Brigadier John Wilson Crawford

image: 020725 image: 020725
Photograph 020725
Service number NX378
Ranks Held Brigadier, Lieutenant Colonel
Birth Date 1899-07-08
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Death Date 1943-03-07
Death Place Australia
Final Rank Brigadier
Service Australian Army
Units
  • 11th Australian Infantry Brigade
  • 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1942-06-30
Published in London Gazette in 1941-12-30
Published in London Gazette in 1941-12-30

Collection items

    Media


    The Commanding Officer of 2/17th Infantry Battalion, NX378 Lieutenant Colonel John Wilson ...

    NX378 Lieutenant Colonel John Wilson Crawford E.D. (later Brigadier, accidentally killed in ...

    NX378 Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) John Wilson Crawford, Commanding Officer of 2/17th ...

    A group of officers of the 2/17th Infantry Battalion, Tobruk. From left to right: Back row: ...

    Document


    AWM54 85/9/6 - [Aviation (Allied) - Losses - Aircraft and Crews:] Search for Missing Aircraft (re late Brigadier J W Crawford) copies of reports from ...

Rolls

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Lieutenant Colonel
    London Gazette
    30 December 1941 on page 7357 at position 27

  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Lieutenant Colonel
    London Gazette
    30 June 1942 on page 2857 at position 11

  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Lieutenant Colonel
    London Gazette
    30 December 1941 on page 7333 at position 3

  • Roll of Honour:

    Unit
    11th Australian Infantry Brigade
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Brigadier

Timeline

Date of birth 08 July 1899 Sydney NSW
Date commissioned 16 February 1922
Interwar Service 1 16 February 1922 lieutenant SUS
Interwar Service 2 16 August 1923 captain
Interwar Service 3 15 June 1929 major Sydney University Regiment
Interwar Service 4 09 June 1932 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 01 July 1937 staff officer G Branch 2DivisionBase
Interwar Service 7 30 April 1939 general service officer grade 2 2DivisionBase
Career summary 1 26 August 1939 full time duty
Career summary 2 15 December 1939 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 13 February 1940 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 18 March 1940 enlisted 2AIF
Career summary 5 26 April 1940 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 25 November 1940 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 30 December 1941 Dstaff officer , Mention in Despatches
Career summary 10 15 January 1942 liaison officer 1 Australian Corps
Career summary 9 15 January 1942 relinquished command 2/17th battalion
Career summary 11 14 March 1942 Returned to Australia (4MD)
Career summary 12 11 April 1942 temporary brigadier, commander York Force (11th Brigade Gp)
Career summary 13 30 June 1942 Mention in Despatches (Jul-Oct 41)
Date of death 07 March 1943
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 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.'
Citations 3 -EXT SHEET DN 11/42, LG 353396/41
WW2 Service 1 Benghazi

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