CROOKSTON, James
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | Sydney, NSW, 22 January 1860 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Edinburgh University |
| Occupation: | Presbyterian Clergyamn |
| Died: | Hobart, Tas., 21 June 1932, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Box Hill General Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Sandhurst Club Roll of Honour, Bendigo St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Apr 1916: | Involvement Australian Army Chaplains' Department, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Makarini embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr 1916: | Embarked Australian Army Chaplains' Department, SS Makarini, Sydney |
Well fitted for the important work
Colonel Chaplain J. Crookston, of St. Andrew's, Bendigo, who has been appointed Presbyterian chaplain of the Australian military forces at the front, is well fitted for the important work he is about to undertake.
Mr Crookston is a muscular and manly, as well as an Intellectual and spiritual Christian minister. He understands men and has had much to do with Australians in religious, social and military life. For 16 years he was a chaplain in the military forces, being first appointed in New South Wales, where he was minister of the Presbyterian Church at Newcastle. He came from there to Bendigo 13 years ago, and at once took a prominent place in the Goldfields city.
As Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria he assumed the rank of colonel chaplain, the promotion being from captain. The military and naval committee of the Presbyterian Church, recognising his abilities and qualifications, recommended that he should retain the rank of colonel chaplain at the end of his term as Moderator, and the Defence Department agreed to this.
Not only has he frequently visited the camp In Bendigo, but has, on several occasions, taken up quarters among the men, thus living and working with as well as preaching to them. At recruiting meetings his speeches have borne great weight, and the State recruiting committee recently requested that he should visit northern Victoria and Southern Riverina to further the campaign.
Colonel Chaplain Crookston has two sons in the Australian Expeditionary Forces, and both are at the front.
Weekly Times Saturday 04 March 1916 page 8
Submitted 31 March 2018 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
OBITUARY
Very Rev. J. Crookston
Former Moderator-General
The death occurred at Hobart early yesterday morning of the Very Rev James Crookston, who since November,1928, had been minister of Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Hobart. Mr Crookston had not been in good health for some time, and his condition took a turn for the worse on Monday night. He died in his sleep shortly after midnight.
The late Mr. Crookston was born in Sydney, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Crookston, of Queensland, who were residing temporarily in that city. When he was very young his parents returned to Queensland, where he passed the early years of his life. He was educated partly in Queensland and later
LATE VERY REV. J. CROOKSTON.
proceeded to Edinburgh, where he attended the University and the Theological College. While he was studying in Scotland Mr. Crookston had charge of the parish of Arasaig, in the Western Highlands. On the completion of his studies Mr.Crookston returned to Australia, and was inducted into the charge of Toowoomba (Queensland), where he remained for 10 years. During the last year he held the position of Moderator of Queensland.
Transferring to the charge of St. Andrew's, Newcastle, Mr. Crookston remained in that centre for five years, at the end of which he accepted a call to St. Andrew's, Bendigo. He worked there for about 10 years prior to the outbreak of the Great War. During that time he was made Moderator of the church in Victoria. For two years Mr. Crookston was in France with the A.I.F., and, as senior chaplain, held the rank of colonel.
MODERATOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA.
On his return to Australia at the end of the war Mr. Crookston again took up his duties at Bendigo, and remained a further two years. At the conclusion of his ministry there he was appointed organiser for the church in Victoria of the Peace Thanksgiving Fund. Those duties occupied about five years, and entailed travelling throughout Victoria. lt was while occupying the post that he was accorded the high honour of being elected Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church in Australia for two years. When the Peace Fund effort was discontinued he accepted a call to Chalmers Church,Hobart. lt is noteworthy that he should have had only four charges during his career.
While in Edinburgh Mr. Crookston met his future wife, a Miss Thorburn. Later she also came to Australia, and the marriage was celebrated in Queensland. The five children are:- Dr. R. M.Crookston, Camden, New South Wales; Mr. Keith Crookston, Mt, Moris station, Charleville, Queensland; Mr. Bruce Crookston, Ultima, North Victoria; Mrs J. Graves, Mansfield, Victoria; and Mrs C. L. Ruck, East Malvern, Melbourne.
The casket containing the body was removed last night to Chalmers Church. The church will be open from 10 o'clock this morning, and the funeral service will be held at 8 o'clock this evening when the Rev. William Fraser, of Evandale, will give the address. The funeral will take place at the Box Hill cemetery, Melbourne, on Saturday morning.
A memorial service will be held in Chalmers Church on Sunday morning when the preacher will be the Rev. Charles Matear, of St. Andrew's, and in the evening the Moderator of the Tasmanian Assembly (the Right Rev. F. J Thomas, of Devonport) will conduct the service.
The Mercury Wednesday 22 June 1932 page 6
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