CRAGGS, Ernest James
| Service Number: | 2373 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 12th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Alexandria , New South Wales, Australia, May 1895 |
| Home Town: | Hay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Canterbury and Belmore North Public Schools, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Drover |
| Died: | GSW to head and chest in charge, Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Beersheba War Cemetery Row D, Grave No. 62. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Feb 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2373, Camel Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Morea embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 17 Feb 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2373, Camel Corps, RMS Morea, Sydney | |
| 11 Jul 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Trooper, 12th Light Horse Regiment |
Help us honour Ernest James Craggs's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From In Memory Of
In Memory Of Trooper Ernest James Craggs, A Squadron, 12th Light Horse Regiment.
He was born at Alexandria, NSW, the son of A H and S M Craggs of Enfield. After attending Canterbury and Belmore North Public Schools, Trooper Craggs worked as a labourer before enlisting on the 10th of February 1917.
The Regiment went overseas to Egypt and after a period in the desert joined other units in operations in Gaza in April 1917.
On the 31st of October 1917, Trooper Craggs, who was then 19 years old, was killed during the charge on the Turkish held town of Beersheba.
In a letter to Trooper Craggs' mother, his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Edward Ralston, related that "the day before the fight, he (Trooper Craggs) was laughing and joking as usual and was full of spirit all through the long night ride.
He rode into action just behind me and the last I saw of him, he was standing in his stirrups and cheering". Lieutenant Ralston was wounded at this point and A Squadron, Sergeant John Bailey went on, "he (Trooper Craggs) and I were wounded at the same time, he was hit in the head and chest. I helped him under the cover of his horse which was killed. I held the poor boy's hands while he passed away. He only lived about ten minutes after he was wounded and did not have any pain, Thank God".
Trooper Craggs was later buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine.
Lest We Forget.
From AWM History / Summary
Associated with the service of 2373 Trooper Ernest "Ern" James Craggs, "A" Squadron, 12th Light Horse who enlisted in Sydney on 10 February 1917. Twenty two year old labourer Ern Craggs was killed during the charge of the 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments against the Turkish held town of Beersheba on 31 October 1917 and his commanding officer, Lieutenant Edward Ralston related in a letter to Craggs' mother that "the day before the fight he was laughing and joking as usual and was full of spirits all through the long night ride. He rode into action just behind me and the last I saw of him [he] was standing in his stirrups and cheering." Ralston was wounded at this point and "A" Squadron Sergeant John Bailey continues the story: "He and I were wounded at the same time he was hit in the head and chest. I helped him under the cover of his own horse which was killed. I held the poor Boy's hands while he passed away. He only spoke once - told me he thought he was badly wounded [and] he only lived about 10 minutes after he was wounded. He did not have any pain thank God."
Biography
Father Albert Henry Craggs and Mother Sarah Maria Craggs (nee _____),
of Burwood Road, Enfield, NSW.
Native of Alexandria, Sydney, New South Wales.
Brother: Albert Henry Craggs
Described on enlisting as 21 years 10 months old; single; 5' 6 1/4" tall; 10 stone 4 lbs;
fair complexion; brown eyes; fair hair; congregatinal.
5/2/1917 Enlisted
completed medical - fit for service
17/2/1917 Embarked from Sydney on board RMS Morea
Camel Corps, general reinforcements
18/3/1917 Transferred to HT Mashobra, Bombay, India
The regiment went overseas to Egypt and after a period in the desert joined other units
in operations in Gaza in April 1917.
4/4/1917 Joined 'A' Details, Moascar, ex HT Mashobra
6/5/1917 Details 4th Light Horse Camp, Moascar
6/5/1917 Taken on strength into 4th Light Horse Regiment
3/6/1917 Imperial School of Instructors
3-13/6/1917 School of Instructors - attended 27th Hotchkiss course 'A' Gunner
Zeitoun
13/6/1917 Rejoined 4th Light Horse Regiment
9/7/1917 to 12th Light Horse Regiment, Moascar
11/7/1917 Taken on strength - 12th Light Horse Regiment, Abasan
In a letter to Cragg's mother, Cragg's commanding officer (Lieutenant Edward Ralston)
related that:-
"the day before the fight, he (Craggs) was laughing and joking as usual and
was full of spirit all through the long night ride. He rode into action just
behind me and the last I saw of him, he was standing in his stirrups and
cheering."
Ralston was wounded at this point and 'A' Squadron Sergeant John Bailey went on:-
"He (Craggs) and I were wounded at the same time, he was hit in the head
and chest. I helped him under cover of his horse which was killed. I held
the poor boy's hands while he passed away.
He only lived for about ten minutes after he was wounded and did not have
any pain, thank God."
31/10/1917 Died from shot wounds, from the Charge of Beersheba
1/11/1917 buried in: Beersheba Group 4
4th from right
buried by: Chaplain Rev. W J Dunbar - Methodist.
20/12/1919 body exhumed and reburied in:
Beersheba Military Cemetery
Row D, Grave No. 62
Medals:
British War Medal (56414); Victory Medal (55494); Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll
(338172).
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 12/11/2014. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.