CROKER, Harry
| Service Number: | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 September 1915, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Failford, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Failford, Great Lakes, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Failford Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Failford Memorial Church CROKER Memorial Window, Nabiac War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2010, Newcastle, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2010, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2010, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), KIA 19/20 July 1916 |
Harry and Robert Croker
Both brothers Harry and Robert Croker embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Ballarat with the Australian Imperial Forces disembarking in Suez Egypt in March 1916 and then both Harry and Robert joining the 30th Battalion at Ferry Post in April 1916 and from which they journeyed from Alexandria in June 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles France on the 23rd June 1916. Both brothers Harry and Robert were involved in the Battle of Fromelles on the 19th and 20th July 1916. Harry was killed in action on the 20th July 1916 whilst Robert was wounded on the same day. It is quite possible that brothers Harry and Robert fought side by side.
Submitted 7 September 2017 by Edwin De Vivo
Harry Croker
Harry Croker was one of four boys in the Croker family, the others being Wyllie, Robert and Charles. Harry was born in 1892 in Taree and attended Failford Public School and later worked as a labourer in the timber industry. Harry's family, including all the four boys, were tree lopers in the Taree, Failford and Nabiac area of New South Wales.
Three of the Croker boys served in World War 1, Harry, Wyllie and Robert but sadly both Harry and Wyllie were killed in action on the Western Front. Only Robert was to return to Australia.
Harry enlisted on the 8th September 1915 and saw war service in Egypt and the Western Front. Harry embarked on the 16th February from Sydney on the HMAT Ballarat and disembarked in Suez Egypt in March 1916. Harry then joined the 30th Battalion at Ferry Post in April 1916 and then embarked from Alexandria in June 1916 bound for Marseilles France, disembarking on the 23rd June 1916. Harry Croker was reported killed in action on the 20th July 1916 at Fromelles, France in " no man's land". This was evidenced by C.R. Daws of C Company 9th Platoon who stated " we did not hold the ground".
Harry posthumously received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Harry Croker is buried in the Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.( Plot lll, Row B,Grave No 7)
See Wyllie Croker; Service Number 394A and Robert Croker; Service Number 2005
Submitted 6 September 2017 by Edwin De Vivo
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