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Cenotaph record

James Crichton

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Unknown photographer. James Crichton, VC. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. PH-2002-48-22. No Known Copyright Restrictions.

Unknown photographer. James Crichton, VC. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. PH-200 …

No Known Copyright Restrictions AWMM

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    James AWMM
  • Surname
    Crichton AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • Scotty AWMM
    • James Bell Chrichton AWMM
  • Service number
    • 4971 AWMM
    • WWI 14/131 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Presbyterian, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    15 July 1879 Medal Card R26151938 Carrickfergus, Ireland (Eire) Medal Card R26151938
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    • South African Pre 1897 AWMM United Kingdom AWMM
    • WW1 Pre 1914 AWMM 55 Boston Road, Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 R. Crichton (brother), Craig Terrace, Blackridge, West Lothian, Scotland AWMM
  • Relationship status
    • Pre 16 October 1914 AWMM Single AWMM
    • Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • 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 1953 AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Height, Unknown Period AWMM
    5 foot 4 inches AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • James Crichton was born at Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland in 1879. He moved to Scotland with his family whilst an infant. When aged only 10 he went to work down the mines. In 1897 he enlisted in the Royal Scots. When the South African war broke out he enlisted in the Cameron Highlanders (1899). When World War I started he was working for the Post and Telegraph Department in Auckland (1914). He joined the Auckland Regiment and served at Gallipoli and in France. He was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) in 1918 for actions at Crevecoeur. He married in 1919 and died in Auckland in 1961.

    Victoria Cross held by the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland, New Zealand. SA 1901, 1902, CC, OFS, TR

    Crichton served with the Cameron Highlanders and later with the Army Reserve, Cameron Highlanders. AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    22 September 1961 AWMM
    Age 82 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Plot 79, Service Persons Area L, Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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

Roll of Honour

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Leave a tribute or memory of James Crichton

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  • Your family in Northern Ireland and other parts of Great Britain will not forget your bravery. You will always be remembered
    Public - John - Direct descendant - 11 November 2022
    Report 
  • A very brave man. I went to see his memorial stone in carrickfergus co Antrim northern Ireland when I was there in September 2021. I was there when it was unveiled.
    Public - John - Direct descendant - 10 November 2021
    Report 
  • James Crichton was my Grandmother Sarah McAlister Penney's first cousin. I was born in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland.
    Public - Edwin - Direct descendant - 27 September 2018
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  • Was my grandfathers cousin. Born in woodburn Carrickfergus co antrim northern Ireland. I myself was born in Belfast northern Ireland.
    Public - John - Direct descendant - 11 November 2017
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
11 November 2022JohnWindsorDirect descendant
28 June 2022Lorraine MonaGisborneResearcher
27 September 2018EdwinCarrickfergus, Northern Ireland, United KingdomDirect descendant
10 April 2015Noeline AnneAucklandResearcher

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