Edward Crozier Creasy

Major Edward Crozier Creasy (1888–1936) was commander and senior liaison officer of the Inter Allied Detachment during the Upper Silesia plebiscite.[1][2][3][4][5] In May 1921, he was ambushed and, facing a Polish firing squad, said: "The Union Jack, though invisible, is round me. You will hit the British flag if you do. You dare not do it". The Polish execution officers put their weapons down and refused to carry out the execution order.[4]

Edward Crozier Creasy
Born1888
British Ceylon
Died1936
London, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankMajor
Commands heldCommander and Senior Liaison Officer of the Inter Allied Detachment during the Upper Silesia Plebiscite
Battles/warsWorld War I

According to Creasy's obituary in The Times, his liaison work between the Allied Forces Headquarters and General von Hoefer, and the subsequent withdrawal of von Hoefer's troops against the Polish forces of Wojciech Korfanty without further incident, was "due to the tact and personality of Major Creasy in carrying out the instructions of the Allied Command".[1][6] He was awarded the Upper-Silesian Eagle for his bravery.[2]

Life

Edward Crozier Creasy was born in Ceylon in 1888, the son of Edward Creasy JP who was an officer in the Ceylon Police.[2] His grandfather was Sir Edward Creasy, Chief Justice of Ceylon.[2] Edward Crozier Creasy was educated in England at Bedford Modern School.[2][7]

Creasy began his military career in the Royal Garrison Artillery.[8] He was a subaltern in the Indian Army before joining the Shanghai Municipal Police.[2][9][10][11] At the outbreak of World War I he returned to England and gained a commission in the Royal Artillery where he was made captain and later major, seeing service in France, Mesopotamia and the Army Occupation.[2][12][13][14] He was severely wounded in the right shoulder in Mesopotamia and was taken to Basra on the Medjidieh hospital ship which was subsequently criticised for the number of wounded on board.[4][15]

Creasy was tasked with service in South East Germany during the Upper Silesia Plebiscite in Command of the Inter Allied Detachment and as Senior Liaison Officer.[1] His liaison work was between the HQ of the Allied Forces and General von Hoefer who had raised an army to oppose the Polish forces of Wojciech Korfanty.[2] In May 1921, Creasy was ambushed and, facing a Polish firing squad, he said: "The Union Jack, though invisible, is round me. You will hit the British flag if you do. You dare not do it".[4] The execution officers put down their weapons and refused to carry out the execution order.[4]

According to Creasy's obituary in The Times, his liaison work between the Allied Forces Headquarters and General von Hoefer, and the subsequent withdrawal of von Hoefer's troops without further incident, was "due to the tact and personality of Major Creasy in carrying out the instructions of the Allied Command".[1] He was awarded the Upper-Silesian Eagle for his service.[2] After his work in Germany he was briefly reception officer at Wembley where he was responsible for a tour by the Prince of Wales.[2]

After his military work, Creasy went to Ceylon for eight years before returning to England.[2] He died in 1936 and was survived by his widow and two young children.[2][16]

References
  1. Obituary in The Times, MAJOR E. C. CREASY, 26 November 1936, p.11
  2. "Story: Life and times of E C Creasy, 1937 | Lives of the First World War". livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk.
  3. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/1193878/Lesniewski_phd_2000.pdf
  4. The Ottawa Citizen, British Pluck Foils Poles Who Had Orders to Shoot, Ontario, Canada, Saturday, 28 May 1921, p.15
  5. The Observer, London, Polish and German Forces To Leave By July 5, Sunday 26 June 1921, p.13
  6. Hoefer, Karl (25 April 1938). "Oberschlesien in der Aufstandszeit, 1918-1921: Erinnerungen und Dokumente". E.S. Mittler & Sohn – via Google Books.
  7. "Community: Bedford Modern School - Eagle Magazine extracts | Lives of the First World War". livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk.
  8. The London Gazette (PDF). 29 December 1905. p. 9321. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  9. "The North-China Herald and Supreme Court and Consular Gazette". North-China daily news & herald. 25 October 1914 – via Google Books.
  10. "The Directory & Chronicle for China, Japan, Corea, Indo-China, Straits Settlements, Malay States, Sian, Netherlands India, Borneo, the Philippines, &c: With which are Incorporated "The China Directory" and "The Hong Kong List for the Far East" ..." Hongkong daily Press office. 25 April 1909 – via Google Books.
  11. Council, Shanghai (China : International Settlement) Municipal (25 April 1914). "Report and Budget" – via Google Books.
  12. "THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 26 January 1915. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  13. "Page 1815 | Supplement 29078, 19 February 1915 | London Gazette | The Gazette".
  14. "Page 6427 | Supplement 31935, 8 June 1920 | London Gazette | The Gazette".
  15. George, David Lloyd (1982). War Memoirs of David Lloyd George: 1915-1916. AMS Press. ISBN 9780404150426 – via Google Books.
  16. "Page 6109 | Issue 34555, 27 September 1938 | London Gazette | The Gazette".
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