Private John Cattanach CRUICKSHANK (2820435)
6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

Date of birth: Unknown
Date of death: 3rd March 1944

Killed in action aged 1943
Buried buried at Minturno War Cemetery in Italy Plot II Row B Grave 13
John Cattanach Cruickshank was born in Moray the son of James Dawson Cruickshank and Elizabeth Cruickshank of Carlton Cottages, Archiestown, later of 378 Ferry Road, Edinburgh.

By the beginning of March 1944 the 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders was in the beachhead at Anzio where they had arrived as reinforcements. The battalion was involved in a series of savage and often hand to hand battles as they pushed the Germans back from the edge of the beachhead in their role as shock assault troops. On almost every occasion the Germans made gains the battalion were thrown into the attack on positions such as "La Cogna", "Lobster's Claw", "The Fortress', the Coastal Sector and the Factory Area. Because of their aggression the Germans "nurtured an almost irrational fear of eighteen inch Highland bayonets and the men who deployed them with such skill and relish."

During this period the battalion lost half of its company commanders, RSMs and NCOs. John Cruickshank fell during the fighting.
Tomore

Back