S7536
CRAVEN, Albert Henry
| Service Numbers: | 6230, S212294 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 June 1916, Broken Hill New South Wales Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25/33 Garrison Battalion (SA) |
| Born: | Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia, 24 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Kent Town, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Stockman |
| Died: | Kensington Park, SA, 25 March 1967, aged 76 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia RSL Wall 114, Niche A012 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Jan 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 6230, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, embarkation_roll: roll_number: 10 embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: 16 Aug 1916 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6230, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Jun 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6230, 10th Infantry Battalion, Broken Hill New South Wales Australia | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, HMAT Anchises (A68) | |
| 1 Jan 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6230, 27th Infantry Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages | |
| 1 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
World War 2 Service
| 29 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, S212294, 25/33 Garrison Battalion (SA) | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 29 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, S212294 | |
| 4 Sep 1944: | Discharged |
World War 1 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
|---|
Help us honour Albert Henry Craven's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Albert Craven was working as a stock and station agent and had been working in Queensland when he returned to South Australia and enlisted at Broken Hill on his way to Adelaide. His mother, Mary Craven, was listed as his NoK and was resident at Edward St Edwardstown and later at 30 Edmond Street Kent Town. He was enlisted into the 20th reinforcements of hte 10th Battalion.
Albert Henry Craven emabrked on HMAT Anchises (A68) at Adelaide on the 28th of August 1916. He sailed to Plymouth in England where he disembarked on the 11th of October, 1916 and went straight into training with the 3rd Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. He was transferred from the 10th to the 27th Battalion. After completion of his training he crossed the channel and was taken on strength by the 27th Battalion in the field in France on the 1st of January, 1917.
During the period Jan - June 1917, the 27th Battalion took part in the following up the German retreat to the Hindenburg line and the Outpost Villages, and then in a part of the British Arras Offensive, and then at Bullecourt (the 27th Battalion was part of the 2nd Division and was engaged in Second Bullecourt) and then in Albert served thoughout each of these campaigns as far as can be determined from his records.
Albert like many AIF soldiers took a few liberties in periods of 'down-time' He was AWL in May and the again from June to 10th to the 20th, 1917, he was again absent without leave and fined 39 days pay. Many of the soldiers doubted their chances of survival and sought to live life to the full if the opportunity presented itself, before returning handing themselves in copping whatever punishment was meted out and resuming their place in the line with their comrades.
In July of 1917, the Third Ypres campaign commenced and Albert appears to have served thoughout with no absences even for illness being recorded. The 27th's major actions were at Menin Road and Broodseinde in the massive meeting engagement on the 4th October that saw the Australian attacking Divisions collide head on with an attacking German force coming the other way. The Australians, having been shelled while in their assembly area, never-the-less managed to sweep the Germans from the ridge and secure a great victory.
He continued to serve with 27th Battalion throughout 1918, including the defensive operations that halted the great German offensive at Dernancourt. On the 8th August the great Allied offensive began and the 27th Battalion with Albert Craven and his comrades was once again in combat. In September, 1918 he took leave to Paris returning on the 22nd of September. By that stage, the 27th Battalion's war was all but over. He sailed back to England in April 1919 and then back to Australia in June, 1919. He was discharged from army on the 1st of September 1919.
BWM: 16283
Victory Medal: 16205
Click images to start slideshow.