Patty Crofton

Lt-Col. D.G. Crofton

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Lieutenant-Colonel Des Crofton
Canadian Scottish Regiment

Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton remained seriously wounded in this exposed position for twelve hours when he was finally evacuated by our Medical Officer. Throughout these actions in Holland Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton’s fearless leadership, gallantry and devotion to duty were an inspiration to all ranks and in no small measure influenced the tide of battle. His splendid part in the liberation of Holland was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Canadian Army and of the Regiment he so faithfully commanded.

(Bronze Lion citation, 22 Dec 1945)

Born on 10 July 1905 in Ganges, British Columbia, Desmond Gerald Crofton was a sportsman and tennis player. Commissioned with the Canadian Scottish Regiment since the late 1920s, he went overseas as a platoon leader in August 1941. He commanded “C” Company in the D-Day landings and became second-in-command during the Normandy campaign. At the end of August, he succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel R.M. Lendrum on his transfer to command the Royal Regiment of Canada.

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Maj. P.D. Crofton

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Major Pat Crofton
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
Crofton

Without Patty Crofton’s common sense, steady hand and constant good humour, I doubt if the Regiment would have survived. Through some incredible blundering or plain stupidity on the part of the staff, Patty remained a major and was not given his rightful rank of lieutenant colonel. Not once did Patty ever complain, but it annoyed me then and still does.

(C. Sydney Frost, Once a Patricia, 466)                                         

Born in Salt Spring, British Columbia on 20 January 1915, Patrick Donovan Crofton joined the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry as a lieutenant in August 1940 from the Canadian Scottish Regiment. Five years later he was one of the old veterans of the PPCLI. Despite being three-times wounded, he served from the landing at Sicily in July 1943 through the Italian campaign until the end of the war in Northwest Europe. When Lieutenant-Colonel R.P. Clark joined the Royal Winnipeg Rifles as part of the occupation of Germany in June 1945, Crofton took over the PPCLI.

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