Richard John CROCKER
Per his military service record (Depot), Richard John Crocker was born at Croydon, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 18 years and 4 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as brickmaker. His description on his Certificate of medical examination was height 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 128 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. His next of kin on his Attestation paper was listed as his mother, Mrs Alice W. Crocker, Brighton Avenue, Croydon, N.S.W. He completed his medical examination and was attested by Lieutenant Edward J. Shaw at Ashfield, on 11th November 1915. He claimed to have four years previous military experience with the 39th Regiment.
After joining the Coo-ee March at Ashfield, he went to Liverpool Camp. However, his time with the Coo-ees would be short, as he was underage.
A letter from Lieutenant Stanley Stilling from the Ashfield Drill Hall dated 16th November 1915 in his file states that ‘Mrs Crocker … called at this Office this evening, and states that she will not consent to her son Richard Crocker, 16 ½ years old, and who is a Trainee of the Area – going with the A.I.F. and asks for his discharge. Crocker volunteered here, and was duly Medically examined, etc., in connection with the Gilgandra Recruits’.[2]
A letter from his mother Alice Crocker dated 18th November 1915 is also in his file, in which she states ‘My son Richard Crocker enlisted with the Gilgandra Coo-ees last Thursday night against my wish as he is only 16 last May and I think far too young, I want you to send him home at once, please’.[3]
He was discharged parents request, being underage, on 25th November 1915.
Less than a year later, Richard John Crocker re-enlisted in the A.I.F. He completed his Certificate of medical examination at Victoria Barracks on 20th September 1916, and was attested at the Show Ground Camp at Sydney on 25th September 1916.
A letter dated 19th September 1916 in his file signed by both his parents gave consent for their son to enlist. However he was still underage. He had stated that he was 18 years and 3 months of age in this application to enlist, but this was later changed to 17 years and 4 months on his Certificate of medical examination. A copy of his Birth Certificate in his service record dated 20th March 1917 shows that his date of birth was 13th May 1899.
Private Crocker was allocated to the 7th reinforcements for the 60th Battalion.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Ashfield, N.S.W. His next of kin was listed as his father, Edwin Crocker, 53 Arthur Street, Ashfield, N.S.W.
Private Crocker (regimental no. 2873) embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Afriq A19 on 3rd November 1916. He disembarked at Plymouth on 9th January 1917.
He marched into the 15th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, England on 10th January 1917.
On 10th May 1917 Private Crocker was transferred to the Australian Army Medical Corps, and he marched into the Medical Corps Training Depot at Parkhouse, England.
He later wrote in a letter to the O.C., Victoria Barracks: ‘I went away in 1916 but was under age so I was transferred from the 7/60th to the A.M.C. I was constantly in Hospital work and I volunteered 3 times to go up to the line but I was in the operating theatre & did not get shifted’.[4]
On 4th September 1917 he went to Parkhouse Hospital with a headache. He returned to the A.M.C. Training Depot on 10th September 1917.
On 29th September 1917 Private Crocker was taken on the staff of the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, England.
On 13th June 1918 Private Crocker was admitted to the Hospital suffering Influenza. He was discharged on 16th June 1918.
On 27th January 1919 Private Crocker was detached for duty at the 1st Australian General Hospital at Sutton Veny, England.
On 23rd March 1919 he was admitted to the Hospital suffering Influenza. He was discharged on 4th April 1919, and sent to the Training Depot.
On 13th of May 1919 [his 20th birthday], Private Crocker was granted leave, to report back on 25th May 1919.
Private Crocker commenced his return to Australia on 2nd July 1919, aboard the H.T. Karmala. He disembarked at Sydney on 17th August 1919.
He was discharged Termination of Period of Enlistment on 6th October 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, CROCKER R J
[2] NAA: B2455, CROCKER R J, letter to Headquarters, A.I.F.Camp, Liverpool, from Lieut. Stanley Stilling, Area Officer, 39th Infantry, 16 November 1915
[3] NAA: B2455, CROCKER R J, letter from Alice Crocker, 18 November 1915
[4] NAA: B2455, CROCKER R J, letter to O.C., Victoria Barracks, from Richard John Crocker, [1936].
1915 Coo-ee March 