Lieutenant Colonel Henry Powell Croom-Johhnson CMG CBE OBE TD Royal Rifle Corps
Companion of theOrder of St Michael and St George.
|
Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil)
|
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military). 1939-45 Star. Italy Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45with MiD. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial' US Medal of Freedom 1945 with bronze palm.
The Man Henry Powell Croom-Johnson was born on 15 December 1910, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, eldest son of Honourable Sir Reginald Croom-Johnson, a High Court Judge and Member of Parliament and Lady Ruby Ernestine nee Hobbs. He was one of three children, Oliver Powell born in 1912, but killed in action in 1940 as a Pilot and David Powell (later Sir and QC) 1914-2010.
Henry was Baptised on 18th February at St Paul’s, Clifton and the1911 census shows him and parents living at Denniel Cottage, Reynolds Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, they had two servants, Frances Maria Rowsell and Kate Evelyn Savage also living with them.
Henry was educated at Stowe School aged 14 and proceeded to Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1929 gaining a first class honours in both French and German gaining Part I and II of the Tripos completing his term at Cambridge with an unbroken record of ‘firsts’. He entered the teaching field and became assistant master at Bedford School between 1932 and 1934 and was living with his parents at 80 Hamilton Terrace, London.
Henry joined the Officer Cadet Corps at Cambridge and appointed 2nd Lieutenant (late Officer Cadet Corporal, Cambridge University O.T.C.) on 1st March 1932 for service with the Bedford School Contingent. He was appointed to the Territorial Army General List on 29th September1934.
In 1935 he joined the staff of the British Council and became secretary to the Lecture Committee in 1936. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 16th London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) Territorial Army on 3rd February 1937 with service number 53609 and promoted to Lieutenant in December 1937. He now lived with his parents at 3 Cranley Mews, Chelsea.
Henry was mobilised and embodied at the start of World War II in September 1939 serving with the Queen’s Westminster’s and King’s Royal Rifle Corps in Sicily, Italy and Greece. He was promoted to Staff Captain on 2nd January 1941 as a Deputy Assistant Quartermaster in the Adjutant General to Forces department and Greece
He was promoted Substantive Major on 25th September 1943 and temporary Lieutenant Colonel the same day. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 24th August 1944 for gallant and distinguished services in Italy. This was followed by his appointment as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Division) in the London Gazette of 21st December 1944 and with H.Q. 6 Base Sub Area.
Following the War Henry was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and rejoined the British Council in 1946. He was also awarded the United States Medal of Freedom with bronze palm for distinguished services in the cause of the Allies, as Chief of the Economics and Supply Division, G-5 Civil Affairs and Military Government Section, Allied Force Headquarters. He was granted unrestricted permission to wear the award in the London Gazette of 23rd May 1947.
During the third quarter of 1947, aged 37 he married Joan (also known as Jane) Ethel Mandry in Kensington and they lived at 2 Ashburn Gardens, Kensington having two sons, Oliver Powell born on 6th January 1951 and William Slade 1952.
Henry was awarded his Efficiency Decoration as Honorary Colonel in the London Gazette of 13th February 1948 and promoted to controller of the Finance Division with the British Council being awarded awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil) in the London Gazette of 19th June 1954.
He was promoted in 1956 to controller of the European Division of the British Council and became the representative in India from 1957 to 1964, serving in Baghdad and Mosul during 1958. being appointed as a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George in the LG of 1st January 1964. He ceased to belong to the TARO 18th February 1961 aged 50.
Henry was then appointed Controller of Overseas Division ‘B’ in 1964 and was Assistant Director-General of the British Council from 1966 until his retirement in 1973 aged 63.
In later life Henry and Jane lived at 3A Ravenscourt Square, London and 10-12 Riverdale Gardens, Twickenham. Henry died on 22 March 1994 aged 83, leaving an estate valued at £173,455.00. Jane lived a further six months passing away on 9th September the same year.
Henry was Baptised on 18th February at St Paul’s, Clifton and the1911 census shows him and parents living at Denniel Cottage, Reynolds Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, they had two servants, Frances Maria Rowsell and Kate Evelyn Savage also living with them.
Henry was educated at Stowe School aged 14 and proceeded to Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1929 gaining a first class honours in both French and German gaining Part I and II of the Tripos completing his term at Cambridge with an unbroken record of ‘firsts’. He entered the teaching field and became assistant master at Bedford School between 1932 and 1934 and was living with his parents at 80 Hamilton Terrace, London.
Henry joined the Officer Cadet Corps at Cambridge and appointed 2nd Lieutenant (late Officer Cadet Corporal, Cambridge University O.T.C.) on 1st March 1932 for service with the Bedford School Contingent. He was appointed to the Territorial Army General List on 29th September1934.
In 1935 he joined the staff of the British Council and became secretary to the Lecture Committee in 1936. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 16th London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) Territorial Army on 3rd February 1937 with service number 53609 and promoted to Lieutenant in December 1937. He now lived with his parents at 3 Cranley Mews, Chelsea.
Henry was mobilised and embodied at the start of World War II in September 1939 serving with the Queen’s Westminster’s and King’s Royal Rifle Corps in Sicily, Italy and Greece. He was promoted to Staff Captain on 2nd January 1941 as a Deputy Assistant Quartermaster in the Adjutant General to Forces department and Greece
He was promoted Substantive Major on 25th September 1943 and temporary Lieutenant Colonel the same day. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 24th August 1944 for gallant and distinguished services in Italy. This was followed by his appointment as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Division) in the London Gazette of 21st December 1944 and with H.Q. 6 Base Sub Area.
Following the War Henry was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and rejoined the British Council in 1946. He was also awarded the United States Medal of Freedom with bronze palm for distinguished services in the cause of the Allies, as Chief of the Economics and Supply Division, G-5 Civil Affairs and Military Government Section, Allied Force Headquarters. He was granted unrestricted permission to wear the award in the London Gazette of 23rd May 1947.
During the third quarter of 1947, aged 37 he married Joan (also known as Jane) Ethel Mandry in Kensington and they lived at 2 Ashburn Gardens, Kensington having two sons, Oliver Powell born on 6th January 1951 and William Slade 1952.
Henry was awarded his Efficiency Decoration as Honorary Colonel in the London Gazette of 13th February 1948 and promoted to controller of the Finance Division with the British Council being awarded awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil) in the London Gazette of 19th June 1954.
He was promoted in 1956 to controller of the European Division of the British Council and became the representative in India from 1957 to 1964, serving in Baghdad and Mosul during 1958. being appointed as a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George in the LG of 1st January 1964. He ceased to belong to the TARO 18th February 1961 aged 50.
Henry was then appointed Controller of Overseas Division ‘B’ in 1964 and was Assistant Director-General of the British Council from 1966 until his retirement in 1973 aged 63.
In later life Henry and Jane lived at 3A Ravenscourt Square, London and 10-12 Riverdale Gardens, Twickenham. Henry died on 22 March 1994 aged 83, leaving an estate valued at £173,455.00. Jane lived a further six months passing away on 9th September the same year.
|
|
Some of Henry Croom-Johnson's badges
The Story The Orders and medals awarded to Henry Powell Croom-Johnson were acquired from Noonans auction on 17th January 2024 and of interest because of the Efficiency Decoration and US Medal of Freedom combination, an unusual one not seen before.
Henry’s father Reginald and brother David were both famous, as High Court Judges and Henry appears to have been the less well-known son, however achieving much in his own right and arguably more highly decorated than his father or siblings.
A lot of research had already been completed, with Ancestry, London Gazette and the Newspaper Archives filling in some of the gaps. His World War II Medal Index Card also confirmed his medal entitlement.
An interesting and possibly unique combination of Orders, Decorations and medals.
Henry’s father Reginald and brother David were both famous, as High Court Judges and Henry appears to have been the less well-known son, however achieving much in his own right and arguably more highly decorated than his father or siblings.
A lot of research had already been completed, with Ancestry, London Gazette and the Newspaper Archives filling in some of the gaps. His World War II Medal Index Card also confirmed his medal entitlement.
An interesting and possibly unique combination of Orders, Decorations and medals.
|
|
Henry's dog tags
|
|
Medal Details:
- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George: Unnamed as awarded.
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded
- Efficiency Decoration: 1948
- US Medal of Freedom 1945: Unnamed as awarded.
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: Stephen G CROFT
Go next Page: Alexander Urquhart CROSS
Go to Previous Page: Stephen G CROFT
Go next Page: Alexander Urquhart CROSS
This page last updated 17 Nov 24
1880
