Henry Cronin

Who was Henry Cronin?

Henry Francis Cronin CBE, MC, BSc was a British civil engineer and army officer.

Henry Francis Cronin was born in Ketton, Rutland in 1894. He studied engineering and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree. Cronin served as a commissioned officer in the British Army during World War I. He was commissioned in September 1914 and was appointed to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He transferred in the same rank to the Royal Engineers on 19 May 1917.

Whilst serving with the Royal Engineers, Cronin was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 for gallantry in battle at an unspecified location. He was ordered to follow behind an attacking infantry unit with a section of sappers and to assist with the construction of strongpoints to make the position more defendable. Cronin reached the front with his men and immediately began the construction of field defences despite being under extremely heavy enemy fire from a flank. This fire eventually became so heavy that he halted works and assisted the infantry with the mopping up of enemy resistance. In the course of this Cronin assaulted enemy positions and captured several prisoners of war.