Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

In August 1872, Edward Creagan was born in Adelaide. In Norwood, he resided at 6 Birrell Street. He enlisted in the military at the age of 42 years, and 3 months, and declared himself a Roman Catholic. It is unknown where he attended school. He was a butcher before he enlisted. His sister Miss Mary Evans was listed as his next of kin

 Creagan enlisted as a Corporal on the 26th of November 1914 when he was 42 years and 3 months old. He measured in at 5 feet, 8 ½ inches tall and he weighed 11 stone, 8 pounds (73.5 kg). His chest measurement was 35-38 inches. His skin complexion was brown, his eyes were dark brown and his hair was black. One of his distinctive marks was a scar on his forehead. Records indicate that he was unmarried when he enlisted. Creagan embarked on His Majesty's Australian Transport (HMAT) Berrima A35 which went to the Middle East. He left Australia on the 22nd of December 1914. When he enlisted his Service Number was 5368. This was Edward Creagan’s first service for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

When he arrived in the Middle East and disembarked from the HMAT Berrima A35 he was attached to the 4th Field Bakery Unit. He might have been trained to make bread from scratch or trained others. The Field Bakeries were responsible for producing and supplying bread to the troops. After about one year of being in the 4th Field Bakery Unit he became ill with Pleurisy and was admitted to hospital on the 30th November 1915. And rejoined his unit on the 16th December. He was again hospitalised with Pleurisy on the 4th January 1916, after a time of convalescence he returned to his unit on the 8th March 1916. He was then transfre

ed to hospital. The hospital he was in could not manage his illness and he was transferred to the 4th Australian Field Butchery Unit but it was not long before he was again admitted to hospital. He was admitted to the 14th Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital. He rejoined his unit on the 3rd April only to return to hospital again on the 21st April 1916, admitted to the International Australian Service Hospital. Two days later Creagan was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital and then transferred to the No. 3 Auxiliary Hospital. Clearly unwell he was discharged from his Unit and was sent back to Australia on the 24th of June 1916.

In the Unit diaries of the 4th Field Bakery, it reads ‘One man sent to Hospital’ and there are no more statements about this man again. Creagan was probably that man as the dates match the time he was sent to the hospital and the discharge date.  Creagan received the three standard medals for serving in the war. He received the Star 1914/15 Medal, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. These three medals were given to every Australian soldier that fought in World War 1.

 The boat trip back to Australia would have taken between 35 to 40 days. It was rather typical for the newly discharged soldiers to play cards, chess, dominoes, and cribbage if they were lucky. If they hadn't been so fortunate, the voyage would have been exceedingly slow and monotonous. Creagan would have disembarked in Sydney when he first arrived in Australia, and after presumably being taken to the hospital to determine what was wrong with his heart, he would have had to travel to Adelaide or stay in Sydney.

After being released, he survived for an additional 46 years before passing away in 1962. At the age of 91, he passed away on March 31. It is unclear is he married after the war or had any children.. Creagan was buried in the AIF Cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Section: KO, Road: 7A, Site No: 39.