Afghan War Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Cahirbane, County Clare, Ireland, he was educated at the Royal Naval School in New Cross, London, and then at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. He joined the British Army in 1866, as an Ensign in the 95th Regiment of Foot (later the Sherwood Foresters.) Four years later, he transferred to the Indian Army, taking up an appointment on the Bombay Staff Corps as a Lieutenant. He remained on the staff for nine years, being promoted to Captain in 1878, then saw active service in the Afghan War of 1879-80. It was here that he took part in the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He had been ordered to take a detachment of 150 men to defend the village of Kam Dakka, on the Kabul River, against a threatened attack by the Mohmands. On April 21, 1879, the village was attacked by a force of 1,500, who were joined by the villagers. Captain Creagh's force were compelled to retire and take up a position in a nearby cemetery, from which he repulsed every effort of the enemy until, in the afternoon, he was relieved by another detachment. The Mohmands were, eventually, charged and broken by a troop of the 10th Bengal Lancers, and many of them were driven into the river. Sir Frederick Haines, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, reported "but for the coolness, determination, and gallantry of the highest order, and the admirable conduct which Captain Creagh displayed, the detachment under his command would, in all probability, have been cut off and destroyed." In addition to the VC, Captain Creagh was awarded the brevet of Major and was mentioned in dispatches. After the Afghan Wars, he rejoined the Indian Staff Corps and, in 1888, joined the expedition to annexe the Zhoh Valley on the North-West Frontier. In 1900, he took part in the China Expedition, being mentioned again in dispatches, then returned to India. He was knighted in 1902 and was made a full General in 1907. Two years after that, he succeeded General Horatio Kitchener as Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, and he retired from the Army in May 1914.