Vincent Parnell Crowhurst

Personal Details: Vincent was born in February 1896 to parents Samuel and Elizabeth in Gumeracha. He attended public school and was a gardener by trade. He was 5’ 4” tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He was a Methodist by religion.
Enlistment Details: Vincent enlisted on the 29th September 1914 at Morphettville. He was 18 years and 7 months old. He was assigned to the 1st Stationary Hospital.

Details about his role in War: Vincent left Australia from Melbourne aboard the “Kyarra” on the 14th December 1914, and proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expedition Force on the 2nd March 1915. He served at Gallipoli until the 8th October 1915 when he was taken to hospital sick. He was then sent to England with Influenza. On the 31st October he was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital in Bristol, remaining there until the end of December. He was then AWL for 9 days and forfeited 9 days pay as well as being awarded 168 hours detention under Royal Warrant. He then left England on the 24th February 1916 arriving in Egypt on 5th March 1916. He rejoined the 1st Stationary Hospital on the 11th March and remained there until 14th September when he again departed for England. He was then assigned to the Convalescence Depot until the 25th February when he was transferred to the 10th Battalion leaving England aboard the “Golden Eagle” and joining the battalion on the 4th March. He was then taken ill again with pyrexia of unknown origin on the 23rd March spending 2 days in hospital before returning to the 10th. He remained with the unit until the Battle of Polygon Wood when he was wounded in action with a gunshot to the hand on the 1st October. He again returned to England to recover and was AWL for 6 days in late November. He rejoined his unit on the 2nd January 1918. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 1st May and was then killed in action on the 9th May while the 10th battalion was taking over the line near Strazeele. Eyewitnesses state that he was killed by a minenwefer with 2 others in a machine gun post, although one witness said that he was shot in the head. He was originally buried in the Strazeele Rd Cemetery but at some stage after the war his remains were exhumed and moved to the Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension.

Age at Death: 22

Memorial Details: Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, France Grave I F 48