CROFT, George
| Service Number: | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 September 1915, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Minmi, New South Wales, Australia, 28 July 1891 |
| Home Town: | West Wallsend, Lake Macquarie Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Mental Hospital Attendant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France , 20 July 1916, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery Plot III, Row D, Grave No 2. Inscription: I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Baulkham Hills William Thompson Masonic School War Memorial, Hamilton War Memorial, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, Depot Battalion , Newcastle, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2006, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Sydney | |
| 16 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2006, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2006, 30th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Transylvania" | |
| 23 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2006, 30th Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2006, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2006, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed In Action |
Help us honour George Croft's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Let us remember a Fallen soldier of The Great War memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
On the 20th July 1916, Private George Durant Croft, referred to as Darby, 30th Battalion (Reg No-2006), mental hospital attendant (Watt Street, Newcastle, N.S.W.), from Withers Street, West Wallsend, New South Wales, was Killed in Action by an enemy artillery shell when ammunition carrying in "No Man's Land" during the Battle of Fromelles, age 24.
Born at Minmi, New South Wales on the 28th July 1891 to Francis (died 14.11.1904, West Wallsend, N.S.W., laid to rest at West Wallsend General Cemetery, GENERAL, OLD SECTION, ROW O, PLOT 06, unmarked grave) and Sarah Elizabeth Croft (died 20.3.1933, age 68) of 80 Hannell Street, Wickham, New South Wales and 50 Everton Street, Hamilton, N.S.W. and 95 Beaumont Street, Hamilton, N.S.W., Darby enlisted on the 10th September 1915 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 16th of February 1916.
Disembarked Marseilles, France 23.6.1916.
Reported Wounded and Missing 20.7.1916.
In a letter sent home from Phillip Hoare, a miner from Watkins Street, West Wallsend, New South Wales, 30th Battalion, Reg No-2068, states that Darby had been killed by enemy machine gun bullets while crossing "No Man's Land".
Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, now resting at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France. Plot III Row D Grave 2.
Place of Association - Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Mr. Croft’s name has been inscribed on the Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial, Hamilton Municipal District Roll of Honor, as CROFT, D, Book of Gold, West Wallsend Superior Public School Roll of Honour, West Wallsend Masonic Lodge (St. Andrews No. 198) Roll of Honour, West Wallsend Soldiers' Memorial, Baulkham Hills William Thompson Masonic School War Memorial, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall. George was a member of the West Wallsend Independent Order of Rechabites (Lily of Valley, Tent No. 57). No Roll of Honour was located.
I have placed poppies at the memorialised gravesite of mother Sarah Elizabeth Croft in remembrance of the service and supreme sacrifice of her son for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 1-54. 101.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
Was a member of the St Andrews 198 Lodge.
Click images to start slideshow.