The AIF Project

Daniel Paul CROWLEY

Regimental number4992
Place of birthCork, Ireland
SchoolSt James Christian Brothers Catholic and Enoggera State School, Queensland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressBrisbane, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 3"
Weight105 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Mary Crowley, Jerome Street, Cork, Ireland
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected as 'understandard')
Enlistment date8 February 1916
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name25th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/42/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 4 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll25th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular'His last letter was not so terrible if it did not last too long, a man would come in good health.' (details from mother)
FateKilled in Action 14 November 1916
Place of death or woundingFlers, France
Age at death15.9
Place of burialWarlencourt British Cemetery (Plot III, Row B, Grave No. 4), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
104
Family/military connectionsCousin (1st): 3807 Pte George Herbert HUNT, 13th Bn, killed in action, 11 April 1917; Cousins (2nd): Lt GRAY, of Hertfordshire, England, British Army; Major William REDWOOD, of Ireland, British Army, both killed in action.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Egypt, 15 June 1916. Admitted to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, Tel el Kebir, 13 July 1916 (bronchitis); discharged to duty, 16 July 1916.

Embarked from Alexandria for overseas on board HT 'Arcadian', 29 July 1916. Admitted to Divisional Base, France, from England, 24 September 1916; taken on strength, 25th Bn, 2 October 1916.

Admitted to 10th Stationary Hospital, 3 November 1916; transferred to 4th Stationary Hospital, 4 November 1916 (influenza); discharged to unit, 9 November 1916; rejoined Bn, 11 november 1916.

Reported missing in action, 14 November 1916. Court of Enquiry, 14 March 1917, confirmed fate as killed in action, 14 November 1916.

Buried 1 mile E. of Sars and 2.5 miles W. of Bapaume, France.

5082 Pte H. TREW, 25th Bn, stated, 2 November 1919, on board HMAT 'Berrima'" 'Don Crowley was killed by a piece of H.E. shell about 5 yards away from me, and he was buried at the same place, Flers on the Somme. He was small thin faced and dark, about 5' 8" in height, his age would be about 19 or 20.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Mother wrote to Base Records, 4 June 1917: 'I have received through the Brisbane Red Cross Information Bureau the unofficial news of No 4992 Private D.P. Crowley's 13th Reinforcement 25th Battalion death by machine gun bullet. Would a machine gun bullet blow him to pieces. I made enquiries also about personal effects & was advised to write to you.'

Mother subsequently wrote to Base Records (undated, but ca. May 1917): 'I received the package [soldier's personal effects] & am so pleased to know my poor boy's body was found. It is a consolation to know the Germans did not get him to boil him down for oil for their guns. But I have not heard any account of his buriel (sic) yet & I would very much to know where he is buried & the nature of wounds received ... I have one great consolation that my poor boy was a little hero & that he went right into the firing line & did not hide behind some other fellow'.
Miscellaneous detailsSoldier's will, 26 July 1916, gave mother's address as Samford Road, Enoggera, Queensland.
SourcesNAA: B2455, CROWLEY Daniel Paul

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