Sydney Crookshank
Major-General Sir Sydney D'Aguilar Crookshank was a British military engineer who served with the Royal Engineers in the British Army and the British Indian Army. Most of his early career was spent in colonial service; he later served as a senior officer during the First World War.
As a temporary Lieutenant-Colonel he was Commander, Royal Engineers, of 47th Division on the Western Front from 30 July 1915 to 27 November 1916. On 21 May 1916 in the Vimy sector the Germans fired a mine and attacked the division's positions in overwhelming numbers. The situation was so critical for a while that Crookshank brought his Sappers of 47th Divisional Engineers up to man the trenches as infantry. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order on 3 June 1916. Later, as a Major-General he was appointed Director-General of the British Armies in France on 19 March 1918.
After the war, Crookshank was appointed Honorary Colonel of 47th Divisional Engineers on 3 March 1923.
