Following a recent discovery in a Panorama storage unit, South Australian Police are searching for any remaining relatives connected to the owner of a World War II (1939-1945) Service Medal. The investigators have identified the medal’s recipient as a man by the name of William Stirling Craddock.
The medal is suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully acquired before it ended up at the storage facility in Panorama. Now, Police are hoping to identify the current owner of the medal or return it safely to any of Craddock’s relatives.
Born in North Stirling on the 22nd of April, 1887, Craddock was mere days away from his 55th birthday when he enrolled to join the Australian Army in April of 1942. At his time of enlistment, Craddock was living in Solomontown, Port Pirie, where he worked as a greaser.
Just over a month after American President Harry S. Truman announced Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II, Craddock was posted at the 6th (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), the South Australian division of a part-time volunteer military force modelled on the British Home Guard.
Originally established in 1940, the VDC was expanded by the Australian Government in February 1942 in response to the outbreak of war in the Pacific. Membership was opened to men aged between 18 and 60, meaning Craddock was able to sign up alongside 100,000 other volunteers across Australia. The organisation were tasked with training for guerrilla warfare, collecting local intelligence and providing static defence of each unit’s home area.
However, as the perceived threat to Australia dwindled in the final years of World War II, the VDC’s role transitioned from static defence to the operation of anti-aircraft artillery, coastal artillery and searchlights. Its inland members were freed from regular training requirements in May of 1944, and the VDC was officially disbanded on the 24th of August 1945.
Craddock was discharged from the Australian Army on the 9th of October, 1945.
William Stirling Craddock died on the 20th of October, 1964, at 77 years old. His death was shortly followed by that of his wife, Fanny Craddock, who passed away on the 24th of November, 1964 at 81. They’d been married for over fifty years since their wedding took place in the Flinders Ranges on October 19th, 1910. William died one day before their 54th wedding anniversary.
Anyone with information that may assist are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.
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