Name
Andrew John Tuke Cruickshank
10 November 1897
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
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY
II. C. 32.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE 1911-14 WOOLWICH ACADEMY 1915
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials (*1), Memorial Window, Holy Trinity Church, Combe Down, Somerset, Marlborough College War Memorial
Pre War
Andrew John Tuke Cruickshank was born in Notting Hill, Kensington, London on 10 November 1897, the son of George Edwin and Sarah Maria Cruickshank (nee Tylor) and one of three children. He was baptised on 16 April 1898 at the Church of St John the Evangelist, Notting Hill.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 27 High Street, Chipping Barnet, Herts. His father's occupation was recorded as Barrister at Law. Also living there were his mother, his older brothers George and Donald and three servants. He was educated at Seabrook Lodge Preparatory School, Hythe, Kent and was listed as a boarder there on the 1911 Census. His parents continued to live in Chipping Barnet. He entered Marlborough College on 1 May 1911 and left in 1914 to go to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.
His parents later lived at 6, Blakesley Avenue, Ealing, London, and 5, Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, where his father was a barrister.
Wartime Service
He obtained a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 26 July 1915 and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps shortly after, where he was trained as an Observer at Netheravon Aerodrome. He went to France with the 22nd Squadron in May 1916.
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 Guy Lindsay Cruickshank (Gordon Highlanders) , 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, but he was also killed in action a few months later on 15th September 1916.
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”.
Andrew died at Number 10 hospital in St Omer on 7 July 1916, aged 18, and is buried at Longueness Souvenir Cemetery. He is also and is commemorated on his father’s grave in Bushey churchyard.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £35 and pay owing of £10 11s 9d, with the Mess President receiving £1 7s 11d.
Brother to Donald Edward Cruickshank who served with the Royal Fusiliers and was killed in action on 9 April 1916.
Andrew and his brother Donald 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 there for many years at Belmont House, Belmont Road.
*1 He is also commemorated on family grave in Bushey,
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer, Brenda Palmer
archive.marlboroughcollege.org, Jonty Wild
