Sapper Peter Alexander CRUICKSHANK (645422)
5th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops

Date of birth: 2nd April 1871
Date of death: 5th April 1917

Died of wounds aged 46
Buried at Duisans British Cemetery at Etrun Plot I Row G Grave 2
Peter Alexander Cruickshank was born at Rothes on the 2nd of April 1871 the third son of Thomas Cruickshank, a tenementer, and Ann (nee Cattanach) Cruickshank of Back Street, Rothes.

He emigrated to Canada where he worked as a labourer.

He enlisted as a Private in The Duke of Connaught's Own 158th (Overseas) battalion, Canadian Infantry at Vancouver in British Columbia on the 17th of January 1916 and gave his address as 395, 30th Avenue East, South Vancouver and his next of kin as his wife Harriett Read Cruickshank. He also stated that he had served for 12 months in the Territorial Army with the Seaforth Highlanders. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was 5 feet 7 and inches tall with blue eyes, a fair complexion and iron grey hair.

He embarked for overseas service on the 14th of November 1916 on board the SS Olympic and landed in the England on the 22nd of November. He was posted to the 1st Canadian Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe on the 6th of January 1917. On the 5th of February 1917 he joined the Base Depot for Railway Troops at Purfleet and he transferred to the 5th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops the following day. He embarked for France on the 24th of February 1917, landing there the same day where he joined his battalion in the field.

On the 4th of April 1917 a detachment of the 5th Battalion were awaiting orders in huts at the village of St Vaast. At 4pm a high explosive shell landed on one of the huts, killing eleven men and wounding a further twenty seven.
Peter Cruickshank was wounded by shrapnel, receiving multiple wounds in the face and head and was evacuated to 19 Casualty Clearing Station where he died of his wounds the following day.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Rothes.

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