Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Edmund CRESWELL and Margaret Mary nee FRASER

Husband of Adelaide Elizabeth nee STOW

Vice Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell, KCMG, KBE (1852 – 1933) was an Australian naval officer, commonly considered to be the 'father' of the Royal Australian Navy.  After retiring from the Royal Navy in 1878 he emigrated to Australia to become a pastoralist. Later he was convinced to take the position of First Lieutenant on South Australia's only naval vessel HMCS "Protector". In 1900 he was appointed to Queensland to take command of the Marine Defence Forces in that State, and in February, 1904, he was temporarily appointed Naval Commandant of the Commonwealth Forces.In 1909, in company with Col. J. F. G. Foxton, CMG, he attended the Imperial Conference which resulted in Australia's co-operation in sea defence, and was chiefly and actively instrumental in the creation of the Australian Navy. Sir William Creswell subsequently received the appointment of First Naval Member of the Commonwealth Naval Board of Administration, and of the Council of Defence. He was knighted and was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911 and Vice Admiral in 1922. 

On Friday 19 October a commemoration service and unveiling ceremony was conducted at VADM Creswell’s grave site at Brighton Cemetery, Melbourne. The service conducted by Chaplain Kate Lord from HMAS Cerberus concluded a project initiated by Commander John Goss to refurbish the Creswell family grave. Vice Admiral Creswell who was a pioneer in Australia’s Colonial Naval Forces and recognised as the founding father of the Royal Australian Navy, is buried alongside his wife Adelaide. On learning of the graves poor condition in 2017, Commander Goss secured funding and had it repaired and cleaned. With the assistance of Mr John Perryman, Director of Strategic and Historical Studies in Canberra wording on a new plaque to be sited on a plinth between the two graves officially recognises William Rooke Creswell for his enormous contribution to Australia and Navy. Attendees at the ceremony included Commodore Greg York, Senior Naval Officer Victoria, Mrs Elizabeth Savior, granddaughter of VADM Creswell, Captain Michael Oborn, CO HMAS Cerberus and Commander Andrew Hugh, CO Recruit School.
Call The Hands, NHSA Newsletter, Issue 25, November 18 2018.