CROWLEY, George Andrew
| Service Number: | 444 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia, 15 July 1873 |
| Home Town: | Wellington, Wellington, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Saddler |
| Died: | Wellington, New South Wales, Australia, 8 August 1953, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 444, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 444, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 13 Jul 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 444, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Services Paybooks, Bk 3 p. 110, contains an entry in the "Remarks" column noting he was "discharged with ignominy" on 13 Jul 1901 without stating reason. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
He is recorded as George Andrew Crowley and George A. Crowley on documents for different enlistments.
He served in both the South African (Boer) war (in 2 contingents) and in WW1. His first service was as George Andrew Crowley, Private S.N. 444, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer war. His second service was as George A. Crowley, Trooper S.N. 377, 1st Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse (NSW), Boer war. His third service was as George Andrew Crowley, Trooper S.N. 1267, 2nd Australian Remount Unit AIF, WW1. He also served a fourth time in the Citizen Forces (home front NSW) during WW1 as George Crowley, Private S.N. 829, No. 2 District Guard NSW.
When he first enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his sister as Mrs. K. Geaghan, Austin St, Hay, NSW. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 110, remarks that he was discharged with ingnominy on 13 Jul 1901 without stating a reason.
When he enlisted for the Boer war again in 1902 it was with the 1st BACH(NSW) contingent. His Attestation, dated 24 Jan 1902, in his NAA Boer War Dossier noted that; his full name was George Andrew Crowley and he was born at Wangaratta, Victoria; he was 32 years of age, single and a saddler; his N.O.K. was his sister Mrs. Catherine Geaghan, (place indecipherable); and he had previously served 8 months in the QIB.
He enlisted again in 1915 for WW1 and on his Attestation Paper, dated 20 Sep 1915, it was noted that; he was born at Wangaratta, Victoria and was 46 years 2 months old; he was married and a saddler; his N.O.K. was his wife Harriett Crowley, Forest Lodge, NSW; and he had previously served with the Qld Bushmen and 1st Aust. Com. Horse in South Africa. He was discharged as medically unfit and returned to Australia in 1916.
In 1917 he enlisted as George Crowley in the Citizen (home) Forces and on his Attestation Form, dated 19 Nov 1917, he noted that; he was born on 15 Jul 1873 at Wangaratta, Victoria and was 44 years 5 months of age; and noted his wife as N.O.K. and previous services in South Africa and WW1.
There appears to have been a running isue with his stated age at each enlistment; in is 2nd Boer war enlistment in Jan 1902 his age was stated as 32 years (b. 1870?); in his WW1 enlistment in Sep 1915 he stated 46 years 2 months (b. Jul 1869?); and then in Nov 1917 he stated he was born on 15 Jul 1873 and was 44 years 5 months old. When he passed in Aug 1953 the NSW Public Trustee in a letter to Army Records, seeking if they held a will for him from his enlistments, stated he was 89 years old when he passed (b. 1864?). There is doubt as to his date of birth, but based on him stating a date in his Citizen Forces enlistment, that date has been used for this bio.
George Andrew Crowley was born on 15 Jul 1873 at Wangaratta, Victoria. He married Harriet Smith in 1906 in Sydney, NSW.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 502 and 173; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 110; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 2nd service; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record [service abroard]; National Archives Australia- WW1 home service).