Neil Renfred CROUCHER

Regimental number2890
Place of birthKiewa, Victoria
SchoolMilla Milla, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBlacksmith
AddressCoolamon, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 4.5"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Bridget Croucher, c/- Mrs J Thompson, 'Thistleton', Hurst Street, Arncliffe, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date1 August 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll1 June 1916
Place of enlistmentCootamundra, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name45th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/62/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board SS Port Nicholson on 8 November 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll45th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularBrother: 814 Pte Harold CROUCHER, 8th Light Horse Regiment, died of wounds, 20 June 1915. Another brother, Alick, enlisted but did not embark.
FateDied of wounds 13 June 1917
Place of death or woundingMessines, Belgium
Age at death27
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialBologne Eastern Cemetery (Plot IV, Row A, Grave No. 3), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
139
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Henry Joseph and Alice Elizabeth CROUCHER; husband of Bridget CROUCHER, 103 Rose Street, Darlington, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 8 November 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 10 January 1917; marched into 12th Training Brigade, Codford, 10 January 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 March 1917; marched into 4th Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, 16 March 1917; marched out to unit, 19 March 1917; taken on strength, 45th Bn, 20 March 1917.

Admitted to 4th Field Ambulance, 4 April 1917; transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, 4 April 1917; to Ambulance Train No 23, 4 April 1917; to 9th General Hospital, Rouen, 6 April 1917 (gun shot wound, left arm); to 2nd Convalescent Depot, 13 April 1917; discharged, 16 April 1917; marched into Base Details, Rouen, 16 April 1917; marched out to 4th Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, 17 April 1917; marched in, 18 April 1917; proceeded to join unit, 24 April 1917; rejoined unit, 25 April 1917.

Wounded in action, 7 June 1917; admitted to 13th General Hospital, Boulogne, 11 June 1917 (gun shot wounds, right arm, left thigh, right foot); died of wounds, 3 pm, 13 June 1917; buried, 13 June 1917.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CROUCHER Neil Renfred
McQuilton, John., Rural Australia and the Great War: From Tarrawingee to Tangambalanga, MUP, 2001