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He was 30.

Deaths Mar 1917 Crichton Alexander H 30 Wareham 5a 502

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 1st February…… Alexander Henry Crichton was born at Footscray, Victoria in 1885.
He married Marie Ethel Marchand in 1907 in Queensland & in 1909 they gave birth to their son - Alexander Francis Crichton.

In 1911, Alexander Crichton was charged by his wife, Marie Crichton, with assault.

Alexander Crichton enlisted in Brisbane, Queensland with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th September, 1914 as a 29 year old, married, Journalist.
He was reported absent without Leave from Enoggera Camp from 10 pm on 19th October, 1914 until 10 pm on 20th October, 1914.

Private Crichton was reported Absent without leave from Route March & not returning until 11.30 pm on 7th November, 1914, also for attempting to break into camp & stating a falsehood while posted at Sandgate on 5th November, 1914. He forfeited 3 days’ pay at 5/- per day.

Private Alexander Crichton was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 9th November, 1914 under Section 15.

Alexander Crichton re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) at Liverpool, NSW on 4th December, 1914 as a 29 year old, married, Clerk from Kelvin Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland.
Private Alexander Crichton, Service number 1661, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Seang Choon (A49) on 11th February, 1915 with the 13th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements.

He was wounded at Gallipoli & was transferred to Hospital Ship Gascon on 29th May, 1915 with gunshot wounds to upper & lower extremities. Private Crichton was admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Cairo on 7-8th June, 1915. He was transferred to Ras-el Tin on 5th July, 1915.

On 18th August, 1915 Private Crichton was admitted to Overseas Base at Mustapha.

He was admitted to 17th General Hospital at Alexandria on 5th October 1915 with VD then transferred to A.B.D.I. at Abbassia with Venereal on 7th October, 1915. Private Crichton absconded from the Australian Dermatological Hospital on 20th October, 1915.

A letter was sent from Base Records to Mrs M. E. Crichton, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland advising her that information had been received by post dated 14th August that her husband was in No. 21 Convalescent Home, Raseltin, suffering from a wound in the arm & was now a Y.M.C.A. orderly.

Private Crichton embarked on Royal George from Zeitoun on 8th November, 1915. He was admitted to 24th Field Ambulance at Mudros on 13th November, 1915 with V.C. & discharged to Convalescent Depot on 14th November, 1915. Private Crichton was admitted to 24th Casualty Clearing Station at Mudros on 25th November, 1915 with Gonorrhoea & temporarily medically classed as Class B. He was discharged to duty from 24th Casualty Clearing Station, Convalescent Depot, Mudros on 2nd December, 1915 after 59 days (V.D.).

On 5th December, 1915 Private Crichton was admitted to Anzac Base Depot at Mudros. He rejoined his Battalion on 25th December, 1915 at Lemnos. Private Crichton disembarked at Alexandria from Mudros on 3rd January, 1916 from H. T. Tunisian.
He was admitted to No. 3 (?) Australian Stationary Hospital at Ismailia on 16th January, 1916 – cause N.Y.D. (Not yet determined).

Private Crichton was absent from 07.00 hrs on 8th February, 1916 to 07.00 hrs on 14th February, 1916 while posted at Moascar. He was given 7 days F.P. (Field Punishment) No. 2 & forfeited 6 days’ pay.
On 1st June, 1916 he proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) from Alexandria & disembarked from Transylvania at Marseilles, France on 8th June, 1916.

Private Crichton was absent without leave from 4 pm on 20th July, 1916 to 4 pm on 22nd July, 1916. He had been held awaiting trial from 24th to 27th July, 1916. A Court Martial was held on 28th July, 1916 in the field in France. Private Crichton pleaded guilty to the offence of being absent without leave & was found guilty. He was awarded 56 days F. P. (Field Punishment) No. 2 on 28th July, 1916 & forfeited 64 days’ pay.

On 24th August, 1916 Private Alexander Crichton was appointed Lance Corporal.

Lance Corporal Alexander Crichton was wounded in action on 29th August, 1916 at Mouquet Farm. He was admitted to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station with gunshot wounds then transferred to CRS. Pte Crichton transferred from 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne to Hospital Ship Jan Breydell & embarked for England on 16th September, 1916 with gunshot wounds to back.

He was admitted to East Leeds War Hospital, Yorkshire on 17th September, 1916 & discharged on 27th September, 1916. He was then to report to “Admin Stds Drs Westminster for Disposal Section A.”
On 13th October, 1916 Lance Corporal Crichton was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire, England. He was granted furlough on 13th October, 1916 & reported back from furlough on 24th October, 1916. Private Crichton was medically reclassified as B1 A .

Lance Corporal Crichton was transferred from No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset on 27th October, 1916.

He was reported absent from No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset from 18th November, 1916.

Lance Corporal Alexander Crichton was found drowned on 1st February, 1917 at Poole Harbour, Poole, Dorset, England, previously reported as absentee over 2 days on 22nd November, 1916. The date of death was unknown.

He was buried in Wareham Cemetery, Dorset, England where 12 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/wareham---dorset.html