Vernon Erskine-Crum
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Vernon Forbes Erskine-Crum, CIE
, MC
(11 December 1918 – 17 March 1971) was a British Army
officer, who briefly served as General Officer Commanding
in Northern Ireland
during the early period of the Troubles
.
and New College, Oxford
. In 1940 he was commissioned into the Scots Guards
, and served with the regiment for the remainder of the war. He won a Military Cross
(MC) during the North-West European campaign in 1944.
in 1945, he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and posted to the staff in South-East Asia, arriving just after the Japanese surrender. He served as the Conference Secretary to Lord Mountbatten
, a position he held for just over a year before returning to regimental duty in England, commanding a company of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards.
After six weeks, he was recalled by Mountbatten, who had been appointed Viceroy of India, and again served as his Conference Secretary until he left India in 1948. For his services, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
on 30 December 1947.
of the Scots Guards, and then a succession of other administrative posts; adjutant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, Brigade Major
of the Household Brigade, Commandant of the Guards Depot, and Assistant Adjutant General
of the London District.
On 9 February 1962, he was promoted Colonel, and from 1962 to 1963 was Secretary of the Joint Planning Staff. In 1963 he was appointed to command 4th Guards Brigade Group, promoted to Brigadier on 9 February 1966, and appointed to command 4th Division
in 1967.
He was appointed Co-ordinator of the Imperial Defence College on 15 October 1969, and Chief Army Instructor there on 1 February 1970. Following this position, he was appointed GOC and Director of Operations in Northern Ireland on 4 February 1971, to replace Lieutenant-General Ian Freeland
, but he suffered a heart attack on the 16th and was relieved by Lieutenant-General Harry Tuzo
on 2 March.
and Lady Aimée Dawson (GBE) in 1948. They had one son, Brigadier Douglas Erskine Crum.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(11 December 1918 – 17 March 1971) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer, who briefly served as General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
during the early period of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
.
Regimental career
He was born in Calcutta, the younger son of Sir William Erskine Crum, and educated at EtonEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. In 1940 he was commissioned into the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
, and served with the regiment for the remainder of the war. He won a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC) during the North-West European campaign in 1944.
Indian service
After training at the Staff CollegeStaff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
in 1945, he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and posted to the staff in South-East Asia, arriving just after the Japanese surrender. He served as the Conference Secretary to Lord Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, a position he held for just over a year before returning to regimental duty in England, commanding a company of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards.
After six weeks, he was recalled by Mountbatten, who had been appointed Viceroy of India, and again served as his Conference Secretary until he left India in 1948. For his services, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
on 30 December 1947.
Senior Command
On returning from India, he was appointed as the regimental adjutantAdjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the Scots Guards, and then a succession of other administrative posts; adjutant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of the Household Brigade, Commandant of the Guards Depot, and Assistant Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the London District.
On 9 February 1962, he was promoted Colonel, and from 1962 to 1963 was Secretary of the Joint Planning Staff. In 1963 he was appointed to command 4th Guards Brigade Group, promoted to Brigadier on 9 February 1966, and appointed to command 4th Division
4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
The 4th Infantry Division is a regular British Army division with a long history having been present at the Peninsular War the Crimean War , the First World War , and during the Second World War.- Napoleonic Wars :...
in 1967.
He was appointed Co-ordinator of the Imperial Defence College on 15 October 1969, and Chief Army Instructor there on 1 February 1970. Following this position, he was appointed GOC and Director of Operations in Northern Ireland on 4 February 1971, to replace Lieutenant-General Ian Freeland
Ian Freeland
Lieutenant-General Sir Ian Henry Freeland GBE KCB DSO DL was a British Army officer, who most notably served as Army General Officer Commanding and Director of Operations in security matters in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of rioting in 1969, and the beginning of the Troubles.-Early career...
, but he suffered a heart attack on the 16th and was relieved by Lieutenant-General Harry Tuzo
Harry Tuzo
General Sir Harry Craufurd Tuzo, GCB, OBE, MC was a British Army officer who was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe and GOC of the British Army in Northern Ireland during the early period of the Troubles.-Early life:...
on 2 March.
Death
He died a month after his heart attack, in hospital, on 17 March 1971, aged 52. His brief spell in Northern Ireland witnessed the escalation of tensions, as well as the first death of a British soldier, Gunner Robert Curtis, on 6 February.Family
He married Rosemary Douglas, the daughter of Brigadier Sir Douglas DawsonDouglas Dawson
Brigadier-General Sir Douglas Frederick Rawdon Dawson , GCVO, KCB, CMG, was a British Army general officer.He was the second son of the Hon. Thomas Vesey Dawson, an officer of the Coldstream Guards who was killed at the Battle of Inkerman. Hispaternal grandfather was Richard Thomas Dawson, 2nd...
and Lady Aimée Dawson (GBE) in 1948. They had one son, Brigadier Douglas Erskine Crum.