John Nicholas Crowley

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 26/08/2015 - 09:40

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Nicholas

Last Name:

Crowley

Mother's Name:

Bridget Crowley (nee Murphy)

Father's Name:

Michael Crowley

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, November 16, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

34th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, October 12, 1917

Place of Death:

Passchendaele, Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

John Crowley (Service No 2917) was born at Cordeaux River near Wollongong, N.S.W. in July 1866.

On 21st December 1893 he married Elizabeth Roberts and they went on to have 8 children. He was a man of strong opinions and supported compulsory military service.

By 1916 he was a widower and he decided to enlist. He was 50 years of age, lived at West Wyalong and worked as a journalist.

On his enlisment papers John claimed to be 44 years and 4 months. In late 1916 recruiting was very slow and this may explain why he was accepted.

John embarked from Sydney on HMAT A72 Beltana on 25th November 1916 with 6th Reinforcement, 34th Battalion. He arrived in England and on 30th July went to France to join up with D Company.

On 12th November 1917 John was fighting at Passchendaele in Belgium when he was hit by a shell and mortally wounded.

John is buried in Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 19, Row D.

John had three sons who enlisted; one had been in 34th Battalion and killed by a GermanpPrisoner he was bringing only a few months before John's death.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CROWLEY J N