Private George McDonald CRUICKSHANK (2756914)
6th Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

Date of birth: Unknown
Date of death: 26th April 1943

Killed in action aged 1942
Buried at Massicault War Cemetery Plot I Grave K Row 5.
George McDonald "Dod" Cruickshank was born in Moray the son of Charles Cruickshank, a stillman at Macallan Distillery, and Ann (nee Robertson) Cruickshank of Macallan Distillery Cottages, Craigellachie.

He was the husband of Eva Margaret of Ryde in the Isle of Wight.

The 6th Battalion Black Watch sailed for North Africa on the 15th of March 1943 and on the 25th of April two companies were ordered to attack a German position at Sidi Medienne with a third company who were to pass through them and advance a further half a mile to capture Sidi Salem. Intelligence expected little opposition. The leading companies moved off at 11.30pm and, passing through a gap in a minefield, were immediately engaged in heavy and bitter fighting with all three company commanders being wounded almost straight away. The enemy were in deep trenches which were a "rabbit warren" of interlocked positions. The third company arrived shortly after the leading companies were engaged and became involved in fighting for the southern side of the village. It was decided to abandon the second phase of the attack and concentrate on consolidating their gains and driving off enemy counterattacks, the last of which failed shortly before daybreak. The battalion suffered eighty casualties during this attack of which one was George Cruickshank.

His brother, Private Charles James Cruickshank 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, died as a prisoner of war on the 8th of May 1942.

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