Croker, Edward James O’Brien
- Date of birth:
- June 21st, 1910
- Date of death:
- May 13th, 1967
- Service number:
- 44846
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
Career
- Imperial Service College 1924.3 -1927.3
- 30-01-1930 2nd Lieutenant Royal Leicester Regiment
- 1931 service in India
- 7-10-1936 Royal West African Frontier Force
- Took part in Operation Overlord with the Parachute Regiment and liberated Ranville in Normandy on D Day
- Took part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing)
- Near Osnabrück on 6.4.1945 Croker was wounded by machine gun, suffering wounds to the forehead, left forearm and shoulder
- Post-war posts included staff of HQ 23 Inf Bde Group, GSO1, HQ Singapore Base District, Malaya, Colonel (Special Ops) at SHAPE
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Military Cross (MC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Temporary Major
- Unit:
- 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion, 5th Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, British Army
- Awarded on:
- December 12th, 1944
"On 19th July 1944, Major Croker's Company led in a Battalion attack on the village of Puten-En-Auge. The village was occupied by about 100 Germans and the position had a large member of automatic weapons in it. Mortar and Machine Gun fire was intense. The two leading platoons became completely pinned by fire by the time half the village was cleared and the situation looked desperate. Major Croker then led the third platoon personally against one of the strong points consisting of three houses. He personally killed 3 Germans with his rifle and when a Sergeant was wounded he immediately attacked his assailant and killed him with a fighting knife. As soon as this strong point fell the enemy lost heart and the remainder of the village was rapidly captured. It was mainly due to the courage, ferocity and personal leadership and complete disregard of danger of Major Croker that the whole of its Garrison was either killed or captured. His example was an inspiration to the whole Battalion".
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- Royal Leicestershire Regiment
- Awarded on:
- October 19th, 1951
"For outstanding services as G.S.C.I. Singapore Base District since 20th November 1949. In addition to his normal work, which has been of a high order, he has shown very marked ability and enthusiasm in the organising and conducting all courses for officer training and promotion examinations. His outstanding achievement, however, has been his exceptional devotion to duty during the Singapore riots in December 1951, when he displayed qualities of the highest order. His organising ability and untiring efforts contributed in a very large measure to the smooth conduct and efficiency of the Military measures taken to restore law and order an in following days. His services have been of great value to the Army and full deserve recognition."
- 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)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
Photo
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