Military figure and Arctic explorer. As an Arctic explorer, he held the Guinness Book of Records record for the longest self-supporting dog-sled journey for 60 years for a journey across Greenland. In 1934 he participated in the British Trans-Greenland Expedition which mapped the Crown Prince Frederick Range. He was second-in-command of the Arctic Expedition for Oxford University from 1935 to 1936. He received the Polar Medal in 1942 and the Royal Geographical Society's Back Award in 1947. During World War II he served in Norway, Finland, and Sweden and was part of the No. 14 (Arctic) Commando or Special Commando Boating Group which was formed in 1942 for action in the Arctic. He was a member of the Special Operations Executive with operations in Corsica and Norway. He was also a military attaché to Sweden. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on March 15, 1945. Later in life, he became the first Commandant of the Cadet Corps of the Metropolitan Police Service. For this, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1970.
Military figure and Arctic explorer. As an Arctic explorer, he held the Guinness Book of Records record for the longest self-supporting dog-sled journey for 60 years for a journey across Greenland. In 1934 he participated in the British Trans-Greenland Expedition which mapped the Crown Prince Frederick Range. He was second-in-command of the Arctic Expedition for Oxford University from 1935 to 1936. He received the Polar Medal in 1942 and the Royal Geographical Society's Back Award in 1947. During World War II he served in Norway, Finland, and Sweden and was part of the No. 14 (Arctic) Commando or Special Commando Boating Group which was formed in 1942 for action in the Arctic. He was a member of the Special Operations Executive with operations in Corsica and Norway. He was also a military attaché to Sweden. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on March 15, 1945. Later in life, he became the first Commandant of the Cadet Corps of the Metropolitan Police Service. For this, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1970.
Bio by: Lori Huey Hebert
Inscription
Colonel / ANDREW CROFT / D.S.O., O.B.E. / 1906 - 1998 / Explorer, soldier & leader of men / Also his wife / ROSALIND / nee DE KANTZOW / 1918 - 1990 / Musician and artist.
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