Capt. R.C. Crocker AIF

Captain Robert Clive Crocker, A.I.F.
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CROCKER
Captain Clive Robert

6th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force

Born 29 Jun 1888, in Windsor, Victoria

Educated: Scotch College & University of Melbourne, Victoria-

Single; Solicitor of Supreme Court of Victoria, of 31 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria

Next Of Kin: Father; Henry Sayers Crocker. Mother; Margaret Eleanor Crocker (nee Wilson), of 31 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria.

Photos of Captain Crocker are known to exist in the following locations:
University of Melbourne Record of Active Service.


Killed in Action
12th July 1915
at Helles
Aged 27




6th Battery 2nd AFA, A.I.F.


Grave:

Pink Farm cemetery, Helles sector


Epitaph:

He Died Before His Time
But As A Soldier
And For His Country


Notes:


Joined AIF 17th August 1914 [sic].
Embarked as 2nd Lieutenant, Brigade Ammunition Column. Promoted Captain and transferred to 6th Battery, Anzac Cove, 31st May 1915, authority Brigadier-General Walker, D.S.O. (B103).

Died at: exact location unknown (Helles sector).

Admitted to the bar 1913. Lieut., 2nd Field Artillery Brigade 8 Aug 1914 . Embarked 20 Oct 1914. Lieutenant. 1 Feb 1915. Capt. 31 May 1915.

Killed in action while observation officer, at Cape Helles, on 12th July 1915.

Originally buried in Gully Beach cemetery, Helles. Body was exhumed after the war and reinterred in Pink Farm cemetery. At that time, Captain Crocker's remains were unable to be positively identified, and he was given a 'Special memorial' headstone. (letter to family from Base Records).

In reply, Captain Crocker's father wrote:
31 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn 18th January 1926.
Captain W. Mackintosh, Officer I/C Base Records Office, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne
Dear Sir/ I am in receipt of your communication of the 8th inst., with reference to the report of the burial of my late son Captain R.C. Crocker, 6th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, who was killed in action at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, on the 12th July 1915, and stating that no means were available to definitely identify my son's resting place. This statement has more than surprsied me, as my son was buried at Cape Helles by his comrades and I enclose a photograph of his grave. There should be no difficulty in locating his grave, as he was buried, as shewn by the photograph, in close proximity to other of his comrades who fell in the War. I have to request that futher efforts be made to locate my son's grave, so that his last resting place can be definitely identified. I will not require a copy of the Cemetery Register referred to in the pamphlet accompanying your letter.
Faithfully yours, (signed) Henry Crocker'

After investigation by the Imperial War Graves Commission, the following letter was sent in reply:
Dear Sir, With futher reference to my communication of 21st January, relative to the grave of your son, the late Captain R.C. Crocker, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, I am now in receipt of a reply from the Imperial War Graves Commission intimating that notwithstanding the report of this officer's burial in the Gully Beach cemetery, Helles, no surface markings with his name was found by the Graves Registration Unit on inspection.
It was hoped, however, that following the concentration of this Cemetery to the Pink Farm Cemetery, identification would be established, but unfortunately, this anticipation was not realised and no other course remained but to conclude that he was numbered with the presumed burials and to commemorate his name accordingly. Similarly in the case of the late No. 1182 Bombardier L.W. Chillingsworth, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, whose grave is depicted on the right of the enclosed photograph, the Commission report that his final resting place was never located, and in the circumstances, it can only be concluded that these temporary crosses were by some unauthorised means removed, thereby rendering all further attempts at identification impossible.
Assuring you of the Department's profound regret.
Yours faithfully,
(signed) Captain W. Mackintosh Officer i/c Base Records.' (Letter to H.S. Crocker, 31 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn, Victoria, dated 17 May 1926).

'CROCKER - On the 12th July, killed in action at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Robert Clive, son of H.S. and M.E. Crocker, Riversdale road, Hawthorn.' (The Australasian 31 Jul 1915 piii).



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