| Regimental number | 2006 |
| Place of birth | Wallsend, New South Wales |
| School | West Wallsend, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Hospital attendant |
| Address | Withers Street, West Wallsend, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Height | 6' 0" |
| Weight | 171 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Sarah Croft, Withers Street, West Wallsend, New South Wales |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 30th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/47/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 30th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fromelles, France |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 25 |
| Place of burial | Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row D, Grave No 2), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 116 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Francis and Sarah Elizabeth CROFT, 50 Everton Street, Hamilton, New South Wales. Native of Minmi |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Sydney, 16 February 1916; disembarked Suez, 23 March 1916. Proceeded to 30th Bn from 8th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 1 April 1916; joined 30th Bn, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Found guilty, 7 July 1916, of being absent without leave from 1400 hours to 1600 hours, 6 July 1916; awarded 3 days' Field Punishment No 2. Posted wounded and missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 23 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Red Cross File No 840308 has statement from 2137 Pte W.A. POOLEY, 30th Bn, 28 August 1916: 'I was told in Convalescent Camp by [2117] Pte [W.A.L.] McDermot (sic) of A. Company that he had seen Croft blown up by a shell in the attack, at Fleurbaix on 19th July. McDermot said that Croft was killed outright and that he was quite close to him at the time and that another man called Tickner was killed at the same time as Croft.' Second statement, 629 Pte P. COTTERILL, C Company, 30th Bn, 21 September 1916: 'I was speaking to Pte. W. Collins C. Co. 30th Batt. about a fortnight ago. He told me he lay beside Croft at Fleurbaix on the night of July 19th. and sniped over his dead body. The German M. Guns played on to the body. Collins escaped.' Third statement from 'A Private on "Jan Breydell" H.S. Boulogne, 22 September 1916: 'This man ... was killed on the 19th July at Fromelles during the attack. It happened while he was ammunition carrying. I was behind him, and went off the second time, and saw him dead on the top of the German parapet in the first line of the German trenches. We had to retire back to our own line again and [so?] his body was left behind.' Fourth statement from 2121 Pte F.G. McMULLAN, 30th Bn (patient, Hospital, Manchester), 7 October 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th July at Fleurbaix Coft was carrying ammunition in "No Man's Land" and was blown up by a shell and killed along with Pte F. Tickner.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France |
| Miscellaneous details | Address incorrectly recorded on Embarkation Roll as Wilkens Street. Mother's address subsequently, 80 Hannell Street, Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales; then 50 Everton Street, Hamilton, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, CROFT George
Red Cross file 840308 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
