Private Charles James CRUICKSHANK (2817635)
2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

Date of birth: 9th August 1911
Date of death: 8th May 1942

Died aged 30
Buried at Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery in Poland Plot 3 Row B Grave 4
Charles James Cruickshank was born at Rothes on the 9th of August 1911 the youngest son of Charles Cruickshank, a stillman at Macallan Distillery, and Ann (nee Robertson) Cruickshank of Macallan Distillery Cottages, Craigellachie.

Before the war he served for seven years as a regular soldier seeing service in Palestine, India and Egypt. On leaving the army he was employed at the Aberlour Distillery.

On the outbreak of war in September 1939 he was called up from the reserves and was sent to France early in 1940. He was captured with the 51st Highland Division at St Valery on the 12th of June 1940 and was reported missing in the Northern Scot of the 6th of July 1940.

He was initially interned at the Citadelle at Doullens as POW No. 1348 but was later transferred to Stalag 8B about 3 kilometres from Lamsdorf in Germany, where the majority of men were held in a series of satellite work camps around the main compound. He died at the camp at 8pm on the 8th of May 1942 following an operation.

His brother, Private George McDonald Cruickshank 6th Battalion Black Watch, was killed in action on the 26th of April 1943.
Macallan

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