James Crichton (soldier)

Swimming under fire, he removed charges from a mined bridge.

James Crichton was born near Carrickfergus, County Antrim, on 15 July 1879 and grew up in Scotland. A miner before enlistment, he joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1899 and served in the Second Boer War. After leaving the army in 1911, he worked as a cable jointer in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in August 1914. His early service was with the Army Service Corps, including the field bakery at Gallipoli. He rose to warrant officer but voluntarily relinquished that rank in August 1918 to join the 2nd Auckland Battalion as a private.

On 30 September 1918, at Crèvecoeur-sur-l'Escaut, he was wounded in the foot during an advance across difficult waterways. When a counterattack forced his platoon back, he carried a message through machine-gun fire, swimming the river to reach headquarters. He then returned to his comrades.

Learning that a bridge had been mined, Crichton went forward on his own initiative. Under fire from machine guns and snipers, he removed the explosive charges and brought back their fuzes and detonators. His work preserved a crossing that could be used during the continued advance. King George V presented his Victoria Cross in February 1919.

He returned to New Zealand, married Amy Watkins and raised two daughters. He worked as a Post Office cable jointer and represented New Zealand at the 1937 Coronation. During the Second World War he served in the Merchant Navy. He died at Auckland on 22 September 1961 and was buried at Waikumete Cemetery. His daughters later presented his medals and personal records to Auckland Museum.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, when, although wounded in the foot, he continued with the advancing troops, despite difficult canal and river obstacles. When his platoon was subsequently forced back by a counter-attack he succeeded in carrying a message which involved swimming a river and crossing an area swept by machine-gun fire, subsequently rejoining his platoon. Later, he undertook on his own initiative to save a bridge which had been mined, and though under close fire of machine guns and snipers he succeeded in removing the charges returning with the fuzes and detonators. Though suffering from a painful wound he displayed the highest degree of valour and devotion to duty.

Seventh Supplement to The London Gazette of 12 November 1918. 15 November 1918, Numb. 31012, p. 13474