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Bacchus Marsh
Avenue of Honour
Surnames beginning with [ ] - Results 281

Private James Robert Crook

Service No.:
5333
Unit:
22nd Battalion
Tree No.:
S076
Planted by:
Miss Heather Crook (Sister)
Image of plaque on tree S076 for James Crook
See Notes (1)
Image of Service Medal - British War Medal Image of Service Medal - Victory Medal

  James was born at St Arnaud, VIC in 1893 to Francis Harbottle (whose father was James Elijah Crook(2)) and Hannah Eliza McCausland. Francis had three brothers, Charles, Cecil and Francis, who are also remembered in the Avenue.

Photo of Francis Crook
click to enlarge
James Crook
Courtesy of
Alan West
Son of Charles West MM

 James was a farmer in Bacchus Marsh, VIC when he enlisted in the AIF, 14th Reinforcements, 22nd Battalion on the 9th of February 1916, aged nearly 24.   James was promoted to Lance Corporal in June and embarked aboard the HMAT A32 Themistocles in July, disembarking at Plymouth, England in September.

  In November 1916 James disembarked at Etaples, France and reverted to the rank of Private - he joined the 22nd Battalion in the field in December.  In February 1917 he spent a month in hospital with Myalgia, rejoining his unit at the end of March and promoted to Lance Corporal.  James received a gunshot wound to the hand(3) in May and was admitted to hospital in England - he rejoined his unit in France in October.

  James spent two weeks in hospital with Scabies in January 1918 and was again in hospital in April.  Whilst returning to his unit he was AWL for nearly two weeks in May and as punishment he lost his Lance stripe and forfeited 14 days pay.

  On the 17th of July 1918 James was wounded in action - gassed.

The gas bombardment which commenced at 11.30pm 16/7/18 continued until 2.30am this morning and resulted in the battalion's area being completely saturated.

Source: Unit Diary entry

  In August James was evacuated back to hospital in England - gas poisoning. He was again AWL in November and forfeited 14 days pay. He embarked for Australia aboard the Ulysses, disembarking in March and was discharged from the AIF in April 1918.

  James was living in Colbinabbin East, VIC when he enlisted in the Australian Army in 1940. He was discharged in 1947, rank Corporal, unit 18th Salvage Section.

  James died at Heidelberg, VIC, in 1967, aged 75.

  He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.

Notes

  1. He was a Lance Corporal for quite some time but in April 1918 he was AWOL and part of his punishment was to lose his Lance stripe.
  2. James Crook's grandfather was James Elijah Crook who came to Bacchus Marsh in 1841. He built the old Woolpack Inn, established a coach service to the goldfields and purchased the Manor House in 1857.
  3. He saw William Tregoning fall while lying wounded in a shell hole - Red Cross report

Location of Tree Number S076

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Last updated by lee, Sat, 28 Aug 2021 11:28:38