CRICHTON, JOHN [1917-1993]
World War II Archive – Documents & Photographs
Material relating to his time as the official war photographer with the rank of Captain in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1939- 1945 assigned to the Fourteenth Army in Burma.
The material consists of 6 albums; two of them ring binders containing long typescripts, No.1 Album, typescript titled ‘How I became a War Photographers with the 14th army in Burma’; ‘My First Assignment’. Another album with typescript ‘Mandalay story’, both are detailed and describe his journeys in the battle fields looking for press photographs. Three other typescripts including details from books by Frank Owens ‘Imphal’; ‘The battle of the Admin Box’ and ‘The second Attack from Arakan’. There are 4 other albums with a large number of original photographs, newspaper clippings all are profusely illustrated with views of battles, capture of prisoners, tanks, military vehicles, battles, photographs of the dead and wounded. Many of the photographs are titled and with ‘press’ descriptions verso.
Four full plate images [300 x 380mm] of military scenes each with exhibition details verso.
5 small notebooks which appear to be part diaries, and part address books, as well as newspaper clippings.
His shoulder badges with ‘Official War Photographer’ embroidered in silver thread on green velvet. Following W.W.II John Crichton moved to Auckland, New Zealand. He established John Crichton Limited and was the first professional interior designer in New Zealand. Examples of his work are held in several New Zealand institutions including Te Papa. Also includes a photograph [255 x 200mm] of John Crighton working on his ceramics and an untitled portrait in graphite and body colour signed Crighton 1940.