Charles CREASE
Private Charles Crease (Sunday Times 8/10/1916)
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4754), Charles Crease was born at Camperdown, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 38 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 6 inches tall, weight 146 lbs., with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed to have no previous military service.
He was attested by Lieutenant F. Middenway when the Coo-ees were at Lawson on 7th November 1915. He completed his medical examination at Lawson on 8th November 1915.
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Kiyare, Simmonds Street, Enmore, N.S.W.[2] His next of kin was listed as his sister, Mrs J. Latham, at the same address.
On 8th March 1916 Private Crease, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England. He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 19th April 1916 Private Crease was transferred to the 45th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir.
On the 2nd June 1916 Private Crease left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France. He disembarked at Marseilles on 9th June 1916.
Private Crease served with the 45th Battalion through its first action at Fleurbaix, France in July 1916 then as it moved to Pozieres in early August 1916.
On 12th August 1916 the 45th Battalion was in reserve trenches between Pozieres and Martinpuich, when Private Crease was wounded in action, receiving a shrapnel wound to his left hand.[3] He was evacuated to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station. On 13th August 1916 he was sent to the 24th General Hospital at Etaples, France.
On 6th September 1916 Private Crease was discharged from hospital, and sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot.
On 17th October 1916 Private Crease rejoined the 13th Battalion when it was conducting training and supplying fatigue parties at Murrumbidgee Camp at La Clyette, Belgium.[4]
On 9th May 1917 the 13th Battalion was conducting training at Bresle, France, when Private Crease was admitted to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station suffering Neuritis. He rejoined the Battalion on 15th May 1917.
On 29th September 1917 the 13th Battalion was near Zonnebeke, Belgium, when Private Crease was wounded in action, receiving shrapnel wounds to his arm, legs and chest.[5] He was evacuated to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, then on to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station.
On 5th October 1917 Private Crease was moved back to the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, France.
On 16th October 1917 Private Crease was evacuated to England on the Hospital Ship Newhaven, where he was admitted to the 1st Western General Hospital at Liverpool, England.
Private Crease was discharged from hospital on 12th December 1917, and granted leave till 26th December 1917, when he reported to the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, England.
On 27th December 1917 Private Crease was admitted to the camp hospital sick [VD Venereal Disease]. He was discharged on 3rd January 1918.
On 14th February 1918 Private Crease was transferred to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.
Private Crease left England on 12th March 1918 for return to Australia aboard the S.S. Kenilworth Castle. The ship arrived at Cape Town, South Africa on 28th March 1918. On 28th April 1918 Private Crease departed Cape Town aboard the H.T. Field Marshall.
He arrived in Australian on 22nd May 1918 (gunshot wound right groin and abdomen).
He was discharged termination of period of enlistment on 23rd June 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, CREASE C
[2] Australia War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Charles Crease, HMAT Star of England A15, 8 March 1916.
[3] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45th Infantry Battalion, AWM4 23/62/6 – August 1916.
[4] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45th Infantry Battalion, AWM4 23/62/8 – October 1916.
[5] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, AWM4 Subclass 23/62 – 45th Infantry Battalion, AWM4 23/62/19 – September 1917.
1915 Coo-ee March 
His sisters name is listed as Jessie Lathan. This is my great grandmother. Her name is actually Latham. Her maiden name was Crease and I think her grandfather was a convict transported in 1839
Hi Gary
Thank you for this information. I have corrected his sister’s surname from Lathan to Latham on his story.
Kind regards
Helen