THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO PRIVATE JAMES CRICHTON, 2ND BN, AUCKLAND REGIMENT, HAVE BEEN DONATED TO THE AUCKLAND MUSEUM IN NEW ZEALAND
June 2001


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Private James Crichton,
2nd Bn, Auckland Regiment, NZEF

  • Victoria Cross
  • Queen's South Africa Medal ( 1899-1902 )
    • 5 clasps:
    • "Cape Colony" - "Orange Free State" - "Transvaal"
    • "South Africa 1901" - "South Africa 1902"
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • 1939-45 Star
  • War Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • New Zealand War Service Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )

The Auckland War Memorial Museum has confirmed the acquisition of the following complete Victoria Cross group to add to their collection. The VC awarded to Private James Crichton, 2nd Bn, Auckland Regiment ( Countess of Ranfurly's Own ), was donated by the immediate family. The Auckland War Museum later acquired Crichton's campaign and commemorative medals separately.


For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 15 November 1918 ]. Crevecoer, France, 30 September 1918, Private James Crichton, 2nd Bn, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, when although wounded in the foot, he continued with the advancing troops, despite difficult canal and river obstacles.

When his platoon was subsequently forced back by a counter-attack he succeeded in carrying a message which involved swimming a river and crossing an area swept by machine-gun fire, subsequently rejoining his platoon. Later he undertook on his own initiative to save a bridge which had been mined, and although under close fire of machine-guns and snipers, he succeeded in removing the charges returning with the fuses and detonators.

Though suffering from a painful wound, he displayed the highest degree of valour and devotion to duty."

James Crichton was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 26th February 1919.


James Crichton died on 22 September 1961, aged 82, and is buried in the Waikumete Memorial Park Soldiers' Cemetery, near Auckland.

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Iain Stewart, 9 September 2001