Son of Alexander Craighead Cruickshanks and Agnes Cruickshanks; husband of Phyllis (Billie) Cruickshanks, of Durban, Natal, South Africa. Educated at Grey High School, in Port Elizabeth, where he excelled at both cricket (fulfilling his role in the First XI, as one of the opening batsmen, as well as a wicketkeeper), and football. He later worked for Shell South Africa, leaving for England in 1933 in order to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). Following his training in Egypt he joined No 14 Squadron, RAF, in Transjordan, where he was to display his ability as a pilot, and was also to impress his contempories with his resourcefulness. He later qualified as an instructor in England in 1938. Was an Eastern Province and South African cricketer. A left-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper, he played first-class cricket for Eastern Province and also represented the Egypt national cricket team in five matches in the mid-1930s.
LG Sup 28 July 1942 pg. 3303