George Henry Cronk (1893 - 1916)

Biography

George Henry Cronk was born on 20th March 1893 in Queensland (Australia). He was the sixth son of Edward Cronk and Louisa George.

On 13th August 1915 George enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, the young nation's overseas expeditionary force for the (First World) War. ^[1] On 21st October 1915 he embarked at Brisbane aboard HMAT Seang Bee A48 with other reinforcements for the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion. ^[2] Early in 1916, as the AIF was being doubled in size, George was transferred to the 47th Australian Infantry Battalion, 12th Brigade. Arriving in France on 9th June 1916, the 47th Battalion entered the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 3rd July. It soon participated in its first major battle, at Pozières, France.

Aged 23 years, George was killed in action on 8th August 1916 at Pozières. ^[3] George Henry Cronk's name is located at panel 143 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France, and on the Cenotaph at Beaudesert, Queensland. ^[4]

Following the war his family was issued his service medals, both the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Sources

1. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 3266 Private George Henry Cronk; accessed 14 Nov 2021
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: 3266 Private George Henry Cronk; accessed 14 Nov 2021
3. ↑ Queensland Death Index #1922/F/1974
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial roll of honour: 3266 Private George Henry Cronk; accessed 14 Nov 2021