NX378 John Wilson Crawford, DSO
NX378 John Wilson Crawford, DSO
| Date of birth | 1899-07-08 | Sydney NSW |
| Interwar Service 1 | 1922-02-16 | lieutenant SUS |
| Date commissioned | 1922-02-16 | |
| Interwar Service 2 | 1923-08-16 | captain |
| Interwar Service 3 | 1929-06-15 | major Sydney University Regiment |
| Interwar Service 4 | 1932-06-09 | course Tested and found fit for Comd |
| Interwar Service 5 | 1933-07-01 - 1937-06-30 | lieutenant colonel commanding officer Sydney University Regiment |
| Interwar Service 6 | 1937-07-01 | staff officer G Branch 2DivisionBase |
| Interwar Service 7 | 1939-04-30 | general service officer grade 2 2DivisionBase |
| Career summary 1 | 1939-08-26 | full time duty |
| Career summary 2 | 1939-12-15 | commanding officer 4th battalion |
| Appointment | 1939-12-15 - 1940-04-26 | Battalion: 4th battalion ; Rank on appointment: lieutenant colonel; Appointed from: general service officer grade 2 2DivisionBase; Reason for end of appointment: new command -infantry battalion: Australian Imperial Force battalion |
| Career summary 3 | 1940-02-13 | Letter of appreciation from Commandant Superieur Group de Pacifique expressing aprreciation of services rendered between Aust General Staff and Fr Military Comd in New Caledonia |
| Career summary 4 | 1940-03-18 | enlisted 2AIF |
| Career summary 5 | 1940-04-26 | seconded commanding officer 2/17th battalion |
| Appointment | 1940-04-26 - 1942-01-15 | Battalion: 2/17th; Rank on appointment: lieutenant colonel; Appointed from: commanding officer 4th battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: staff appointment: liaison officer 1 Australian Corps |
| Career summary 6 | 1940-11-25 | arrived Middle East |
| Career summary 7 | 1941-10-27 - 1942-01-09 | attached Headquarters 20th Brigade 1-10 Jul, 16-26 Jul 41, |
| Career summary 8 | 1941-12-30 | Dstaff officer , Mention in Despatches |
| Career summary 9 | 1942-01-15 | relinquished command 2/17th battalion |
| Career summary 10 | 1942-01-15 | liaison officer 1 Australian Corps |
| Career summary 11 | 1942-03-14 | Returned to Australia (4MD) |
| Career summary 12 | 1942-04-11 | temporary brigadier, commander York Force (11th Brigade Gp) |
| Career summary 13 | 1942-06-30 | Mention in Despatches (Jul-Oct 41) |
| WW2 Service 1 | Benghazi | |
| Citations 2 | 'Lt.-Col Crawford has continuously commanded his Battalion, 2/17th Aust. Inf. Bn., during the period March-July 1941. In the difficult withdrawal from Mersa Brega to Tobruk his handling of his command was an outstanding example of leadership in numerous difficult situations, and resulted in the successful withdrawal of his Battalion. At 0400 hrs on 14 Apr his Battalion was attacked by tanks and Infantry of a German Panzer Division. 40 tanks and large numbers of infantry having passed through jis front line, he personally organised counter-attacks and his handling of the situation had the result of completely defeating the enemy, destroying many tanks and practically wiping out a German machine gun Battalion, many prisoners being taken. He has constantly led his Battalion in the defence of Tobruk, and under his direct supervision the men of his command have carried out the most vigourous defence, combined with constant offensive patrollin activities with most successful results. His courage and coolness under most difficult circumstances have been, at all times, an inspiration to his command.' | |
| Career summary 14 | Knight of the Order of Australia Plane crash 7 Mar 43. Plane crashed p miles from Cairns aerodrome. Plane was from RAAF No. 5 Communications Flight, allotted for exclusive use of command York Force. | |
| Citations 3 | -EXT SHEET DN 11/42, LG 353396/41 | |
| Date of death | 1943-03-07 |
Occupation: Solicitor & Notary
