Robert Abraham CRAWFORD

Robert Abraham CRAWFORD Update Details

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CRAWFORD, Robert Abraham

Service Numbers:	2730, 2063
Enlisted:	2 July 1915
Last Rank:	Gunner
Last Unit:	15th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Hagley, Tasmania, Australia, 10 August 1897
Home Town:	Burnie, Burnie, Tasmania
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Ironmonger
Died:	Killed in action, France, 14 November 1916, aged 19 years
Cemetery:	Thistle Dump Cemetery, High Wood, Longueval Row D, Grave No. 2.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

2 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2730, 15th Infantry Battalion
21 Aug 1915:	Involvement Private, 2730, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: ''
21 Aug 1915:	Embarked Private, 2730, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Melbourne
14 Nov 1916:	Involvement Gunner, 2063, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2063 awm_unit: 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1916-11-14

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Robert was one of five Crawford brothers from Burnie, Tasmania, all of whom served in the Australian Field Artillery. Three of the brothers died during the Great War. They were all aged between 18 and 24 years old.

Robert landed on Gallipoli with the 15th Battalion during October 1915 and transferred to the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade whilst serving there on the 18 November 1915. This was probably because his three brothers, Norman, Harold and Edward, were serving with this unit.

Robert Crawford died of wounds near Flers on the 14th November 1916, aged 19 years and 3 months. His gun pit in the 9th Battery suffered a direct hit and he was very badly knocked about. His brother Norman helped to carry him to the dressing station but he died shortly afterwards in another hospital or dressing station. This caused some confusion as to his fate and he was listed as wounded and missing for some considerable time. In his Red Cross file, he was confirmed as having been buried by Reverend Durnford in the Thistle Dump Cemetery High Wood Longueval, France.

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