Crankshaw, John Anthony Norman
- Date of birth:
- 1918
- Date of death:
- March 2000
- Service number:
- 77589
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
Lieutenant-Colonel John Crankshaw, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Eric Crankshaw KCMG MBE, joined the 11th Hussar Regiment in Palestine. The Regiment was stationed in Egypt when Italy declared war on Britain and France, June 1940. He fought in the Desert Campaign until the Germans and Italians were pushed out, leading the Regiment as fars as Tunis having previously fought at Tobruk and El Alamein.
The Hussars took part in the assault across the River Volturno in Italy and served as part of VIII Corps throughout the Normandy Campaign and breaking out of Normandy into Belgium and on into Holland. On the 27th March 1945 the 11th Hussars led the Division across the Rhine; having fought across Germany from the Teutoburger Wald to the River Weser their final objective was to capture Hamburg. Arriving in the outer suburbs by the second week of April the 11th Hussars were often involved in house to house fighting. Crankshaw found himself in the thick of it at Buxtehude on the outskirts of Hamburg. Hamburg surrendered on the 3rd of May, with the 11th Hussars leading the 7th Armoured Division into the city.
Crabkshaw was also awarded the General Service Medal 1918-62, G.VI.R., two clasps, Palestine, Malaya
Promotions:
25 August, 1938: 2nd Lieutenant
11 January, 1941: Lieutenant
3.7.1942-12.3.1944 Temporary Captain
5 september 1942-23 februari 1943: Adjutant
Temporary Major 13.3.1944-31.5.1948
1 juli 1946: Captain
25 augustus 1951: Major
19 oktober 1958: Lieutenant-Colonel
31 maart 1962: Retirement
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Military Cross (MC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Unit:
- Royal Armoured Corps (Hussars)
- Awarded on:
- April 25th, 1941
"On December 10th 2/Lieut. Crankshaw reconnoitred the enemy position at Alam El Rimth. He successfully located the Eastern Flank, also a Camp and the accurate position and the numbers of enemy Guns. He then proceeded through the enemy lines in between this position and that at Azzaziya and though under considerable Artillery and A/T Gun fire worked round behind and got further reliable information of enemy dispositions and of the Buq Buq - Barrani Road. He then located another defended camp. His task was rendered most difficult by a bad sand storm and the extremely bad going for Armoured Cars. Later that evening from the only available view point, though under concentrated Artillery fire, he continued to report on 2 Camps and further locate enemy gun positions.
On December 11th he attacked the enemy and captured 119 prisoners.
On December 14th when his Sqn was heavily attacked from the air by 12 fighters all 3 of his cars were hit. His own car was set on fire but he managed to extinguish it though the whole back was ablaze. Both his other two car commanders were wounded and their cars immobile but he quickly made one runner out of the two. He organised the wounded and quite soon had his troop of two cars in some degree capable of further action. 2/Lt. Crankshaw's personal example of bravery, cool headedness imperturbability and outstanding devotion to duty under extremely severe conditions was an inspiration to his whole Troop and worthy of the highest praise.
2/Lt. Crankshaw has throughout the past 7 months shown outstanding ability and in particular in late September carried out two most excellent reconnaissances, gaining very valuable information of the location of Sofafi and Rabia Camps and the positions of guns and A/T Guns. I recommend most strongly that he be awarded the Military Cross."
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Temporary Major
- Unit:
- 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own), Royal Armoured Corps (London, S.W.3).
- Awarded on:
- August 2nd, 1945
"On 21 Apr 45, Major Crankshaw's Sqn was ordered to reconnoitre Buxtehude. The place was believed to contain valuable German naval papers. A full scale attack to capture the town was to be put in later when information of the enemy dispositions had been gained. Major Crankshaw disposed his troops to reconnoitre the approaches to the town, from the South, South East, and South West. This owing to the country and enemy opposition proved too difficult, but Major Crankshaw immediately saw there was a chance of getting close to the town from the South and South East. On his own initiative he transferred his main effort there. The approaches were covered by men in the woods with bazookas and also an anti-tank gun. Major Crankshaw got a troop into position to watch the enemy and at the same time passed another troop along a track through the woods to get behind the enemy. This move was entirely successful. The anti-tank gun was knocked out from behind, twenty enemy infantry captured and also a staff car full of bazookas. By this time it was too dark to continue but the following day Major Crankshaw sent his troops down the same roads and the town surrendered without a fight. One Admiral, forty officers and 450 ORs captured. The success of this operation was due to the initiative and bold action taken by Major Crankshaw. His handling of his troops was beyond praise and the capture of the town was due to the successful outflanking of the enemy position."
Originally recommended for an Immediate D.S.O.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- - The London Gazette Issue 34545 published on the 26 August 1938
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35077 published on the 14 February 1941
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35144 published on the 22 April 1941
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37204 published on the 31 July 1945
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37635 published on the 28 June 1946
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 39316 published on the 21 August 1951
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 41621 published on the 30 January 1959
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42635 published on the 27 March 1962
- Spink
Photo
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