Gerard Crole
| Gerard Bruce Crole | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 June 1894 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 31 March 1965 (aged 70) |
| Buried at | 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 |
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playing career | |||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1912-1914, 1919-1920 | Oxford University | - | - |
| National team(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1920 | Scotland | 4 | (9) |
| International information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National side | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut | 22 July 1920 v Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1909–1912 | Edinburgh Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1912 | Public Schools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1920 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Cricketarchive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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, and was also a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
Crole was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the only son of Gerard Lake Crole KC (1855–1927), an advocate who served as Sheriff of Lothian and Peebles, 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.
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, but this was cancelled on 1 December, and he was then commissioned again on 4 January 1915 as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery.
On 28 June 1916 he was transferred to the General List, and appointed an observer in the Royal Flying Corps, with the rank of temporary lieutenant from 1 July. On 27 April 1917 he was appointed a flying officer with seniority from 24 February 1916.
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. On 25 September 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross. His citation read:
...
Wikipedia