Ambrose John CRAWFORD

Regimental number6318
Place of birthShepparton, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationMotor-driver
Address3 St George's Street, Northcote, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation27
Next of kinFather, I Crawford, 3 St George's Street, Northcote, Victoria
Enlistment date11 August 1915
Rank on enlistmentGunner
Unit nameField Artillery Brigade 4, Battery 10
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 18 November 1915
Age at death from cemetery records29
Place of burialPerth Cemetery (China Wall) (Plot VI, Row F, Grave No. 13), Zillebeke, Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
13
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: I and E. CRAWFORD, 11 Hawthor Road, Northcote, Melbourne
Medals

Military Medal

'On the 29th September, 1917, in the BELLEWARDE-WESTHOEK Valley, the Battery was being heavily shelled by 5.9 and 8" to such an extent that orders were given to temporarily evacuate the position. Immediately after, a 6 mule team of the 2nd Australian D.A.C. was almost directly hit with a shell: severely wounding two of the drivers and killing one. Notwithstanding the heavy shellfire, Gunner CRAWFORD and Gunner FENTON, accompanied by the Battery A.M.C. Orderly, immediately went to the assistance of the wounded, dressed their wounds and carried them to the Dressing Station. The A.M.C. Orderly was killed in doing so. They went back again to see if they could render any assistance to two Pioneers who has also run over with them in the first place, but had been killed by the same shell that killed the A.M.C. Orderly. I consider thay exhibited the highest form of individual courage under such trying circumstances.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918

Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal