William CROKER MM

CROKER, William

Service Number: 6804
Enlisted: 7 November 1916
Last Rank: Lance Corporal
Last Unit: 14th Infantry Battalion
Born: Dudley, New South Wales, Australia, 23 March 1891
Home Town: Redhead, Lake Macquarie Shire, New South Wales
Schooling: Redhead and Dudley Public Schools, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Teamster
Died: Charlestown, New South Wales, Australia, 20 October 1936, aged 45 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW
ANGLICAN 1-17. 41.
Memorials: Dudley War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

7 Nov 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6804, 8th Infantry Battalion
17 Nov 1916: Involvement Private, 6804, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Napier embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
17 Nov 1916: Embarked Private, 6804, 8th Infantry Battalion, SS Port Napier, Sydney
6 Apr 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 14th Infantry Battalion
28 Mar 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 6804, 14th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, GSW right forearm, severe
1 Jun 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 14th Infantry Battalion
18 Sep 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 6804, 14th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", SW right forearm, severe
10 Oct 1919: Honoured Military Medal, The Battle of Amiens, Work near Morcourt on 8 august 1918.
26 Nov 1920: Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 6804, 14th Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD

Help us honour William Croker's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
 
Served bravely and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.

85 years ago today, on the Sunday afternoon of the 22nd November 1936 (7 funerals on this day), Lance Corporal William Wallace Croker (M.M.), 14th Battalion (Reg No-6804), teamster from Redhead, New South Wales and Stuart Street, Charlestown, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 45. ANGLICAN 1-17. 41.

Born at Dudley, New South Wales on the 23rd March 1891 to Charles Frederick and Annie Elizabeth Croker of Stuart Street, Charlestown, N.S.W., William enlisted November 1916 with the 8th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Older brother Robert Wilson (14th Battalion, Reg No-6711, born 1889, KIA 15.10.1917) memorialised same location.

Admitted to hospital 4.5.1917 (influenza).
Wounded in action - 28.3.1918 (not stated), 18.9.1918 (GSW right forearm, severe,).

William returned home March 1919 (not recorded as invalided), and was not discharged until the 26th November 1920.

Mr. Croker’s name has been inscribed on the Redhead War Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 14th May 1950 & 11th November 2000, 66 names inscribed, 6 Fallen), Redhead Public School Roll of Honour, Dudley Public School Roll of Honor and the Dudley War Memorial.

There is no indication inscribed on William’s gravesite headstone of his service with the 1st A.I.F., so I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at the Croker gravesite in remembrance of William’s sacrifice for God, King & Country.

I will be submitting an application to DVA asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque to be placed at the gravesite to restore Honour and Dignity to William.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.

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