Royal Tank Corps 1917-1918

[David B 1812]

Royal Tank Corps 1917 - 1918

Any experts on this Corps who can help me

with a question, please. If so, I will post details.

Thanks,

David B 1812

[peter monahan]

David

I never cease to be amazed by the knowledge held collectively by the members of the GMIC. Perhaps you could give us a little more information on what you're seeking and someone, expert or otherwise, may have an answer. Are you looking for info. on battles, individual tanks, a man or men, or something else entirely?

Peter

[paul wood]

I have the WWI Tank Corps Roll of Honour which list both honours and awards and casualties.

Paul

[David B 1812]

DAMN.......... I have not mastered this system, yet.......

it enters and posts, when I don't yet want it to........................

Here id the FULL POSTING, as it is supposed to be and look:

(in fact, if we have an 'editior' please remove this note, and the

'half' entry, above........

Dear Peter, and Paul (and anyone else who may be able to assist),

Thank you for offering to help. I hope that you can. Here are the details:

=======================================================

I have a 1914 - 1918 trio to Capt. S.C.W. Cruickshank, 8 R. Scots

His medal index card shows him with two different numbers, for "8 R Scots"

They are : 7423 and 335090. The number 7423 appear on the rear of his Star.

The BWM and the AVM both show him as an officer, therefore, no numbers.

His medal index card show him as a 2/Lt Tank Corps.

The actual medals are engraved as follows:

1914 Star : 7423 Pte. S.C.W. Cruickshank 8/R.Scots

BWM: Capt S.C.W. Cruickshank

AVM:

=======================================================

Dear Peter, and Paul (and anyone else who may be able to assist),

Thank you for offering to help. I hope that you can. Here are the details:

=======================================================

I have a 1914 - 1918 trio to Capt. S.C.W. Cruickshank, 8 R. Scots

His medal index card shows him with two different numbers, for "8 R Scots"

They are : 7423 and 335090. The number 7423 appears on the rear of his Star.

The BWM and the AVM both show him as an officer, therefore, no numbers.

His medal index card show him as a 2/Lt Tank Corps.

The actual medals are engraved as follows:

1914 Star : 7423 Pte. S.C.W. Cruickshank 8/R.Scots

BWM: Capt S.C.W. Cruickshank

AVM: Capt S.C.W. Cruickshank

There is no "Mons" Bar on the 1914 Star. This because, I am reliably informed

by another correspondent of mine, Cruickshank was with the 8th Battalion, Royal

Scots, who were a Territorial Force battalion, at the time, and that they arrived in

France (as the first Scottish battalion to do so) on 5 November, joining the 22nd

Brigade of the 7th Division on 11 November. That they did not qualify for the "Mons"

bar (5 Aug - 22 Nov) was very probably because they only saw action much later,

that is only on 10 to 13 March 1915 at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.

I am also advised that the PRO (N.A. if you like) has only one file for a officer with

the name S. Cruickshank, and it is WO339/88806, but I have not seen it myself,

nor do I have any knowledge of the file contents.

What I DO know are the following entries in the LONDON GAZETTE:

L.G. # 30593 (Suppl) 23 March 1918, pg 3698 :

Under a sub-heading: TANK CORPS - The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts

to be temp 2nd Lts. :-

S.C.W. Cruickshank, from a Serv. Bn,. R.Scots. 31 Dec 1917, with seniority

30 May 1917

L.G. 31056 (Suppl) 9 December 1918, pg 14550:

Under a sub-heading: TANK CORPS - The undermentioned to be actg. Capts.

while comdg. Sects.:-

Temp. 2nd Lt. S.C.W. Cruickshank. 4 Oct. 1918

L.G. 31306 (Suppl) 29 April 1919, pg 5170:

Under a sub-heading: TANK CORPS - The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts.

to be actg. Capts. while comdg. Sects.:-

S.C.W. Cruickshank (now temp. Lt.). 31 Oct. 1918

And, finally,

L.G. 31832 (Suppl) 22 March, 1920, pg 3524

again, under TANK CORPS:

Temp. Lt. S.C.W. Cruickshank relinquishes the actg. rank of Capt. on ceasing

to comd. a Sect. 1 Apr. 1919

So we know that Cruickshank started military life out as a private in the Territorial

Army with the 8th Battalion. Royal Scots, 1914. He arrived in France in November

1914, but only saw action in March 1915 at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.

We now jump to May 1917 where Cruickshank (apparently already a T/2nd Lt.

with the Royal Scots ??? Why no L.G. entry?) becomes an T/2nd Lt in the TANK
CORPS. Later, still in the TANK CORPS, he becomes an A/Capt.

Capt. Cruickshank (from his medal index card) seems to only have the three medals

already mentioned. No others, and no MID, so far as I can tell.

Interestingly, there is an additional note on his medal index card, which reads:

* Comm 2/Scot Rifles (But I have no idea what this means....???)

Anyway: WHAT ELSE CAN WE FIND OUT ABOUT CAPT. CRUICKSHANK ???

What did he do in the Tank Corps? Where did he see action?

Does anyone have ANY other details about this Officer. A photo even?

Anything will be helpful, please, to add to what we know, above.

Thank you,

Al, the best,

David B 1812

===========================================================

(Post removed as requested - any mistakes ask and we can change or, remove. Mervyn )

[Graham Stewart]

The note added to his MIC, may refer to the fact that post-war he may have decided to continue with his military career and had opted to become a 'regular' soldier and had been 're-commissioned' into the 2nd Bn, Scottish Rifles. If that is so, then his records would have been removed to be handed over to the regimental Depot, where they would have remained until he eventually retired his commission.

[David B 1812]

Yes, thank you, Graham - that is certainly a possiblility........

IF ANYBODY OUT THERE IS AN "EXPERT" on the ROYAL TANK CORPS,

KINDLY CONTACT ME, please.

Thank you,

BW

David B 1812

[Hardinge]

Hi, I have medals to over 600 tank corps guys and may be able to provide some information on your man, if you still have him ? he was not commissioned TC until March 1918 so may just have seen action at Amiens. Geoffrey

[David B 1812]

Dear Geoffrey,

Capt S.C.W. Cruickshank was first commissioned in the Tank Corps in May 1917, I think,

IF I understand this LG entry correctly:

---------------------------------------------------------------

L.G. # 30593 (Suppl) 23 March 1918, pg 3698 :

Under a sub-heading: TANK CORPS - The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts

to be temp 2nd Lts. :-

S.C.W. Cruickshank, from a Serv. Bn,. R.Scots. 31 Dec 1917, with seniority

30 May 1917

---------------------------------------------------------------------

But in any event, yes I still have his trio in my collection and ANY further information

which you can add to my meagre knowledge of this man, WOULD BE VERY WELCOME,

thank you, Geoffrey.

David B 1812

[Taz]

L.G. (Suppl) 17 January 1919, pg 879

sub-heading: TANK CORPS

The grant of the actg. rank of Capt. to

temp. 2nd Lt. S. C. W. Cruikshank, notified

in Gaz. 9 Dec. 1918, is cancelled.

Not much info sorry,

Regards Eddie

Edited May 24, 2013 by Taz

[David B 1812]

Just seen your additional info today, Eddie - thank you very much !!!!

David B

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