John Lionel Edgar (Jack ) CREES

CREES, John Lionel Edgar

Service Numbers: 6494, Q219669
Enlisted: 22 March 1915, Place of Enlistment, Port Douglas, Queensland.
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 17th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Born: Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia, 22 June 1893
Home Town: Port Douglas, Cairns, Queensland
Schooling: Port Douglas School, Queensland, Australia
Occupation: Engine Driver
Died: Cerebrovascular Heamorrhage, Mossman, Queensland, Australia, 5 March 1973, aged 79 years
Cemetery: Mossman Lawn Cemetery, Queensland
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

22 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Trooper, 6494, 2nd Divisional Train, Place of Enlistment, Port Douglas, Queensland.
1 Apr 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Driver, 2nd Divisional Train

World War 2 Service

3 May 1942: Involvement Sergeant, Q219669, Page missing from Enlistment Register
3 May 1942: Enlisted
3 May 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sergeant, Q219669, 17th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
21 Oct 1945: Discharged
21 Oct 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sergeant, Q219669, 17th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)

John Lionel Edgar Crees.

John Lionel Edgar Crees (Jack) was son of JSD Crees of 'Ferndale', one of the pioneers of the district. Jack worked on his father's farm but seems to have also been a driver of Mossman Mill cane trams during the crushing. Originally assigned to the Unattached Light Horse, Jack departed Australia in May 1915 for Suez. Stating 'engine driver' as occupation on his enlistment form may have prompted his re-assignment to Driver in the 17th Australian Army Service Corps, and re-location to France. He arrived in March 1916. The AASC was responsible for transport and postal services. Jack kept a precise logbook showing arrival and departure for every location visited over his three and a half years overseas. The log book tells that he arrived back in Sydney on 30 May 1919. Jack returned to 'Ferndale' and before long became its manager. He married Martha Owens from Gordonvale and soon there were children John Owen and Margaret. John Owen Crees served in Borneo and New Guinea during World War II and eventually took over management of 'Ferndale'. He and wife Winifred, a nurse, reared two sons, Owen and Alan, who became the next generation Crees to manage 'Ferndale'. Courtesy of The Douglas Shire History Society.

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