James Crichton

Forenames

James AWMM

Surname

Crichton AWMM

Also known as

• Scotty AWMM
• James Bell Chrichton AWMM

Service number

• 4971 AWMM
• WWI 14/131 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Religion

Presbyterian, Christian AWMM

Birth

15 Jul 1879 Medal Card R26151938

Address before enlistment

• South African Pre 1897 AWMM United Kingdom AWMM
• WW1 Pre 1914 AWMM 55 Boston Road, Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

WW1 R. Crichton (brother), Craig Terrace, Blackridge, West Lothian, Scotland AWMM

Relationship status

• Pre 16 Oct 1914 AWMM Single AWMM
• Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

War

• Regular Military Service AWMM
• South African War, 1899-1902 AWMM
• World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
• World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

• 1915-1916 AWMM Gallipoli AWMM
• 1914-1919 AWMM Western Front AWMM

Armed force / branch

• Army AWMM
• Merchant Navy AWMM

Service number

• 4971 AWMM
• WWI 14/131 AWMM

Military service

• Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps AWMM
  1st Field Bakery AWMM
• Cameron Highlanders, Reserve AWMM
• Coronation Contingent, 1937 AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
  Victoria Cross (VC) London Gazette dated 15 November 1918. Citation: "On 30 September 1918, at Crevecoeur, France, Private Crichton, although wounded in the foot, stayed with the advancing troops despite difficult canal and river obstacles. When his platoon was forced back by a counterattack he succeeded in carrying a message which involved swimming a river and crossing an area swept by machine-gun fire. Subsequently he rejoined his platoon and later undertook on his own initiative to save a bridge which had been mined. Under close fire he managed to remove 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. AWMM
• Queen's South Africa Medal AWMM
• 1914-1915 Star AWMM
• British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
• Victory Medal AWMM
• Coronation Medal 1937 AWMM
• New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
• Coronation Medal ER 1953 AWMM

Enlistment

• 1897 AWMM Royal Scots regiment AWMM
• South Africa 1899 AWMM Miner/Civilian AWMM
• WW1 22 Aug 1914 AWMM Cable jointer/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

• South Africa Private AWMM Cameron Highlanders AWMM
• WW1 16 Oct 1914-03 Dec 1914 AWMM
  HMNZT 12 AWMM Vessel was Waimana AWMM Driver/Military AWMM New Zealand Army Service Corps AWMM Main Body AWMM
  2nd Embarkation AWMM
• WW2 Merchant Navy AWMM
  3rd Embarkation AWMM

Medical notes

Height, Unknown Period AWMM
5 foot 4 inches AWMM

Last rank

WW1 18 Sept 1919 AWMM
No longer physically fit on account of wounds received in action AWMM
Private AWMM
Auckland Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion AWMM

Death

22 Sept 1961 AWMM
Age  82 AWMM

Cemetery

Plot 79, Service Persons Area L, Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland AWMM

Memorial name

Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Military Personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23513641
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23523697
  Further Reference
• Dunedin RSA building, formerly site of the VC winners' plaque (NZ History online
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/dunedin-rsa-war-memorial
  Further Reference
• National Archives of New Zealand, National Collection of War Art. Portrait.
  http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/308
  Further Reference
• Birkenhead (Auckland) Returned Services Association website. Victoria Cross.
  http://www.birkenheadrsa.com/victoria-cross.html
  Further Reference
• Private James Crichton ARTIST: Francis McCracken MEDIUM/SUPPORT: Oils DIMENSIONS: 1220 x 865mm
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R22498335
  Further Reference
• Wikidata Entity
  http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6131935
  Further Reference
• Merchant Navy War Medal Index Card - 1939-1945
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R26151938
  Further Reference

References

• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  Vol1: 161
• Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
  Harper, G. & Richardson, C. (2006). p.127-129
• The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
  Buzzell, N. (1997). p. 76
• Crichton, James. Papers, 1904 - 1982. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2004/15.
• Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
  Vol. 3: Includes portrait
• Stowers, R. (2009). Rough riders at war : history of New Zealand's involvement in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 and information on all members of the 10 New Zealand contingents. Hamilton, N.Z.: R. Stowers.
• Merchant Navy War Medal Card Index 1939-45, Archives New Zealand, Wellington, Series 7461.
• McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
• Atkinson, N. (2005). Hell or high water : New Zealand merchant seafarers remember the war. HarperCollins in association with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
• Burton, O. (1922). The Auckland regiment : being an account of the doings on active service of the First, Second and Third Battalions of the Auckland Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Whitcombe & Tombs.
• Waite, F. (1919). The New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Auckland, N.Z.: Printed and published under Authority of the New Zealand Government by Whitcombe & Tombs.