CROFT, Edward
| Service Number: | 147 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Townsville, Queensland, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died from 1. G.S.W. to Head & 2. Cerebral Abscess, 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, England , 15 October 1918, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row J, Grave 12 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane 41st Battalion Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 147, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 147, 41st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Sydney | |
| 15 Oct 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 147, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 147 awm_unit: 41st Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-10-15 |
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Stealth Raiders - a few daring men in 1918" written by Lucas Jordan, published 2017, refer to page 265. Prior to the war he was a labourer of Toowoomba Qld aged 21 years. He served with 41st Infantry Battalion, being promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. For his service he was awarded a Military Medal and a further award of a bar to that MM. Unfortunately, he died of wounds 15th Oct 1918. Lest we Forget.
Submitted 28 January 2020 by Maxwell HILL
Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge
his personal effects were returned to AIF base Records Melbourne 1920, awaiting being claimed.
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 15th October…… Edward Croft was born in Townsville, Queensland around 1895.
[A birth was registered in Queensland for an Edward Croft, born 2nd May, 1895 with parents Herman & Jessie Croft (nee Thompson). It is unsure if this is the correct Edward Croft as his father was listed as Henry Croft on his Attestation Papers, however information provided in 1918 & 1924 in letters sent to Base Records by another person stated his real name was “Kracht”]
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 24th January, 1916 as a 21 year old, single, Labourer from Post Office Toowoomba, Queensland. His next of kin was listed as his father – Henry Croft, Flinders Street, Townsville, Queensland.
Private Edward Croft, Service number 147, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Demosthenes (A64) on 18th May, 1916 with the 11th Infantry Brigade, 41st Infantry Battalion, “A” Company & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 20th July, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 24th November, 1916 Private Croft proceeded overseas to France.
He was appointed Lance Corporal on 17th January, 1917 in the Field.
Private (rank as listed on Recommendation) Edward Croft, 147, 41st Battalion, was recommended on 4th March, 1917 “for Gallantry in action. At Armentieres on the night 11/12 Feb during the withdrawal of a fighting patrol he carried back to our lines Private L. Hackwood, a wounded member of the Patrol, under heavy Machine gun fire and shrapnel for a distance of over 200 yards, returning afterwards and carrying two other wounded men. This act was witnessed by 2/Lieut. T. C. Taylor & Sergeant Ingram.” He was given “Special Mention in Sir D. Haig’s despatch of 9.4.17.”
Lance Corporal Edward Croft, 147, 41st Battalion, was Mentioned in Despatches. (London Gazette – 1 June, 1917 page 5422 & Commonwealth of Australia Gazette – 4 October, 1917 page 2624)
On 31st July, 1917 Lance Corporal Croft reported sick. He was admitted to 11th Australia Field Ambulance with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin). Lance Corporal Croft was transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station on 31st July, 1917 then transferred & admitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux on 1st August, 1917. He was transferred to England on 8th August, 1917 on Hospital Ship St. Patrick with Trench Fever.
He was admitted to 2/1st Southern General Hospital, Dudley Rd, Birmingham, England on 8th August, 1917 with Trench Fever. Lance Corporal Croft was transferred & admitted to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, Middlesex on 25th August, 1917. He was discharged to Furlo from 1st September, 1917 to 15th September, 1917 & was then to report to Depot at Weymouth.
Lance Corporal Croft was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset, England on 15th September, 1917 from Furlo. He was transferred to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 20 September, 1917.
On 20th September, 1917 Lance Corporal Croft was marched in to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire. He was medically classified as B1 A2 (fit for Overseas Training Camp in 3 -4 weeks) on 1st October, 1917. Lance Corporal Croft was medically classified on 10th October, 1917 as B1 A1 (fit for light duty only – 4 weeks). He was medically classified on 17th October, 1917 as B1 A2 (fit for Overseas Training Camp in 3 -4 weeks) then on 31st October B1 A3 (fit for Overseas Training Camp in 2 - 3 weeks). Lance Corporal Croft was medically classified on 13th November, 1917 as B1 A4 (fit for Overseas Training Camp when passed dentally fit).
He was marched out to Sutton Veny on 23rd November, 1917 from Hurdcott & marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire the same day. He was medically classified as B1 A4 & was passed dentally fit on 5th December, 1917.
Lance Corporal Croft was marched into Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, England on 6th December, 1917. He proceeded overseas to France on 9th December, 1917. Lance Corporal Croft was marched in to 3rd A.D.B.D. (Australia Divisional Base Depot) at Rouelles, France on 10th December, 1917 from England. He was marched out from 3rd A.D.B.D to his unit on 13th December, 1917 & rejoined 41st Battalion in the Field on 16th December, 1917.
On 26th January, 1918 Lance Corporal Croft was sent to Intelligence School & returned to his Unit on 20th February, 1918.
Lance Corporal Edward Croft was wounded in action on 17th April, 1918. He was admitted to 11th Australian Field Ambulance with shrapnel wound/s to Nose then transferred on 17th April, 1918 to 20th Casualty Clearing Station. Lance Corporal Croft was transferred & admitted to 1st S. A. General Hospital on 17th April, 1918. He was to be transferred to England & was sent to Ambulance Train 16 on 22nd April, 1918. Lance Corporal Croft embarked for England on 23rd April, 1918 on Hospital Ship Pieter de Conick.
He was admitted to Central Military Hospital, Fort Pitt, Chatham, England on 23rd April, 1918 with bullet wound to Nose. He was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex on 10th May, 1918. Lance Corporal Croft was discharged to Furlo on 20th May, 1918 until 3rd June, 1918 & was then to report to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny.
On 27th May, 1918 Lance Corporal Croft was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England from Furlo & was medically classified as B1 A3 (fit for Overseas Training Camp in 2 - 3 weeks).
Lance Corporal Croft was marched out from No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny on 28th May, 1918 for duty with Anzac Provost Corps at Tidworth. He was attached to Anzac Provost Corps at Tidworth, Wiltshire on 28th May, 1918. Lance Corporal Croft was detached from attached duty with Anzac Provost Corps at Tidworth on 29th May, 1918 & was marched out to No. 1 Command Depot.
He was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill on 4th July, 1918 (having been passed dentally fit) from No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny. He proceeded overseas to France via Folkstone per S.S. Princess Victoria on 3rd August, 1918 from Overseas Training Brigade. Lance Corporal Croft was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Rouelles, France on 5th August, 1918. He was marched out from A.I.B.D. to the Front on 7th August, 1918 & rejoined 41st Battalion in the Field on 8th August, 1918.
Lance Corporal Edward Croft was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 29th August, 1918. He was admitted to the 11th Australian Field Ambulance on 29th August, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to Neck. Lance Corporal Croft was transferred & admitted to 2nd General Hospital at Havre, France on 2nd October, 1918. He embarked for England on 8th October, 1918 with a fractured Skull.
On 10th October, 1918 Lance Corporal Croft was admitted to 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, England with a fractured base of Skull. He was reported to be dangerously ill. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Wound dirty on admission. 1.10.18 – Enlargement of Wd & removal of F.B from neck. Disintegrated brain tissue discharging though wound. Condition gradually getting worse…” (Note: F.B. = Foreign body)
Lance Corporal Edward Croft died at 2 am on 15th October, 1918 at 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, England from 1. G.S.W. to Head & 2. Cerebral Abscess.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 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/c.html
Click images to start slideshow.