Name
Andrew John Tuke Cruickshank
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/07/1916
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
70th Squadron
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY
II. C. 32.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials, Holy Trinity Church, Combe Down, Nr. Bath
Pre War
Andrew John Tuke Cruickshank was born in Notting Hill, London on 10 Nov 1897, the son of George Edwin and Sarah Maria (née Tylor) Cruickshank and brother to Donald Edward Cruickshank. The family lived at 6, Blakesley Avenue, Ealing, London, and later at 5, Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, where his father was a barrister.
He was educated at Seabrook Lodge, Hythe; Marlborough College and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, joining the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Wartime Service
Andrew was gazetted as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 26 July 1915 and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps shortly, where he was trained as an Observer at Netheravon, Filton and Hythe.
He served in the 70th Squadron with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from May 1916 and died at Number 10 hospital in St Omer on 7 July 1916, following wounds received in aerial action the same day.
According to reports, he was the observer in the leading aeroplane (a Sopwith Strutter) in a group of four who were making reconnaissance over Cambrai, 15 miles within the German lines. The objective of the outing having been obtained, he had just fired the signal to return when he was attacked simultaneously from the rear by three Fokkers who had been waiting behind the clouds. He brought down one but was then hit high up in the thigh, the femoral artery being cut, and he lost consciousness.
The pilot, Captain G L Cruickshank, had one of the controls cut, and it was only through great skill on his part that he was able to elude the Germans and get back to St Omer.
His Major wrote, “He was a most painstaking observer and the pilot, his namesake, who was his Flight Commander, thought most highly of him”. His Housemaster at Marlborough wrote: “Steady, patient, unselfish, who never gave me a moment’s trouble or anxiety all the time he was here. It is good to have known him and I cannot say more and I don’t feel able to write more now.” His preparatory schoolmaster also wrote: “I do not think I ever had a nicer boy in the school, so quiet, modest and loyal, and of such sterling character”.
His pilot, Captain Guy Lindsay Cruikshank (Gordon Highlanders attached), was also killed in action on 15th September 1916.
He was buried at Longueness Souvenir Cemetery, aged 18, and is commemorated on his father’s grave in Bushey churchyard.
Andrew and his brother Donald Edward Cruickshank are also commemorated in a stained glass memorial window in the Holy Trinity Church, Combe Down, Nr Bath. Their grandfather George Cruickshank and father George Edwin Cruickshank lived for many years at Belmont House, Belmont Road.
Additional Information
Royal Flying Corps, Role of Honour, Battle of the Somme - please see www.somme-roll-of-honour.com Combe Down, Prior to Now – please see www.combedown.org Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
