THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

CRICHTON James

Private, 2 Battalion, Auckland Regt

James Crichton was born at Carrickfergus, Ireland, on 15 July 1879.

Before he settled in New Zealand he had served with the British

Cameron Highlanders, and had seen active service in South Africa. He

enlisted in the 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 22 August 1914

at the age of 35. He embarked for Egypt in October of that year as a

Corporal in the N.Z. Army Service Corps. He served on Gallipoli through

October to December, 1915, and left for France in April, 1916, as a

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

In April, 1918, while serving as a Warrant Officer with 1st N.Z. Field

Bakery, he voluntarily relinquished his rank and transferred as a Private

to the Auckland Infantry Regiment

He returned to New Zealand in June 1919 and was discharged in September of that year. In 1937 he attended the Coronation of King George VI as a Sergeant in the N.Z. Coronation Contingent

CITATION

Victoria Cross

Crevecoeur, France 30 Sept 1918

He won his Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Crevecoeur, France, on 30 September 1918. His citation reads as follows. "Although wounded in the foot, he continued to advance with the troops, despite difficult canal and river obstacles. When his platoon was subsequently forced back by a counter-attack, he succeeded in carrying a message. This involved his swimming a river and crossing an area swept by machine-gun fire before he subsequently rejoined his platoon. Later, he undertook on his own initiative to save a bridge which had been mined, and although under close fire of machine guns and snipers, he succeeded in removing the charges, returning with the fuses and detonators. Though suffering from a painful wound, he displayed the highest degree of valour and devotion to duty." (London Gazette, 12 November 1918)

AWARDS

Victoria Cross

Queen’s South Africa Medal

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Coronation Medal 1937

Coronation Medal 1953

NOTES

Born 15 July 1879, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Died 25 September 1961, Takapuna, Auckland, NZ, at the age of 82.

Buried in the Soldiers' Cemetery at Waikumete, Auckland.