Robert George Cracoft

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from John Hamblin, Researcher.

Robert George Cracoft, Lieutenant-Colonel 44854 MC, 148th (9th Battalion, The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. Killed in action on the 13th of August 1944 aged 34.

Robert George “Desmond” Cracroft was born at “Gairlock”, Farnborough Park, Surrey on the 15th of November 1909, the third and youngest son of Captain Hugh Cracroft, Royal Army Service Corps, and Georgina Montagu Cracroft (née Stevenson) of Gairlock”, Farnborough Park, later of The Garth, Combe Down, Bath. He was christened at St Peter’s Church, Farnborough on the 30th of December 1909. He was educated at Monkton Combe Junior School from 1922 to 1923 and at Malvern College, where he was in School House from 1923 to 1928 and he was appointed as a House Prefect.

He was married at Kensington in 1943 to Helen Elizabeth Cracoft (née Thompson, formerly Lovell-Hewitt) and they lived at Tudor Cottage, Shaldon in Devon. He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Corps on the 30th of January 1930. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th of January 1933 and was appointed as Adjutant of the 4th Royal Tank Regiment on the 14th of June 1938, serving in that capacity until the 31 st of July 1940, and was promoted to Captain on the 1st of August 1938.

He was serving with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment in 1940 during the Battle of France when he was awarded the Military Cross, which was announced by the War Office on the 5 th of July 1940. The recommendation for his award read as follows:

“By his devotion to duty and gallantry throughout the action on the 21 st May 1940, south of Arras, he showed a very good example to others. On one occasion, having noticed some German infantry in position in a hollow supported by anti tank guns, he gathered together such “I” tanks as were available on the spot – 3 in number – and personally led the attack. He was mounted in a light tank, which is thin skinned and vulnerable to A.T. gun fire. With utter disregard to his safety he dashed amongst the enemy, the majority of whom were killed, and their vehicles which included armoured reconnaissance cars, were destroyed. On another occasion, after the remnants of the battalion were in a position of readiness to assist our infantry in the event of a counterattack, he personally organised the attack, successfully resisting an encounter with German tanks (one at least of which was a heavy type) which resulted with the withdrawal of the enemy. This measure was carried out during a heavy enemy air attack, which made Captain Cracroft’s task very difficult.”

He was promoted to Acting Major on the 1st of August 1940 and to temporary Major on the 1st of November 1940. From the 3rd of June to the 23rd of September 1943 he attended a training course at the Staff College at Camberley and was promoted to Major on the 21st of August 1943. after his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel on the 9th of March 1944 he was appointed to the command of the 148th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.

The Regiment landed in Normandy on the 15th of June 1944 and saw action in the unsuccessful attack on the Colombelles factory area at Caen on the 10th and 11th of July during Operation Stack. They also took part in Operation Goodwood on the 18th of July and in Operation Totalize on the 8th of August where they were in support of the 51 st Highland Division.

On the 13th of August 1944, the Regiment was relieving the 144th Regiment when they came under heavy enemy shell fire, wounding Major Cyril J. Smith of B Squadron and a number of other ranks. Later that day the Regiment was in laager when they again came under shell fire during which Robert Cracroft was killed. Due to its very heavy losses, the Regiment was disbanded two days later.

The following tributes to him appeared in The Times. On the 24th August G. W. R. wrote: " The news of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Cracoft's death in Normandy came as a great bow to his many friends. He was a man of very cheerful disposition and outstanding personality. I had the honour of serving with Robert in many parts of the world. He always took a very keen interest in the profession and was a most promising soldier. It was possible to have complete confidence in him because of his unswerving loyalty and devotion to all his friends. He was no mean athlete and was always ready to to join in any game, particularly if it helped the cause of the regiment. He as recently married."

And on the 26th August C. C. wrote: "Many of his friends at home and indeed all those who knew Robert Cracroft's worth must be thinking of him to-day, for his was a personality that stood out head and shoulders among his fellows. His last duty before the present campaign in France began was performed as a G.S.O.1 instructor at the Staff College. Here he was surrounded by officers, teachers, and students alike, all of them picked out from their fellows as having attainments above the average, but, even in that high company, it is no exaggeration to say that he showed himself a very pattern of the finest type of British regimental officer and one of which the old British Regular Army might well be proud. He combined with great charm of manner a quick brain, a strong character, determination, and ideals. Had he been spared, he might well have gone far in the Army as a leader of men."

He is buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Plot IV Row B Grave 17 and he is commemorated on the war memorial at Malvern College and on the memorial at Monkton Combe School. The London Gazette reported that he was mentioned in recognition of "Gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe", which was announced by the War Office on the 22nd of March 1945.