Gerard Crole

Captain Gerard Bruce Crole MC (7 June 1894 – 31 March 1965) was a Scottish colonial administrator, who represented his country in international rugby union and cricket,[1] and was also a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[2]

Gerard Bruce Crole
Born	(1894-06-07)7 June 1894 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	31 March 1965(1965-03-31) (aged 70)
Buried	Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army Royal Air Force
Years of service	1914–1919
Rank	Captain
Unit	Royal Field Artillery No. 40 Squadron RFC No. 43 Squadron RFC
Awards	Military Cross
Other work	Sudan Political Service Schoolmaster

Biography

Early life and education

Crole was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the only son[3] of Gerard Lake Crole KC (1855–1927), an advocate who served as Sheriff of Lothian and Peebles,[4] and Elizabeth Ann (née Coats) (1857–1945). He was educated at Edinburgh Academy, and University College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1914.[5]

Military service

Crole, having served in the Oxford Officers' Training Corps, was commissioned as a probationary second lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) on 15 August 1914,[6] but this was cancelled on 1 December,[7] and he was then commissioned again on 4 January 1915 as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery.[8]

On 28 June 1916 he was transferred to the General List, and appointed an observer in the Royal Flying Corps,[9] with the rank of temporary lieutenant from 1 July.[10] On 27 April 1917 he was appointed a flying officer with seniority from 24 February 1916.[11]

He was assigned to No. 40 Squadron to fly Nieuport Scouts. While operating between Douai and La Bassée on 25 June 1917 he shot down two Albatros D.V's within an hour (one shared with Lt. L. G. Blaxland). His third victory came on 2 July, and his fourth on 15 August, both D.V's, in the same area. His fifth and final victory, which made him an ace, came on 23 August, when he destroyed a DFW C near Lens.[2] On 25 September 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross.[12] His citation read:

Temporary Lieutenant Gerard Bruce Crole, General List and Royal Flying Corps.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting on many occasions. By his determination and fine offensive spirit in attacking hostile aircraft he has continually proved his superiority over the enemy, destroying several enemy machines and driving many others down out of control.[13]

On 13 September 1917 he was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain,[14] and reassigned to No. 43 Squadron. On 22 November, his Sopwith Camel was shot down by Fritz Rumey.[2] Initially listed as missing,[15][16] he was later confirmed to be an unwounded prisoner of war,[17] and spent the rest of the war at Holzminden camp in Germany.[18][19]

Crole was repatriated following the armistice in November 1918, and finally left the RAF, being transferred to the Unemployed List on 6 May 1919.[20] He then returned to Oxford University in October 1919 to further his studies, taking a diploma in anthropology.[21]

Sporting career

As a student before the war Crole had joined the Oxford University Rugby Football Club,[1] and gained a rugby Blue, playing three-quarter back against Cambridge in December 1913, in the last Varsity Match before the outbreak of hostilities. He also represented Oxford against Cambridge at golf in 1913 and 1914.[15]

Rugby union

Gerard Crole

Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1912-1914, 1919-1920 Oxford University - (-) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1920 Scotland 4 (9)

Post-war Crole continued in his sporting achievements, being selected to represent Scotland in the 1920 Five Nations Championship, playing in four matches between 1 January and 20 March 1920 and scoring three tries.[22] In the first game against France at Parc des Princes on 1 January 1920 Crole scored the only try to win the game for Scotland.[23] The game against Wales was played at Inverleith on 7 February 1920. Crole did not score, but again Scotland won the game.[24] In the game against Ireland, again at Inverleith, on 28 February, Crole scored two tries, for a Scottish victory.[25] In the final match of the tournament, against England at Twickenham on 20 March 1920, Crole was pitted against the English winger Cyril Lowe, like himself a former RFC flying ace. Scotland lost the game.[26]

Crole's older half brother, Phipps Turnbull, had previously gained a six rugby caps for Scotland in 1901–02,[27] and played for Edinburgh Academicals.[28]

Cricket

Gerard Crole

International information
National side	Scotland
Test debut	22 July 1920 v Ireland
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1909–1912	Edinburgh Academy
1912	Public Schools
1920	Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition FC Matches 2 Runs scored 90 Batting average 30 100s/50s - Top score 47 Balls bowled 48 Wickets 3-16 Bowling average 5.33 5 wickets in innings 0 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 3 Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricketarchive

Crole was also a keen cricketer, having played for his school, Edinburgh Academy, nine times between 1909 and 1912 against other schools, and twice for a combined Public Schools team against the MCC at Lord's in August 1912.[29]

In 1920 he played in two first-class matches, firstly for Oxford University against the Army at the University Parks, Oxford, on 9 to 11 June. In his first innings Crole made 47 runs (including a six and 4 fours) before being caught. He was out for eight in his second innings, but also made one catch.[30]

In his second first-class game Crole made his one and only appearance for the Scotland national team in a game against Ireland at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, on 22 to 24 July. In his first innings Crole made 35 runs (including 3 fours) before being out lbw. In the second innings Crole bowled three Irish batsmen, and Scotland won by 9 wickets.[31]

Colonial career

Crole joined the Sudan Political Service in 1920. He first served as Assistant District Commissioner at Wad Madani, Blue Nile Province until 1923, then as Commandant of the Sub-Mamurs' Training School at Khartoum until 1926, from when he was Assistant District Commissioner, and then District Commissioner at El Fasher, Darfur until 1929. He then served as Deputy Governor at Wau, Bahr el Ghazal until 1932.[32] On 8 June 1932 received permission from the King to wear the Order of the Nile (4th class) which had been awarded to him by HM the King of Egypt, "in recognition of valuable service rendered ... while in the employment of the Sudan Government".[33] Crole then served as District Commissioner at Kosti, White Nile Province until 1934, then Deputy Governor, Ed Dueim, White Nile Province, and District Commissioner at Nyala, Darfur in 1936. His final posting in 1937 was as Deputy Governor of El Fasher, where he remained until leaving the service in 1944.[32]

After leaving the Sudan Political Service he worked as a schoolmaster. Crole died in Aberdeen on 31 March 1965, and is buried in the family plot at Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland.[3]

Personal life

Crole married Katherine Margaret House (1900–1997) in Malvern in 1921, and they had three sons; Gerard Malcolm (1922–2008), Robin (b. 1926) and Colin (b. 1928).[4][34]

See also

• List of Scottish cricket and rugby union players
• List of World War I aces credited with 5 victories

References

Notes

1. Bath (2007), p.104
2. "Gerard Bruce Crole". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
3. Stevens, Anne Shurtleff (18 September 2011). "Photograph of the grave of Gerard Bruce Crole (1894–1965)". Find A Grave. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
4. Roberts, Michelle (8 January 2014). "Gravestone Photographs Resource Countries index page". Gravestone Photographs Resource. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
5. Craig, E. S.; Gibson, W. M., eds. (1920). Oxford University Roll of Service. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 7. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
6. "No. 28886". The London Gazette. 1 September 1914. p. 6903.
7. "No. 28992". The London Gazette. 1 December 1914. p. 10198.
8. "No. 29106". The London Gazette. 19 March 1915. p. 2744.
9. "No. 29667". The London Gazette. 14 July 1916. p. 6986.
10. "No. 29702". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 August 1916. p. 7896.
11. "No. 30085". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1917. p. 5009.
12. "No. 30308". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 9974.
13. "No. 30466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1918. p. 597.
14. "No. 30314". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 September 1917. p. 10116.
15. "Missing". Flight. IX (468): 1318. 13 December 1917. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
16. "Missing". Flight. IX (467): 1279. 6 December 1917. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
17. "Prisoner of War". Flight. X (472): 47. 10 January 1918. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
18. Shores et.al. (1997), p.125.
19. "Holzminden Internee List (September 1917 – December 1918)" (PDF). facesofholzminden.com. 29 March 2013. p. 4. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
20. "No. 31348". The London Gazette. 20 May 1919. p. 6251.
21. Wingfield, Chris (2014). "Oxford Diploma Students 1907-1920". Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
22. "Gerard Crole". ESPN Scrum. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
23. "France v Scotland at Parc des Princes 1920". ESPN Scrum. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
24. "Scotland v Wales at Inverleith 1920". ESPN Scrum. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
25. "Scotland v Ireland at Inverleith 1920". ESPN Scrum. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
26. "England v Scotland at Twickenham 1920". ESPN Scrum. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
27. "Phipps Turnbull". ESPN Scrum. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
28. Bath (2007), p.139
29. "Miscellaneous Matches played by Gerard Crole". cricketarchive.com. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014. July
30. "Oxford University v Army, June 1920". cricketarchive.com. 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
31. "Scotland v Ireland, 1920". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
32. "Catalogue of the papers of G.B. Crole". Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections: Sudan Archive. 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
33. "No. 33834". The London Gazette. 10 June 1932. p. 3782.
34. Turnbull, Brian (2010). "A Turnbull Family Tree". brian-turnbull.net. Retrieved 3 November 2014.

Bibliography

• Bath, Richard, ed. (2007). The Scotland Rugby Miscellany. Vision Sports Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-905326-24-6.
• Franks, Norman (2000). Nieuport Aces of World War I. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.
• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.