The AIF Project

John Alexander CRAWFORD

Regimental number77
Place of birthBiggar-Zauarkohire, Scotland
SchoolHindmarsh, South Australia
ReligionCongregational
OccupationConcrete labourer
AddressRobert Street, Hindmarsh, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 11.75"
Weight181 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Christina Rea Crawford, Robert Street, Hindmarsh, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date21 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingPozieres, Somme Sector, France
Age at death33
Age at death from cemetery records30
Place of burialPheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
120
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Originally listed as 'No known grave'; listed on V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France. Parents: John and Christina CRAWFORD. Native of Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Note on Red Cross File No 830508: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills, 10.10.19.'

Statement, 64 Pte CASLEY, 32nd Bn (patient, 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, England), 24 March 1917: 'I remember seeing L/Cpl. Crawfordbetween the lines and about 30 yards from German trenches about 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening. He was wounded in the leg. A. Coy. were on extreme left of the charge which was approximately oppostie York Avenue and Allar Farm trenches.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CRAWFORD John Alexander
Red Cross file 830508

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