointed Chaplain to Toc H Moseley 1936 - 1938. Married 1938 Grace, daughter of J E Walton of Birmingham. Appointed to Parish Church of Riddings 1938 - 1947. In the 1939 General Register he is shown as a Clerk in Holy Orders, and, according to his family, was living with his wife at Riddings, rather than at the Vicarage in Alfreton, which one source had suggested, but he was also listed as a member of the Army Reserve of Officers. He returned to his post in Alfreton following the War - was Vicar and Rector of St. Martin's, Alfreton Parish Church, from 1947 until his death in 1978, and that was given as his address at the time of his death. Honorary Canon of Derby Diocese 1950, installed at Derby Cathedral on 3/11/1950.
Source table 1TS
The Citation for Chaplain Craig's Military Cross award, recommended by Brigadier Philip Kirkup, Commander of 70th Infantry Brigade, is as follows:-
"On May 23rd the Rev. Craig arrived at CALAIS, when it was already menaced by the enemy, being under continual bombing and shell fire. He declined to embark for England. In view of the shortage of Medical Officers he voluntarily established an Aid Post with straggler personnel near CALAIS DOCKS STATION. Here, without a Medical Officer for three days, he organised the dressing and evacuation of some 300 wounded who, otherwise, might have been without care. On the afternoon of May 25th he learned that six badly wounded men were lying on the Dunes, under enemy sniping fire, unable to get away. Without hesitation he called for four volunteers, drove an ambulance himself to a spot near by. With his volunteers he crawled to the men, rescued them all and drove back under fire. All six wounded were dressed and placed on a ship under the direction of this very gallant Chaplain".
