Kenneth Crawford


Sir Kenneth Noel Crawford was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1940s.

Early life and education

Crawford was born in Colombo, the son of Henry Leighton Crawford of the Ceylon Civil Service. He was educated at Clifton College and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was an active rugby player and played for the Army in 1921.

Military career

Crawford was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and went on to serve in World War I being awarded the MC in 1919.
Attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1929 to 1930 between the wars, Crawford also served in World War II joining the British Expeditionary Force to France in 1939 and becoming Director of Chemical Warfare for the Home Forces in 1940. He was appointed Deputy Adjutant-General in 1942 and Director of Air at the War Office in 1943.
After the War he was made General Officer Commanding British Forces in Greece, then in 1947 he was appointed Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff and in 1949 he became Controller at the Ministry of Supply. In 1952 he was made Chairman of the Royal Ordnance Factories Board of Management; he retired in 1953.
He was also Chief Royal Engineer from 1958 to 1961.

Personal life

In retirement, he joined the boards of several companies, including Edwin Dank Ltd., Westland Aircraft, and Penmen and Company, Ltd. He was president of the Army Rugby Union from 1948–1953.
In 1921, he married Doris Margaret Parker, daughter of Joseph Parker of the Indian Civil Service, with whom he had two sons and a daughter.