John Henry Robert Crane

Memorial: South Gloucestershire war dead not on a local memorial

Regiment: Royal Artillery

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Gunner 11254931

Parents: Samuel Wilfred and Lilian Florence Crane

Home address: 51 King Street, Kingswood, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Motor Salesman

Date of birth: 12/02/1922

Place of birth: Bristol

Date of death: 25/03/1944

Buried/Commemorated at: Buried at Two-Mile-Hill (St. Michael) Churchyard, Gloucestershire. Not commemorated on a local memorial

Age: 22

Further information:

John was born in Bristol, the son of a labourer and the second eldest child of four with two brothers and a sister.
John served in the 126th (Middlesex) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery which was formed in February 1942 by the re-designation of the 60th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment and consisted of four batteries including the 429th. It was armed with Bofors guns and served in a Home Defence role up to and including the time of John’s death. John’s service records state only that he died and not whether his death was war related. His death was registered in Sturminster Newton Dorset, but the cause is not known. He was buried in his home town.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/battalion.php?pid=1281