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Crocker, John Tredinnick

Date of birth:
January 4th, 1896
Date of death:
March 9th, 1963
Service number:
10435
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Promotions:
1914: Private;
?: temporary Lieutenant;
December 16th, 1920: Lieutenant (seniority December 26th, 1919);
?: Colonel;
?: acting Brigadier;
September 18th, 1940: acting Major-General;
October 22nd, 1941: temporary Major-General;
March 16th, 1942: acting Lieutenant-General;
December 4th, 1942: Major-General (seniority November 16th, 1941);
March 16th, 1943: temporary Lieutenant-General;
October 15th, 1945: Lieutenant-General (seniority September 3rd, 1944);
March 6th, 1947: General (seniority October 2nd, 1946).

Career:
1914: Artists' Rifles;
?: Machine Gun Corps (MGC);
?: 174th Machine Gun Company, 59th Division, France;
?: Solliciter;
?: Middlesex Regiment;
1923: Royal Tank Corps;
?: Brigade Major;
?: GSO1, Mobile Division;
?: GSO1 Staff Officer, Southern Command;
April 1940: Commanding Officer 3rd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, France;
September 18th, 1940 - January 18th, 1941: Commanding Officer 6th Armoured Division;
March 1942 - September 1942: Commanding Officer XI Corps, East Anglia;
September 1942 - April 1943: Commanding Officer IX Corps;
July 1943 - May 1945: Commanding Officer I Corps;
June 1945 - July 1947: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command;
June 1947 - July 1950: Commander in Chief, Middle East Land Forces;
January 14th, 1949: Colonel Commandant;
September 27th, 1949 - April 23rd, 1954: Honorary Colonel T.A.;
September 22nd, 1950 - September 1953: Adjutant-General to the Forces;
?: Aide-de-Camp General to His Majesty;
1953: Retirement;
January 1st, 1955 - June 28th, 1963: Member of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation;
1961 - 1963: Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex.

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Second-Lieutenant
Unit:
Machine Gun Corps, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), British Army
Awarded on:
April 23rd, 1918
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as section commander in a machine-gun battery. He stuck to his battery until it was blown up, and then, going forward to the barrage, he salved two guns and took them forward to support the infantry, where the situation was uncertain."
Military Cross (MC)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Temporary Second-Lieutenant
Unit:
Machine Gun Corps, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), British Army
Awarded on:
July 26th, 1918
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When in charge of four machine guns he broke down two strong enemy attacks, holding on from 10 a.m. till dusk, when infantry and reinforcements arrived. The following day he maintained his position till outflanked, when he stood up between two of his guns and directed their fire on the enemy, who were within 30 yards, then covered the withdrawal with bombs and rifle fire, killing many himself at close range. Took up a fresh position until almost surrounded again, when he again went out with bombs. His example throughout was magnificent."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Major-General
Unit:
Headquarters, 3rd Armoured Brigade, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), British Army
Awarded on:
September 27th, 1940
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
"Outstanding coolness, skill and determination in command of an armoured brigade.
Brig. Crocker, in command of what remained of his Brigade on June 7th took up a defensive position of very great extent threatened by vastly superior armoured forces. Attacked by large numbers of tanks and aircraft, and under a dangerous threat of envelopment to his flanks, Brig. Crocker succeeded in inflicting casualties on the enemy before he was forced to withdraw and make his way across the River Seine under air attack.
Later, near Alencon, in support of a French formation he was again forced to withdraw by superior numbers and in conformity with his neighbours and succeeded in bringing the remnants of his brigade safely back to Cherbourg - a distance of some 200 miles."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-General
Unit:
Headquarters, IX Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
August 5th, 1943
Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
Received in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Tunisia.
--
"Both at FONDOUK - KAIROUAN and in the fighting in the ares SEBKRET EL KOURZIA - Two Tree Hill he commanded and fought 9 Corps with skills and determination especially in the handling of his armoured divisions.

An unfortunate accident prevented him from commanding his corps in the final break-through to TUNI and HAMMAMET."

Recommended for bar to his DSO, crossed out and awarded a CB instead.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-General
Unit:
Headquarters, I Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
September 28th, 1944
Awarded for:
Operation Overlord
Knights/Dames Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (K/DBE)
Received in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Normandy.

Military Division.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-General
Unit:
Headquarters, I Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
August 9th, 1945
Recieved in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North-West Europe.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, I Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
November 8th, 1945
Received in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North-West Europe.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, I Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
January 16th, 1947
"Lt. Gen CROCKER commanded the British 1 Corps during the campaign in North West Europe and served with special distinction during the operations for the liberation of HOLLAND."

Received with swords.
Permission to wear the decorations was granted on January 16th, 1947.
Grootofficier in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (ON.2)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General
Unit:
Headquarters, I Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
June 12th, 1947
Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB)
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Rank:
General
Unit:
Headquarters, Southern Command, British Army
Awarded on:
June 10th, 1948
Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB)

War Diary mentions

11 October 1944 WO 171/840 - 1 Royal Dragoons
'C' Sqn moved back to CASTEREN 2613, for a few days rest. During the afternoon a second sortie was laid on by 'A' Sqn against another enemy infantry position to the West of HILVARENBEEK. A full account of this raid is attached at Appendix 'A'. The raid was completely successful and resulted in the position being wiped out. About 10 enemy killed and 12 PW taken. Identification of PW's – 935 Regt, 245 Div. Major G.R.D. Fitzpatrick, MBE, MC, was slightly wounded in the thigh but remained at duty. Shortly after the raid was over and the force had returned to Sqn HQ in HILVARENBEEK, a very heavy and accurate artillery stonk was put down on the town. Tpr Simpson was killed and Cpl Andrews and Tpr. Robinson wounded. The Tanks and Gunners also suffered some casualties. One of 'A' Sqn's ½-track 75 mm's and their German Staff Car were completely destroyed. At about 1810 hrs. 2 Typhoons attacked 'D' Sqn's centre patrol with cannon fire. In spite of yellow smoke and red florescent panels being displayed, the planes made three determined runs at the Troop, knocking out a Dingo and wounding Tpr. Haxley. In the evening the C.O. received the following personal message from the Comd, 1 Corps, Lt.Gen. Sir J.T. Crocker, KBE, CB, DSO, MC:- "Many congratulations to you and 147 RAC on your two recent most successful raids".

Sources

  • Photo 1: Imperial War Museum (TR 2169)
  • - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette of 19th April 1918, Issue 30645
    - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette of 23rd July 1918, Issue 30813
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th December 1920, Issue 32164
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 27th September 1940, Issue 34944, dated 27th September 1940
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 8th October 1940, Issue 34965, dated 10th October 1940
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th February 1941, Issue 35077, dated 18th February 1941
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th March 1941, Issue 35121, dated 1st April 1941
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 24th October 1941, Issue 35325, dated 28th October 1941
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd April 1942, Issue 35513, dated 7th April 1942
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 25th December 1942, Issue 35836, dated 29th December 1942
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 30th March 1943, Issue 35962, dated 2nd April 1943
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd August 1943, Issue 36120, dated 5th August 1943
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 26th September 1944, Issue 36720, dated 28th September 1944
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 7th August 1945, Issue 37213, dated 9th August 1945
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 30th October 1945, Issue 37332, dated 2nd November 1945
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 6th November 1945, Issue 37340, dated 8th November 1945
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th January 1947, Issue 37853, dated 16th January 1947
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 7th March 1947, Issue 37901, dated 11th March 1947
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 6th June 1947, Issue 37977, dated 12th June 1947
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 4th June 1948, Issue 38311, dated 10th June 1948
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 22nd February 1949, Issue 38545, dated 25th February 1949
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 15th November 1949, Issue 38762, dated 18th November 1949
    - The London Gazette of 29th September 1950, Issue 39030
    - The London Gazette of 1st June 1951, Issue 39242
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 20th April 1954, Issue 40155, dated 23rd April 1954
    - The London Gazette of 11th January 1955, Issue 40381
    - The London Gazette of 28th June 1963, Issue 43041
    - Colin Mackie's website
    - Recommendation for Award for Crocker, Sir John Rank: Lieutenant General ... | The National Archives
    - Recommendation for Award for Crocker, John Tredinnick Rank: Colonel ... | The National Archives

Photo