CRITCHFIELD, Raymond Henry
| Service Numbers: | 1900, 1869 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 October 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 13th Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Nhill, Victoria, Australia , 28 January 1895 |
| Home Town: | Payneham, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Norwood Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Endocarditis Pyaemia, Salisbury Barrack Hospital, London, England, United Kingdom, 9 September 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kensal Green (All Souls) Cemetery Plot number Square 213, Grave no. 22 His body was exhumed in 1920 & re-interred in Grave No. 2 Section 174, Kensal Green Cemetery, London. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Payneham District Council Roll of Honor, St. Peters East Adelaide Public School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1900, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 1900, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' |
|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1900, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Afric, Melbourne | |
| 9 Sep 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Driver, 1869, 13th Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1869 awm_unit: 13th Australian Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column awm_rank: Driver awm_died_date: 1916-09-09 |
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Add my storyBiography
"THE LATE PRIVATE R. H. CRITCHFIELD.
Mr. and Mrs. H. Critchfield, of Royston Park, were notified on Monday of the death of their son, Private Raymond H. Critchfield, of pneumonia at Salisbury Barracks Hospital, London. He enlisted in September last year. His 21st birthday was spent on board a troopship. Prior to enlisting he was in the employ of Messrs. Wilkinson & Co." - from the Adelaide Advertiser 20 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”
Raymond Henry Critchfield was born at Nhill, Victoria on 28th January, 1895 to parents Henry and Emily Ford Critchfield (nee Clark).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 25th September, 1915 as a 20 year old, single, Grocer from 3rd Avenue Extension, Payneham, South Australia. Raymond Critchfield stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served with Senior Cadets for 2 years & had also served with Citizen Forces for 2 years & was still serving.
As Raymond Critchfield was under the age of 21 years, he needed his parents’ consent to enlist in the A.I.F. for active service abroad. His parents signed their consent on 28th September, 1915.
On 9th December, 1915 Private Critchfield was admitted to Clearing Hospital at Mitcham with Influenza. He was discharged on 11th December, 1915.
Private Raymond Henry Critchfield, Service number 1900, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Afric (A19) on 5th January, 1916 with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 9th Light Horse Regiment, 13th Reinforcements.
He was transferred to 5th Div. Artillery on 1st April, 1916. Private Critchfield was taken on strength from 9th Light Horse & posted to 13th B.A.C. (Brigade Ammunition Column) the same day. His service number would have been altered around this time to 1869.
Gunner Raymond Henry Critchfield was awarded 1 days forfeiture of pay on 19th June, 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir for overstaying leave.
On 22nd April, 1916 Gunner Critchfield was mustered as Driver with 13th Field Artillery Brigade.
Driver Critchfield was transferred to Base Details on 26th May, 1916 at Tel-el Kebir.
Mrs E. F. Critchfield, mother of the Private R. H. Critchfield, was advised on 7th September, 1916 that her son was dangerously ill with pneumonia in 2nd Australian General Hospital.
He was admitted to Millbank Hospital on 8th September, 1916 with pneumonia.
Driver Raymond Henry Critchfield died on 9th September, 1916 at Salisbury Barrack Hospital, Millbank, England from Pneumonia, Endocarditis Pyaemia.
****NOTE: The Australian War Memorial records Raymond Henry Critchfield as having the rank of Driver. Several forms in his Service Record file refer to him as Private, Gunner & Driver. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records Raymond Henry Critchfield as having the rank of Trooper & has that rank engraved on his CWGC headstone.
He was buried in All Souls Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, England – Plot number Square 213, Grave no. 22 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
A letter was written from Base Records on 17th April, 1920 to Mrs E. F. Critchfield, mother of the late Gunner R. H. Critchfield & listed as next-of-kin, advising that the remains of her son, the late No.1869, Gunner R. H. Critchfield, 13th Bde. Ammn. Column, had been exhumed from the former site & re-interred in Grave No. 2 Section 174, Kensal Green Cemetery, London. The letter stated that “This work is carried out with every measure of care and reverence in the presence of a Chaplain.”
According to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour, Raymond Henry Critchfield was a direct descendant of the Earl of Litchfield, of Litchfield, England (on his mother’s side).
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/kensal-green--all-souls.html
Click images to start slideshow.