MCCRACKEN, John
| Service Number: | 4546 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dromone, Down, Ireland., 27 May 1883 |
| Home Town: | Campbelltown, Campbelltown Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Signalman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 25 July 1916, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
Pozières British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 4546, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 4546, 2nd Infantry Battalion, RMS Osterley, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
John MCCRACKEN (Service Number 4546) was born on 27th May 1883 at Dromone, Down, Ireland. He first worked for the NSW Government Railways as a temporary porter in the Sydney District from 25th July 1912. By 20th April 1915 he had progressed to become an 8th class signalman. He was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces on 12th September 1915. He had in fact enlisted at Holdsworthy at least a week before this. He gave his father, who was still living in Ireland, as his next of kin.
He was allotted to the 14th Reinforcements to the 2nd Battalion. He embarked RMS ‘Osterley’ at Sydney on 15th January 1916 and reached Egypt a few weeks later. On 29th March he embarked ‘Transylvania’ at Alexandria for passage to Marseilles. From thjere he joined the British Expeditionary Force in France. He was taken on the strength of the 2nd Battalion on 4th May.
He was killed in action on 25th July 1916.
McCracken was buried on the outskirts of Pozières, 3¾ miles NE of Albert. After the war in the rationalisation of cemeteries his remains were exhumed and re-interred at Pozières British Cemetery, France.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.