Scots Victoria Cross hero who was last living WW2 recipient dies aged 105
A Scottish war hero has died at the age of 105. John Cruickshank was the last surviving recipient of the Victoria Cross award from World War Two.
The flight lieutenant, from Aberdeen, had earned the honour for his attack on a German U-Boat, downing the enemy submarine in June 1944 despite having suffered significant injuries.
He sustained 72 injuries, including wound to his lungs and 10 to his lower limbs, after spotting the sub ahead and going on the attack in the face of heavy gunfire.
However, their bombs did not release, forcing Flt Lt Cruickshank to turn the aircraft around and attack again. On that occasion, he released the bombs himself, successfully destroying the submarine.
Navigator John Dickson was killed while his co-pilot and two others members of the crew were seriously injured. Flt Lt Cruickshank refused medical attention after the attack and flew the aircraft back to its base at Sullom Voe in Shetland.
He never returned to operational flying and left the RAF in 1946 for a career in banking. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest recognition for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces.
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Flt Lt Cruickshank was praised for setting an example of "determination, fortitude and devotion to duty" when the honour was bestowed on him by King George VI.
He rarely talked about his experiences, saying in 2008: "You don't get involved in that kind of thing thinking of any decorations or any recognition. It was regarded as duty."
In 2013, he was given the opportunity to fly in an aircraft similar to the one he piloted during the war. Last year, a Catalina flying boat was flown over Flt Lt Cruickshank's home in Aberdeen to mark his 104th birthday.
The BBC reports Flight Lieutenant Cruickshank's family said he died last week and a funeral would be held in private. The veteran's heroics took place on June 17, 1944, while protecting British vessels in the Norwegian Sea.
He was the last to die of 181 people who received the country's highest military honour for their actions in the conflict, which ran from 1939 to 1945.
The Telegraph reports he was born on May 20, 1920, in Aberdeen and was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at Daniel Stewart's College in Edinburgh.
He joined the Commercial Bank of Scotland and in April 1939 he enlisted as a gunner in the Territorial Army. He was mobilised when war broke out and joined the 129th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
In January 1941 he transferred to the Royal Air Force to train as a pilot. Following courses in Canada and the USA he was commissioned in the RAFVR and in March 1943 he joined No 210.
In July he sighted and attacked a U-boat without result and in September spotted a boatload of 11 survivors in the Bay of Biscay and directed two warships to their rescue.
After recovering from his wounds Cruickshank served at Headquarters, Coastal Command. He was released from the RAF and served for two years as ADC to the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
He returned to banking and in 1952 joined Grindlay's Bank with whom he established a reputation in the international field in Asia and Africa.
He returned from South Africa to Scotland in 1977 to be the Administrator, Northern Division, North-West Securities until he finally retired in 1985.
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