Wing Commander GL Cruickshanks
Grahame Lawrence Cruickshanks
- Rank
- Wing Commander
- Honours
- DFC
- Squadron
- No 214 Squadron
- School
- Grey High School
- Fate
- Killed in action, 8 September 1941
- In the book
- Pages 31, 99, 100
From the book
Links of Long Standing
Several joined well before war was declared including amongst others, TH Archbell, AS Ainslie, I Bocock, CBE Burt-Andrews GL Cruickshanks, G Chater, IB Difford, FA Harte, GDL Haysom, CB Hull, GLB Hull, AG “Sailor” Malan, EJ Morris, MT Pattle, H Rosofsky, JF Roulston RN Selley, HWL Sheahan CR Taylor and FL Watson.
The Dreaded Telegram
Port Elizabeth born Grahame Lawrence Cruickshanks was the youngest of four brothers who attended Grey High School. A first-class cricketer, he commissioned in 1933, served in various prewar capacities and one of several South Africans who flew No 9 Squadron Wellingtons.
The Dreaded Telegram
Wing Commander GL Cruickshanks had been commanding No 214 Squadron for a few weeks when he and his Wellington crew lost their lives during a Berlin bombing raid on September 8th, 1941. One of fifteen aircraft out of a 197 strong bomber force that were lost, his wife received a telegram in Durban advising he was “missing”, unaware of his involvement in a daring attack on the “Prince Eugen”. His “Distinguished Flying Cross” announcement in July 1942, was “awarded with effect from 18th August 1941”.