Brigadier John Wilson Crawford

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	Sydney Australia
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

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