John Hector Croft

Note: Various war documents have either Service No 1343 or 2343 recorded on John Croft's documents, while both numbers are recorded on his National Archives of Australia (NAA) papers.

John Croft was born around 1891 in Mittagong, N.S.W. and he was educated at Bulli Public School on the N.S.W. south coast.

When John enlisted at the age of 23 he was single, lived at Bulli, N.S.W, and worked as a drover.  John had been a member of the Bulli Rifle club.

He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee with 2nd Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion on 11th February 1915.  The troops arrived in Egypt and John was at the landing at Gallipoli on 25th April.  On 30th April John was wounded and evacuated to hospital in Egypt for treatment of gun shot wounds to his right forearm.  He returned to Gallipoli on 1st August 1915, fought at Lone Pine, and remained at Gallipoli until the evacuation.

John arrived in France on 28th March 1916 and was admitted to hospital sick on 15th June, but was back with his unit on 22nd June.

On 23rd July 1916 while fighting at Pozieres, John was wounded and evacuated to hospital for treatment of gun shot wounds to his shoulder.  His injuries were severe and John was admitted to the hospital ship HMS St George, to be sent to England for treatment.  However John died on board, never having regained conciousness.  John's records reveal he had a ruptured spine and he subsequently died of heart failure as a result of his injuries.

John was buried with full military honours in Netley Military Cemetery Church of England section,Hampshire, England: Grave 1824.