Description
British War Medal, Impressed to “2164 PTE A.J. CROCKER. CML. CPS. A.I.F.”
Victory Medal, Impressed to “2164 PTE. A.J. CROCKER CML. CPS. A.I.F.”
Andrew John Crocker, born in Quorn, South Australia on the 4th of December 1890, enlisted at the age of 24 into the Australian Imperial Forces on the 8th October 1915 at Adelaide, joining the 15th Reinforcements to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment as Private 2164. Embarking from Australia on the 16th of March 1916, Crocker joined his regiment at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt on the 15th of April, later being taken on strength into the 1st Light Horse Double Squadron, part of the 1st Light Horse Brigade, on the 6th of July, then later into the 3rd Light Horse Regiment itself.
On the 2nd of November 1916, Crocker was taken on strength into the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade at Cairo, joining the 4th Australian Camel Regiment. The total strength of the Camel Corps was approximately 3380 men and 3880 camels – the 1st and 3rd regiments consisted of Australians, the 2nd of British, and the 4th of Australians and New Zealanders (ANZAC). The 4th Camel Regiment was formed from 1st Light Horse Double Squadron and 2nd Light Horse Double Squadron; Crocker’s previous service with the 1st Double Squadron likely lead to his movement into the new regiment. The 4th Camel Regiment split up into the 17th and 18th ‘Camel Companies’ on the 3rd of February 1917 – accordingly, Crocker was formally taken on strength into the 17th Company on the 7th of February 1917. Although the many Light Horse Regiments were deployed in the area, the effectiveness of camel-mounted units over horses was clear – they were well suited for the Egyptian climate and sandy topography, and were able to carry near 145 kilograms in load and go without hydration from up to 5 days. The use of horse units became more favourable as the war moved to the more fertile country of northern Palestine, causing the practicality of the camel corps to decline.
Andrew John Crocker served with the 17th Company for most of 1917 until being detached to the 67th Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps on the 25th of September. He was attached for trade testing for only several days, although was rejected for service with the A.F.C. on the 3rd of October for unknown reasons – Crocker then returned to the 17th Camel Company immediately thereafter. The R.F.C. addition certainly adds interest to his military career.
Following the action at El Mughar (Battle of Mughar Ridge) on the 17th of November 1917, the allied advance had finally crossed the Sinai and entered Palestine – the advancement onto the foothills of the Judean Hills began. On the 27th of November Turkish forces engaged in a multi-sided counter attack against Imperial forces – of note, part of the Ottoman Eighth Army’s 16th Division advanced upon the Imperial Camel Corps at Bald Hill. Although initially successful against the 2nd Light Horse Brigade’s front line, the Turkish division entrenched themselves in an overreached, untenable position and had to surrender three officers, 147 troops and four machine guns to the 7th Light Horse Regiment. It may be assumed Crocker was apart of the forces at Bald Hill, as he was later present with the Allied forces in the advancement upon Jerusalem – unfortunately, on the 3rd of December 1917 Crocker was wounded in action with a gunshot to the left arm and therefore not present for the capture of Jerusalem on the 8th of December.
Crocker was admitted to the 43rd and then 24th Station Hospitals on the 5th and 7th December respectively, the wound unfortunately haemorrhaging between his transference and was therefore quickly moved to the 14th Australian General Hospital in Abbassia on the 9th of December. The gunshot wound proved to be quite severe with reported lesions to the ulna and median nerves, rendering him unfit for combat. Crocker was transferred back to Australia via the ‘Ulysses’ for a 6-month discharge, embarking from Cairo on the 15th of February 1918. He would remain in Australia and was eventually discharged as medically unfit for further combat on the 26th of September of 1918.
The majority of the Imperial Camel Corps was disbanded in June of 1918 and the Australian cameliers were used to form the 14th and 15th Light Horse Regiments. The I.C.C. was later officially disbanded in May of 1919 following the end of World War I.
Records indicate that Andrew John Crocker, now at the age of 51, enlisted into the Australian Infantry Forces on the 6th of May 1942. He was taken on strength into the 3rd Battalion as Private S66438, and later discharged on the 9th of August 1948.
World War I Pair to a highly collectible Corps, the 4th Australian (ANZAC) Camel Regiment, and semi scarce as named. Crocker’s WWII medals are unaccounted for – this opens up an opportunity for the future collector to reunite those with the WWI group presented here. Furthermore, this group is fresh to the market and never before been offered for retail or auction. Medals loose and unmounted – likely never worn and in great preservation as a result.