The AIF Project

John Edwin CROCKER

Regimental number79
Place of birthAdelaide, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationTailor's cutter
AddressMarlestone, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 2.5"
Weight117 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Isabella May, Crocker, Marlestone, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 4 years in the 75th Bn, Senior Cadets; previously rejected for AIF enlistment on account of height.
Enlistment date14 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.
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from
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 woundingBattle of Fromelles, France
Age at death20
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
120
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 13 December 1915.

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

Wounded in action, 19 July 1916.

Now reported, 13 September 1916, wounded and missing, 20 July 1916.

'Prisoner of War German list dated 4/11/16 recvd by Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau, Australian Branch, British Red Cross Society', 24 November 1916, show that 'identification marks found on the Prisoner of War are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the lists as under DEAD'

'Identification disc received from Germany', 13 March 1917. 'No particulars afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported KILLED IN ACTION, 20/7/16' on the authority of Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, War Office.

Translation of a German message, 13 November 1919, 'Iden: Disc handed over by Intell: Off: with 6th Army H.Q. through Central Office for Deceased Estates. 12/10/16. Australian Soldier Private I. F. [sic] Crocker, 32nd Btn. A. Coy. Fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/16.'

Red Cross File No 840205 has statement from 91 Sergeant A. ERRINGTON, A Company, 32nd Bn, 11 December 1916: 'I saw him in the German third line at Fromelles on July 20th. at the time of the retirement. He was lying on his back in a communication trench. Just previously he had been up on the parapet firing his rifle. He was shot off it and rolled onto his back in the trench. I am prepared to swear he was dead.'

Second statement, 271 Pte C.L. WILTSHIRE [WILSHIRE on file], 32nd Bn (patient, 2nd Birmingham War Hospital), 4 February 1917: 'Informant states that on July 19th at Fleur Baix Pte. J.E. Crocker was killed in the third line of enemy trenches and was left there on our men retreating. Informant saw him lying dead as he came back wounded.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNext of kin subsequent address: Father, Mr Albert Edwin Crocker, Grove Avenue, Richmond, Victoria (16 October 1916); Sister, Miss E. M. Crocker, c/o C. R. Peacock, 62 Darebin Street, Mile End, South Australia
SourcesNAA: B2455, CROCKER John Edwin
Red Cross file 840205

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