CROSTHWAITE, Robert
| Service Number: | 2085 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1883 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Scarsdale State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 1 March 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Martinpuich British Cemetery Row B, Grave No. 8 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Smythesdale Scarsdale and District Soldiers and Scarsdale State School Pictorial Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 2085, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 2085, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne |
HOW PIONEER CROSTHWAITE MET HIS DEATH
Transcript of Letter published in the Geelong Advertiser on Friday 27th July 1917
HOW PIONEER CROSTHWAITE MET HIS DEATH
Mrs Crosthwaite has received the following letter :-
Ëngalnd, 24/5/17
I was till recently attached to No. 3 Platoon, A Company, 2nd Pioneers, and being present when your brave son was killed, and having a mother of my own, I knew you would like to know your son was buried decently in the Anzacs’ graveyard at Martinpuich on the Somme.
You may have heard the circumstances. We had to get a light tramline up to the support trenches for the infantry, who were in bad need of food; anyhow things went alright for a while, and then, wthout any warning, a shell burst nearly under us; it killed a chap named Johnston and your son.
Your son suffered no pain whatever. Johnston was terribly knocked about; just a bit of shrapnel hit your lad in the head. We carried them down to the Anzac Cemetery at Martinpuich at ten that night. I think it was the first of March. Mr. Cresswell, our officer, and the Methodist Padre, a sergeant and myself laid them to rest.
I can only say your son was a brave lad, highly respected by all who knew him and died a soldier’s death fighting for his country.
If there is anything further than this you would like to know, if you write I will be pleased to answer same.
Yours sincerely
R.V. Thomas
2nd Air Mechanic
Address No 7 Tabernacle Street,
Finsbury Square,
London, E.C.
Submitted 6 March 2024 by Colin Crosthwaite
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