John McCRACKEN

Regimental number4263
Place of birthRaglan, New Zealand
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation35
Height5' 10.75"
Weight162 lbs
Next of kinFather, J McCracken, Raglan, Temata, New Zealand
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the Waikato Mounted Volunteers; resigned.
Enlistment date14 September 1915
Place of enlistmentHolsworthy, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name1st Battalion, 13th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/18/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 20 December 1915
Regimental number from Nominal Roll4263A
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll56th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


Recommendation date: 17 and 19 September 1918

FateReturned to Australia 13 April 1919
Discharge date26 July 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to and proceeded to join 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, and allotted letter 'A' to regimental number, 16 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Admitted to 10th Field Ambulance, 14 November 1916; transferred same day to No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Amiens (debility); to Ambulance Train, 19 November 1916, and admitted to 8th General Hospital, Rouen, 20 November 1916 (bronchitis); discharged to Base Depot, Etaples, 25 November 1916; rejoined unit, in the field, 10 December 1916.

On leave to England, 20 June 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 4 July 1917.

Detached for duty to 14th Australian Infantry Brigade, 6 March 1918; rejoined unit from detachment, 20 March 1918.

Wounded in action, 26 April 1918 (gun shot wound, left hand), admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred same day to 4th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train, 27 April 1918, and admitted to No 1 General Hospital, Etretat, 29 April 1918. Transferred to England, 8 May 1918, and admitted to 15th Canadian General Hospital, Taplow, Buckinghamshire, 9 May 1918. Transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 5 June 1918; discharged to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 7 June 1918.

Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 20 August 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 13 September 1918; rejoined unit, in the field, 19 September 1918.

Transferred to 56th Bn, 11 November 1918.

Detached to Charleroi picquet, 3 January 1919; rejoined unit, 20 January 1919.

Marched out to Base Depot for return to Australia, 3 February 1919.

Commenced return to Australia from Liverpool on board HT 'Wyreema', 13 April 1919; disembarked Sydney, 3 June 1919; discharged, Sydney, 26 July 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death27 April 1964 Hamilton, New Zealand
SourcesNAA: B2455, McCRACKEN John