A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Crouch, Edward
CROUCH. (Commander, 1843. f-p., 14; h-p., 3.)
Edward Crouch, born 3 Dec. 1816, is son of Commander E. T. Crouch, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 June, 1830, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Prince Regent 120, Capt. Jas. Whitley Deans Dundas, bearing the flag at the Nore of Sir John Poo Beresford. While in the performance of his duty on board that ship, he had the misfortune, on 4 Nov. following, severely to lacerate both hands, and lose the top of five fingers. Removing, in April, 1831, to the Pearl 20, Capts. Wm. Broughton and Robt. Gordon, he visited the West Indies; and he afterwards served, from 4 Jan. 1833, until wrecked on the coast of Chili, 19 May, 1835, as Midshipman, in the Spartiate 76, flag-ship of Sir Michael Seymour, Commander-in-Chief in South America, and Challenger 28, Capt. Michael Seymour. On his ultimate return to England after suffering many privations, Mr. Crouch, in Dec. of the latter year, joined the Excellent, Capt. Thos. Hastings, gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, where he passed his examination in Oct. 1836. He returned, in April, 1837, to South America, as Gunnery Mate of the Samarang 28, Capts. Wm. Broughton and Jas. Scott; and, on eventually proceeding to China, removed, in a similar capacity, to the Wellesley 72, Commodore Sir Jas. John Gordon Bremer, 22 Dec. 1840. Taking part in the hostilities that followed, he served on board the Hon.E.I.Co.’s steamer Nemesis at the destruction of 10 war-junks, near Chuenpee, 7 Jan. 1841; after which he mainly contributed by the perfection of his fire to the rapid success which, between 13 and 15 March following, attended an expedition up the inner passage from Macao to Whampoa, where were destroyed five forts, one battery, two military stations, and nine man-of-war junks, containing in the whole 115 guns and 8 gingalls.[1] Mr. Crouch, who obtained his first commission 8 June in the same year, was next employed on shore at the reduction of Chinghae 10 Oct. ensuing.[2] Becoming attached, 22 Jan. 1842, to the Blonde 42, Capt. Thos. Bourchier, he further commanded two boats in an attack on Chin-Kiang-Foo, 21 July, 1842; where, in an attempt to land the artillery guns, he was severely wounded (in three places), as were 16 others, out of a crew of 24; and on that occasion he displayed great presence of mind in rescuing his party from the peril to which they had thus hecome exposed.[3] He had previously served on shore at the capture of Chapoo.[4] The Blonde being paid off in March, 1843; Lieut. Crouch, on 31 of that month, joined the Camperdown 104, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Brace at Sheerness, in which ship he continued until promoted to his present rank, 25 Oct. following. He has been in successive command, since 13 May, 1846, of the Gorgon and Devastation steam-vessels, on the S.E. coast of America and coast of Africa.