She trained at Guy's Hospital, London,[2] then travelled back to India in 1912 to serve as sister in the Lady Minto Nursing Association.

In 1917 she joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS).

After contracting a malignant form of malaria, and suffering a series of fevers, she was invalided home to Britain in March 1918.

[3][4] She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1931.

[5] In 1940, Cruickshank was named Commandant of the Rushen Women's and Married Internees Camp on the Isle of Man;[2] she was later succeeded by Detective Inspector Cuthbert of New Scotland Yard.