Archibald Frederick CRICHTON

CRICHTON, Archibald Frederick

Service Numbers: Not yet discovered
Enlisted: 13 November 1916
Last Rank: Captain
Last Unit: Sea Transport Staff
Born: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 12 January 1877
Home Town: Sandgate, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Bank Manager
Died: Illness, St. Martin's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 17 January 1947, aged 70 years
Cemetery: Warwick General Cemetery, Qld
Memorials:
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse
1 Oct 1899: Involvement Lieutenant, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry
17 May 1901: Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry
25 Mar 1902: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, Part of 'D'company that embarked on the transport Englishman- source Murray, p. 527.
11 Jul 1902: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, Embarked in Durban to return to Australia on the transport Drayton Grange- source Murray, p.527.
19 Aug 1902: Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, 'D'company was disbanded- source Murray, p.527.

World War 1 Service

13 Nov 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Sea Transport Staff
17 Nov 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, Sea Transport Staff, Embarked from Brisbane aboard Kyara 17 Nov 1916 arriving Plymouth 30 Jan 1917.
14 Apr 1917: Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, Sea Transport Staff

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

MR. A. F. CRICHTON
Mr. Archibald Frederick Crichton, whose death occurred in St. Martin's Hospital, Brisbane, on January 17, alter an illness of three months, was a well-known Warwick businessman and was formerly manager of the Warwick branch of the Queensland National Bank for 16 years. He was 70 years old, the eldest son of a British Army officer, Captain A. E. Crichton and Mrs Crichton, who, before coming to Australia, had been stationed in India. He was born  and educated in Brisbane. For a short time after leaving school he worked with a firm of merchants, but later joined the staff of the Queensland  National Bank. After serving with the bank in Brisbane Mr Crichton was transferred to Cunnamulla, where he  was stationed on the outbreak of the Boer War. He enlisted and served overseas with the Third Division, 2nd Queensland South African Contingent, gaining the rank of Lieutenant.


He returned to Australia with the Contingent and on rejoining the bank's staff was transferred to Normanton. However, at this time a second  Commonwealth Contingent whs raised, for South Africa, and Mr Crichton re-enlisted for a further term of overseas service. Battle engagements in which he participated, included Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Driefontein and Cape Colony. His father and a brother, Aubrey, also served In South Africa. 


Returning to Australia (Mr Crichton became accountant at the Allora branch of the Queensland National Bank and was then transferred to Rosewood as manager. On the outbreak of World War 1 he enlisted in the A.I.F., but because of his Boer War experience he was retained for some time in Australia  on the Instructional staff. Later, however, he was posted abroad on sea transport duties, with the rank of Captain.


On demobilisation Mr. Crichton returned to Allora as branch manager. He was afterwards, manager at Clifton before being transferred as manager to  Warwick, where he replaced Mr. A. J. A. Moody on the latter's retirement. He remained at Warwick until he reached the retiring age eight years ago. He  then commenced business as a commission agent, in which he was engaged until his last illness.


The late Mr. Crichton was treasurer of the Warwick Turf Club for a number of years and occupied the president's chair for a term, He was a keen golfer  for many years, and more recently was a member of the Warwick Bowling Club. During his stays in Allora and Clifton he was actively associated with  the show societies in each town. His chief hobby, however, was his vegetable garden, in which he took the greatest pride and consistently produced  some outstanding specimens. He always maintained the greatest interest in military affairs. For over 20 years he was a member of Queensland  Mounted Infantry, from which he retired with the rank of Major and with the Volunteer Decoration.


In 1905 he married Miss Mabel Feldt, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. Feldt, of Norlands, near Ingham. Besides his widow he leaves a daughter, Enid  (Commonwealth Public Service, Canberra), and two sons, Colin and Douglas (principals of the firm of Crichton and Co., Warwick). One son, Basil,  predeceased him 14 years ago. There are also four brothers, Aubrey (Brisbane), Cecil (Sydney), Norman (Brisbane) and Gordon (Gladstone) and three  sisters, Mrs E. Henderson (Kilkivan), Mrs. H. Edwards (Gladstone), and Mrs. G. Williams (Yeronga).


The large cortege at the funeral to the Warwick Cemetery was testimony to the high regard in which the late Mr Crichton was held in Warwick and  district. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. W. Hoog.

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