Cecil James Crook

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 12/11/2014 - 10:48

First Name:

Cecil

Middle Name:

James

Last Name:

Crook

Date of Birth:

Friday, September 29, 1899

Mother's Name:

Ellen (nee Spain)

Father's Name:

John Crook

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, November 10, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

19th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, October 4, 1918

Place of Death:

Peronne France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Cecil James Crook (Service No 4562) was born in Adamstown, Newcastle. When Cecil enlisted in the AIF on 10 November, 1915, he was living at Kembla Heights, near Wollongong. He was 18 years old and a clipper by trade.

Cecil left Australia on the HMAT A71Nestor on 9 April, 1916 as part of the 19th Battalion, 11th Reinforcements. In October, 1918, while serving in France, Cecil received a a gunshot wound to his should which penetrated his chest, and was admitted to the 58th Casualty Clearing Station in a collapsed condition and subsequently died from his wounds.

Cecil is buried at Tincourt New British Military Cemetery, Peronne, France, Plot 6, Row F, Grave 12.

At some point during the war, Cecil married, & subsequently changed his official next of kin from his mother, Ellen, to his wife, Annie, who also received his medals & composed his epitaph, which mentions a son, Cecil.

Official records indicate he suffered from epilepsy.

Sources:

NAA: B2455; CROOK C J; Cecil James