Her Majesty Queen Camilla Honours Wakefield Veteran for Outstanding Service
Her Majesty The Queen, Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, has honoured Wakefield military veteran Colin Cranswick with a ‘Colonel-in-Chief The Rifles Commendation’. The prestigious award was presented in the distinguished setting of the City of London’s historic Guildhall, during The Rifles Biannual Awards Dinner, and in the presence of six Royal Colonels of The Rifles. The Rifles, the largest Infantry Regiment in the British Army, proudly holds the Freedoms of Wakefield, Batley, Dewsbury, and Leeds.
Mr Cranswick, a Wrenthorpe resident, has been honoured for his outstanding service as Association Secretary, his steadfast support for veterans and their families, his vital work in mental health crisis intervention, and his unwavering commitment to music education within the Army Cadet Force. Colin’s relentless dedication to the welfare of the armed forces community is evident as is his commitment to the development of young people through his voluntary role as an adult instructor and serving as Band Serjeant Major of the Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force (RLC) Band.
The award citation reads:
Colin Cranswick has served as Regimental Association Secretary for The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Light Infantry, and The Rifles since June 2015, following 22 years of distinguished service with The Light Infantry, Colin has modernised Association practices and forged productive partnerships across the organisation. He plays a pivotal role in planning and delivering UK-wide events such as Remembrance at Whitehall and Armed Forces Day and notably organised a commemorative trip to Norway with Chelsea Pensioners in honour of the KOYLI’s role in the 1940 campaign.
Colin has revolutionised Association communications, expanding their reach via the website, social media, and SWIFT – The Rifles Network communications platform. His most profound impact is seen in his welfare work, supporting veterans in hardship and bereaved families with compassion and tenacity. His dedication has been formally acknowledged by Councillor Josie Pritchard then the Mayor of Wakefield. As a trained mentor for the ‘Always a Rifleman Programme’, Colin’s compassion and leadership have left an indelible mark on the veteran and Army cadet communities.
Colin’s Background
Colin, married to Karen for 45 years with two adult children Rachael and Marc, and grandchildren Megan and Mason, is the son of the late James William Cranswick BEM, JP, former Mayor of Wakefield, and Elisabeth Ann Cranswick, aged 90, who as a child was interned for 5 years in a German concentration camp. He has personally dedicated countless hours to caring for veterans in times of illness or hardship, providing comfort and connecting individuals with support from charities and civil authorities. His compassion is most keenly expressed in dealing with bereaved families. It is a difficult task which he undertakes with great sensitivity and understanding.
Within the ‘Always a Rifleman Programme’, The Rifles’ mental health crisis team, Colin stands out as one of the most dedicated volunteers. He has intervened directly to prevent a Rifleman from taking his own life, mentored several vulnerable individuals during moments of acute distress. Notably, he was among the first to complete an intensive two-day suicide prevention course, setting an inspiring standard for his peers.
He is an accomplished woodwind musician who joined The Light Infantry as a military musician. Despite a busy schedule, he volunteers as an adult instructor with Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force where he is the Band Serjeant Major with the Humberside and South Yorkshire ACF (RLC) Band. During lockdown, he actively instructed cadets online, supporting their wellbeing and providing leadership in challenging times. He has regularly performed with Cadet Bands at events such as the Sounding of Retreat on Horse Guards in 2022.
This commendation reflects Colin Cranswick’s enduring service, exemplary compassion, and leadership, which continue to make a lasting difference throughout the veteran and Army Cadet communities.