CRANSTON William James Lt Col

SKR/DAT/IP/24703

CRANSTON William James Lt Col

2000-2024

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Surname: CRANSTON;

Forename(s): William James;

Initials: WJ;

Rank: Lt Col;

Previous Regiment: N Staffs Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 3 Bn;

Awarded: DSO, MID;

Other Data: Who's who 1943: DSO 1918, b.10/2/1877. Served SA with Scots Greys 1899-1902. Grt War 1914-18 (MIDx 5, DSO, St George's Cross) MGC 27/12/1917 - 31/3/1921, Bvt Lt Col 3/6/1919. Cdg 137 (Staffs) Inf Bde 1931-34. Retired 1934. Address: Wilton Grove, Wimbledon.
3 Bn MGO
Illustration of: 3 Bn MGC Magazine, May 1919

He enlisted in the RWF in 1894 as a private and ended up retiring in 1934 as a full Colonel in charge of the 137th Staffordshire (Infantry)
Brigade. He served as a Sniper during the South African War with the Royal Scots Greys, and with great distinction all through the
Great War, being commisioned in the field, recieving 5 MID`s, the award of the Russian Cross of St George, was awarded 2 further brevet
promotions (was in command of the 3rd Bn MGC ("Iron Division") and was awarded the DSO for his war service in 1919. He was awarded the OBE in the New Years honour list of 1960 for services to the "Not Forgotten Association" and died on the 18 Jul 1960.

Photograph taken Easter Sunday 1917 of 13th Kings Regt, with captured German mgs at Arras (1st WW poetry Digital Archive)
DSO/MID award from London Gazette noted in 3 Bn war diary 1/6/1918

On the Rhine in 1919, the officers of 3 Bn presented their departing CO with a silver centrepiece representing a mounted Vickers gun. They agreed to meet again each year thereafter. Those present on 8th May 1965 were FB Mackenzie, SR Holbrook, GH Matthews, CD Wetton, DW Williams and WH Wrightson. Also present was WP Cranston - son of the old CO, and the silver centre-piece. WPC, as a schoolboy, had been present at the original presentation.

Article: Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) 30 April 1931;

Other Notes: DSO: LG 3/6/1918 (T/Lt Col MGC 27/12/1917)
MID: LG 9/7/1919 Capt & Bt Major(T/Lt Col, DSO) Cdg 3 Bn MGC;

END OF RECORD.

English

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