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Hint: This site is intended as a search aid - not a definitive source. It is essentially an index to documents that seem to relate to this person plus a very brief precis of relevant elements. Sources often conflict and I also flag things with a ? when I am unsure. So if the information below is important to you, then please check the original sources to see what else they contain (and in case I have inadvertantly introduced transcription and/or precising errors). There can be additional information that was not included in the database for both space and copyright reasons.

 

Surname		CRIGHTON
Given Name(s) or Initial(s)		John Wyllie
Regimental Number		402
Rank		Private
Unit Name		4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen
State		Vic
Extracts and Comments (from Sources as shown)		Murray: John Wyllie, died of enteric at Mafeking on 18.9.1900. Price1: War Memorials Bairnsdale Canberra Ballarat Sale. Blair: Warragul Vic. URL2: CRICHTON JW war memorial Warragul Vic. B5179: born 1876 a bushman from Warragul Vic. Droogleever: John Wylie. URL3: The following additional Australasian casualties are reported from London 22.9.1900 - Private MJ CREIGHTON, of Victoria, died from enteric fever at Mafeking. Trooper J GILSHENNAN severely wounded at Sher Poort. URL4: Mr A MCLEAN MHR, performed the ceremony of unveiling [the memorial at Bairnsdale c6.1903]. THE INSCRIPTIONS. WEST FACE - Lance-Corpl. WD MAYS, Bairnsdale; Private AT WOODMAN, Bairnsdale; Private R MCGREGOR, Lindenow; Private HO WALFORD, Bulumwaal. NORTH FACE - Private AH WILSON, Sale; Private MM ATKINTON, Sale; Private H LAMB, Sale; Private J RANKIN, Sale; Private FH CAUGNEY, Iguana Creek. SOUTH FACE - Corporal J MCGOWAN, Warragul; Private JW CRIGHTON, Warragul; Private TJ ROSE, Morwell; Private GW BOLDING, Morwell; Private AB DAVIDSON, Moe. EAST FACE - Sergeant DH PRUDEN, Newry; Sergeant MT MCDONALD, Yinnar; Private J MCCLURE, Won Wron; Private J JONSON, Hospital Creek; Private EA VALPIED, Toora. URL5: "IN MEMORIAM." IMPRESSIVE SERVICE AT THE WESLEYAN CHURCH. IN HONOR OF THE DECEASED SOLDIERS. Sergeant John MCGOWAN, Private John CREIGHTON. Text-"I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do."-John 17 c. 4 v. An "In Memoriam" service in honor of two Australian Soldiers - Sergeant John MCGOWAN and Private John CREIGHTON both of Warragul, who have met a soldiers death at the seat of war in South Africa, was held at Warragul Wesleyan Church on Sunday last [16.12.1900], the Rev. HH WILLIAMS officiating. The occasion was a memorable one, for it was the first of its kind ever held in this town. The large building was crowded to the doors several being unable to obtain admission. Members of the Victorian Mounted Rifles, and the Victorian Rangers who were present in their regimentals, out of respect to their dead comrades in arms, occupied specially reserved seats in the body of the Church. The rostrum and pulpit were impressively draped with white muslin and heavy folds of crepe, while the large brass candelabra on either side of the pulpit, were also enveloped in similar tokens of grief. The choir - of which one of the deceased soldiers was a member - were seated behind the pulpit, and were also in mourning, the gay colours which usually predominate in the costumes of the ladies, being conspicuously absent in this occasion of sadness. In front of the heavily draped pulpit was a beautiful vase of lovely lillies, which stood out in marked relief to the heavy dark drapery in the back ground. Never before has the church presented such a solemn and impressive appearance, and it was manifest that the labor of love had been carried out by sympathetic hands in reverence for those who had given their lives for the service of their church, their Queen, and their country. The Rev. HH WILLIAMS, to whose congregation both of the deceased soldiers belonged, was considerably affected by the solemn sadness of his task. Having selected his text from the 17 chapter John and 4th verse. "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do", The rev. gentleman said that when Christ made use of those words he spoke the absolute truth. How far did they apply to their two soldiers friends in whose honor the service was dedicated that night? He believed they had fought a good fight and they were in the path of duty. That they had been actuated to some extent, by a spirit of adventure in volunteering for service in South Africa, was only to say they had shown themselves true sons of Britain. But at the back of that incentive he believed they felt a grand sense of duty, and when a man realised such a duty, it was not only the call of duty, but the call of God. They had nobly responded to the call. Australia had sent forth her best and bravest to help to relieve their fellow country men in South Africa, from the burdens heaped upon them by those in power, who also had the whip hand and refused to meet out justice and equity to all. It was the work of God, and their two deceased friends had done their part of it. But what was to come out of all that bloodshed and sacrifice. Christ in his short life sowed the seed for the moral regeneration of mankind and the work of our soldiers in Africa would result in a new life for the people, and from the blood and sacrifice of our troops would arise a new nation, where all men would be free. The Australian troops had been through great privations and suffered severe hardships but they had always proved themselves equal to the task set before them, and their work had been extolled by every leader under whom they served. Only a few days ago a letter had been received from Lieut. NICHOL at the seat of war stating that Private John CRIGHTON was his orderly and a splendid young fellow in every respect. His Christian character had influenced the writer for good, and he bore testimony to the good work of the young soldier. By his example and advice, many of the other troops were led to send their money home. instead of spending it foolishly, and in various ways he testified to his exemplary life. His last message to his mother was "Tell her I am not afraid to die" and he was charactered by his superior officer as one of the best lads that ever left Australia. Sergeant John MCGOWAN was for 10 years a local preacher and when last year troops were required for South Africa he felt it his duty to go. He was in the thick of the fight at Karee Siding and Rensberg which he described in his last letter received a few days ago. At Rensberg at the age of 25, this promising young soldier had been called to his eternal home. He was a good soldier, and had served his Queen and his country well. Addressing a few words of sympathy to the bereaved parents who were in the church, the rev. gentleman reminded them of the honor and respect shown to their noble sons, and the respectful sympathy extended to themselves by the large congregation present on that occasion. At the close of the service the "Dead March in Saul" was played on the organ, the audience standing out of respect to the deceased soldiers. URL6: CHILDREN OF THE EMPIRE! "WELCOME HOME." ENTHUSIASTIC DEMONSTRATION AT WARRAGUL. HANDSOME PRESENTATIONS TO THE TROOPS. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. FIGHTING FOR THE FLAG. A NOBLE TRIBUTE TO A BRAVE COMRADE. "We're ordered out to take that gun, and I'm going to be in it."-Corpl. MCGOWAN. The return of our troops from the South African war was celebrated in the public hall Warragul, on Friday night, [21.12.1900] when all the men from this district received a very cordial welcome home. The building was decorated with various emblems of the Empire, and the Victorian Ensign floated over the stage. The members of the Warragul section of the Victorian Mounted Rifles and Victorian Rangers under Lieuts. OGILVY and FARRAR occupied seats on the platform, while the returned soldiers were accorded seats of honour in front of the other military men. Sergeant-Major ROBERTSON also occupied a seat on the platform. The President of the Warragul Shire (Cr. D. MCNEIL) presided, and in the course of his patriotic speech said they had met together on that occasion to do honor to Australia's gallant sons, who had fought the battles of the Empire in South Africa (cheers). He was delighted to have the privilege, on behalf of The residents of the Warragul Shire, to welcome home again such brave and splendid fellows as those who held seats of honor upon the platform that night. (loud cheers) It was true they had not yet all come back; Corporal CONNER and Privates LANCASTER and CAMPBELL, were still fighting for their country, and helping to win glory and renown for their native land (cheers.) A touch of deep sadness, however, came over everyone when they remembered that two comrades of those present, the gallant boys McGOWAN and CRIGHTON, would return no more, for they had found a soldier's grave, when nobly fulfilling their duty to the Empire. Their names, however, would not be forgotten in the town which was once their home. (Hear, hear.) The gathering present that evening was not only interesting but unique, for it was in celebration of the return of Colonial soldiers who.,for the first time, had fought in the cause of the Empire. When the Mother Country called, right nobly they responded, and their work had been praised by every general of note in South Africa. (Cheers.) Their record of valor on the field had placed every Australian under a deep obligation to them, for upholding the credit of their country and raising the military standard of Australia in the eyes of the whole world. They had indeed shown that "Tommy Atkins", under some conditions at any rate, was not the very best man, while the Boers themselves had frequently declared their dislike to an encounter with the Australians. In giving them a hearty welcome home again. he had been asked to present to each of the returned soldiers from the Warragul shire a slight memento from the people of the town and district, in recognition of their high appreciation of the services which they had rendered to the Empire.-(Loud cheers.) The presentation consisted of a group of eleven photographs in a beautifully embellished mount and handsomely inscribed and framed, comprising the 11 men who belonged to the Warragul Shire, viz. - Sergeant ALLINSON, Corporals CONNOR and MCGOWAN and Privates KEEBLE, STREITBERG, TACKABERRY, CRIGHTON, BROOKER, LANCASTER and CAMPBELL. Only six presentations were made on Friday night, the souvenirs for Corporal CONNOR and Privates LANCASTER and CAMPBELL, will be carefully reserved for them by the committee, while those for their deceased comrades will be presented to their sorrowing parents. Each of the soldiers when requested by the President to accept the gift, received a very hearty reception, cheers being given to every man as he acknowledged the souvenir in a few soldierly but appropriate remarks. In fact this part of the ordeal was frankly admitted by the recipients to be the most difficult part of the performance, one of them expressing his conviction that he would infinitely prefer a week under fire, on the top of a kopie. After the presentations had been made the President requested Sergeant ALLINSON to relate some of his experiences during the campaign. In responding to the invitation Sergeant ALLINSON said they were all pleased to see that their efforts to do something in the cause of the empire was so highly appreciated by the people. While at the front line he, in common with his comrades, had been in some tight place, one of the "tightest" being at Kharee siding, where his horse was shot and several of his comrades badly wounded. On the long trying march to Bloemfontein he often saw horses lying dead on the veldt, grim evidences of the work and fatigue they had undergone. He was in the skirmish where Capt. LILLEY was shot in the head and two others wounded while they had several of their horses killed by the pom-pom of the Boers. When they arrived at Kroonstadt the ladies came out and brought them tea and bread and butter, and he had never tasted sweeter bread and butter in his life. (Laughter). He was glad to see their lost comrades had not been forgotten, for Corporal MCGOWAN had been with him throughout, though he had not met Private CRIGHTON. He remembered one incident in connection with Corporal MCGOWAN. His (MCGOWAN's) company had been ordered out to capture a gun. He saw MCGOWAN taking off his tunic and relieving himself of all superfluous kit. So he asked, What's up Jack? MCGOWAN replied "We are ordered to take that gun and I am going to be in it". (Cheers.) That was the stuff the Australian troops were made of. (Loud cheers). Refreshments were then kindly handed round by the men in "Khaki", and the audience chatted freely with them as they examined the beautiful mementos which had been presented to the men. The proceedings during the evening were interspersed with songs and recitations. Miss PRICE scored a great success, and her selection of martial songs was admirable. She was in splendid voice, and her rendering of " Red, White and Blue" was encored again and again, the waving of the tiny Union Jack giving additional effect, to her song. Miss GERMAINE again kindly contributed two numbers, the best being "There's something in the English, after all," which was enthusiastically received. The Rev. Frank LYNCH gave a splendid recitation, based upon an incident in the American war of Independence. It was splendidly done and loudly encored. Sergeant-Major ROBERTSON also gave Banjo PATTERSON's "The Man from Snowy River." This item also received vociferous applause, and was one of the finest pieces of elocution ever heard in Warragul. The singing of the National Anthem closed the proceedings. Mr. John DODDS presided at the piano throughout the evening, and the catering was entrusted to Mr. BUTLIN, of Warragul, who successfully carried out a rather large contract.
Source References		Murray: Official Records of the Australian Contingents etc. page(s) 269 336 Price1: They Proved to all the Earth page(s) 39 Source:# Oz-Boer contributed source number 157 Blair: Shoulder to Shoulder - Military History of Baw Baw Shire page(s) 5 8 B5179: National Archives of Australia series B5179 item A Droogleever: That Ragged Mob - 3VB & 4VIB page(s) 282, 559 West Australian: West Australian newspaper date(s) 24.9.1900 Morwell Adv.: Morwell Advertiser newspaper date(s) 19.6.1903 W.Gipps.Gaz.: West Gippsland Gazette newspaper date(s) 18 & 25.12.1900
External Link URL1		www.hagsoc.org.au/sagraves/nmcdb/nmcdb-search.php
External Link URL2		www.skp.com.au/memorials/pages/30234.htm
External Link URL3		nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23844410
External Link URL4		nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65880640
External Link URL5		nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68701905
External Link URL6		nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68701939

Please email me if you can contribute any other relevant information about this person (eg any other military service, where in Australia they came from or when/where they died). Also, if you find an external link broken.


Apology: For some time now it has been difficult to keep up with the newly available sources (especially the Trove newspaper site) plus the flow of contributions and queries. So I have been forced to prioritise maintenance and data entry over replying to correspondence. Nevertheless, your contributions are being added to the database and acknowledged on the contributions page and, although my replies are many months behind, I will attempt to get to them more often.

 

Colin Roe
Canberra

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