Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 7th of January 1828.
Graduated as an M.D. at Edinburgh on the 30th of July 1850, and also obtained the Diploma of Surgery from the R.C.S. at Edinburgh. At the time of his entering the Army he was living at Linn House, Dalry, Ayrshire.
Acting Assistant-Surgeon. (Staff) 11th of May 1851.
Assistant Surgeon in the Ceylon Rifle Regiment. 14th of October 1851.
Assistant Surgeon on the 4th Light Dragoons. 14th of July 1854.
Resigned his commission on the 14th of September 1855.
Campaign service
Assistant Surgeon Crichton served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps.)
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol and the Turkish Medal.
No date can be found for his leaving the Crimea to return to England, or if he ever went back, but his name appears on a list which was published in the "Illustrated London News" of the 26th of May 1855 as being presented with his Crimean medal at a ceremony held on Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855.
"Horse Guards,
16th May 1855.
Sir, — Referring to my letter of the 10th inst, I have the General Commanding -in-Chief's command to desire that all officers entitled to receive the Crimean medal and now with their Depots to be ordered to attend in London for the purpose of being present on the parade on Friday the 18th of May1855 at 10 o'clock precisely, Be pleased to acknowledge it;s receipt.
I am, etc. etc.,
G.A. Weatherall. AAG.
[To:] Officers Commanding the Cavalry Depots."
It cannot be confirmed if his Crimean medal was presented to him by Queen Victoria at a ceremony held on Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855, as his name has only been written in (with clasp entitlement) on the Nominal Roll of those present and now in the PRO., but does appear on a similar roll published in the "Illustrated London News" of the 26th of May 1855 and on that of the "United Services Magazine for June of 1855.
(See record of John Thomas Brudenell (the Earl of Cardigan) for antecedents of the artist who painted a picture of the scene and details regarding the picture itself.)