CRITCHLEY, John Leo
| Service Number: | 16106 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 December 1915, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 12th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Wallaroo,South Australia, 3 February 1894 |
| Home Town: | Ovingham, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers College, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Cleaner with South Australian Railways |
| Died: | Prospect, , South Australia , 4 February 1947, aged 53 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: KO, Road: 8, Site No: 14 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Christian Brothers' College WW1 Roll of Honor, Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Adelaide St Patrick's Parish Honor Board, Prospect Roll of Honour A-G WWI Board |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 16106, 12th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 27 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Gunner, 16106, 12th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
John Leo was born on 3rd February 1894 at Wallaroo in South Australia to parents Catherine Lucy Critchley and William Henry Critchley. He grew up with his father working as a labourer, with 9 siblings, named Michael, Kathleen , Julia, Josephine, Mary Varonica, Veronica Rachael, William Laurence, Patrick Dominic, Dorothy Mary. He attended Christian Brothers’ College in Adelaide. He then joined South Australian Railways as Cleaner. As per his later Attestation Papers, he stated his religious denomination Roman Catholic. The family moved to Prospect in Adelaide at some point.
He was the age of 21 years and 10 months at the time of enlistment, on 13th December 1915. His standing height was 5 feet and 2 and a half inches, chest width 33-35 inches, and weight 120 lbs/54.43 kg. His papers describe that he had hazel eyes, dark hair, and a medium complexion. He had previously applied to the Citizen's Forces but had been considered medically unfit. However, he passed the medical and was sent to depot for training
Critchley embarked from Melbourne to England on HMAT A
scanius 27th May 1916 with the 12th Field Artillery Brigade. He disembarked at Devonport, England 18th July 1916. He continued his training in England until he proceeded to France and was transferred to the 32nd Battalion 25th November 1916. He was in trouble a few times for being absent without leave during his service. He took leave in October 1917 and returned the UK and became ill while on leave and was hospitalised for a couple of weeks. He rejoined his unit 17th November 1917. He was granted leave again the following year in October 1918.
He returned to Australia on the 8th of May 1919, and was discharged 4th August 1919
John Leo Critchley went on to live to the age of 53 and passed away on 4th February 1947 and was buried in the AIF section of West Terrace cemetery in Adelaide..
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