Site contents © Copyright Michael Crouch, 2000. |
Site contents © Copyright Michael Crouch, 2000. |
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The Crouch family from England to Tasmania John Baird Crouch was the son of William Crouch and Ann Baird. Ann was a twenty-five year old housekeeper from Aidrie, Lanarkshire in Scotland. William Crouch left Liverpool on April 25, 1857 aboard the Star of the South. He was a twenty-four year old from Battle in Sussex, England, who travelled with a brother, Simon Crouch. According to William's marriage certificate, his father's name was also Simon. William and Simon arrived in Melbourne on August 5, 1857. Prior to their travels, the Crouch family had lived in and around the town of Battle in England for over a century at least. Four generations of the family go back to around the 1670's. Battle is so-named because in 1066, it was the place where the English, led by Harold, fought but failed to defeat the Normans from France led by William the Conqueror. William went on to rule all England for many years. William Crouch and Ann Baird married in Melbourne, Victoria on November 9, 1859. Surprisingly the marriage was witnessed by Robert and Martha Rogers. Is this the same Robert Rogers who was convicted along with Samuel Garrett, or is it just a coincidence of name. The latter is more likely but at present there is no way of knowing for certain. John Baird Crouch was born to William and Ann in 1860 at Yarram, a small district near Melbourne on the coast of the Tasman Sea. He had several brothers and a sister all born in the same locality (Yarram, Alberton, Welshpool and Sale). On September 30, 1886, John Baird married Catherine Elizabeth Hughes at Fitzroy, Victoria. According to Archibald Crouch's marriage certificate, his father was a farmer. The Crouch family I contacted in Tasmania were indeed farmers. The supposition is that this family were either related or that John Baird's family moved there. Certainly the oldest surviving member of that family could remember John Baird Crouch. A John Baird Crouch died in Melbourne in 1951 although I have been unable to determine whether he was the same one or not. Little is known of the members of the Crouch family except for Archibald and brother, Raymond. It is curious that Rhyl Garrett's brother before him had also been named Raymond, although as mentioned earlier, records suggest he had died aged six months. What is known about Archibald and Raymond's early lives comes from their army records. Both declare them to be sons of John Baird Crouch of Ranelagh, Tasmania. Beyond this there seems little to connect the two. The family I contacted there vaguely remembered Archibald leaving at an early age and not being heard of again. Perhaps this was as a consequence of some deeper, personal history, or perhaps as a result of his war experiences. Either way, Archibald and Raymond's war experiences shared some parallels, although only one of them was to survive the First World War. Raymond Crouch had been born in 1898 and enlisted into the 40th Battalion Australian Infantry Force in June of 1916 at Claremont. Medical records describe him as 5 foot 5 and a quarter inches tall and of "Rather slight build". Having served in France, he spent some time in England, hospitalised for scabies, a skin inflammation caused by female mites burrowing and laying their eggs beneath the skin. Given the condition of life in the trenches, the condition was not that uncommon. Raymond eventually rejoined his unit on the continent, but on October 20, 1917, he was listed as "Wounded in Action". By December 8 it had become "Wounded and Missing". It was not until five months later on May 29, 1918 that a Military Court of Inquiry found him to be "Killed in Action". Raymond Crouch was buried at Tyne Cot British Cemetery, five and a quarter miles east-north-east of Ypres, France. In June of 1922, John Baird Crouch took possession of Raymond's British War Medal and Victory Medal, awarded posthumously. CROUCH - Killed in action somewhere in France, 13/10/17. Private Raymond Crouch of Ranelagh, Tasmania. His King and Country called him - On Tasmania's Roll of Honour, You will find his name. Midst the rearing of the battle And the rain of shot and shell, Fighting for King and Country, He, like a hero, fell. Somewhere in France he is lying, Sleeping the sleep of the brave, He died an Australian hero - The noblest death of all. Inserted by his loving father and brothers. from The Mercury newspaper in Hobart for Saturday, October 20, 1918. Archibald Crouch had been an orchardist and a soldier of the Royal Derwent Regiment prior to signing up with the 12th Battalion (South and West Australian and Tasmanian), 3rd Brigade of the 1st Australian Infantry Force on October 21, 1914. He signed on at Pontville, Tasmania for "the period of European War", aged 22 years. He was described as 5 foot 10 inches tall, of "dark" complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He departed for service initially to Alexandria, Egypt aboard the vessel H.M. Geelong before serving at Gallipoli in Turkey. Many Australian troops went to Egypt for training prior to being sent on to the Turkish peninsula. It was at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 that Archibald was shot through the mouth. He laid on the battlefield for four days before being found and sent for a series of operations in England. By June of 1915 he had transferred to Lady Northcote's Home in Kent (believed to be at Eastwell Park north of Ashford in Kent). It is assumed that this was a convalescent home. In December, he reported in at the Australian International Depot at Weymouth. By April 15, 1916, twelve months after being injured, Archibald Crouch married Marjorie Edith Nicholls in the parish church at Barnes, South Richmond in England. The speed and circumstances of the time lead one to suspect that Marjorie Nicholls may have been an auxiliary nurse or family member of the home. Certainly by 1 November 1916, they had a daughter, May Elsie Marjorie Crouch, born in Windsor, Berkshire, only 7 months after their marriage.
The ANZAC medal awarded to Private No.130 A. Crouch and dedicated ""In commemoration of the heroic deeds of the men of ANZAC at GALLIPOLI in 1915 and in recognition of the debt owed by all Australians." On June 24, 1916, Archibald Crouch began his voyage home aboard the H.M. Euripides and the H.M. Australia arriving at Portland on August 8. For whatever reason, he travelled alone. By November of 1916, he had received a telegram from a Frederick John Edwards confirming the following details: Address: Ranelagh P.O., Tasmania Married: Yes Dependents: One Pension allowances confirmed and wife to follow from England. Fit to return to former employment. On November 25, 1916, Archibald Crouch was officially discharged from the 12th Battalion at Hobart having served 2 years and 93 days (1 year and 295 days abroad). It was a further three years before his wife joined him. "Mrs. A. Crouch" was given passage aboard the S.S. Aurora from England at a cost of £33.00.10. She travelled to Melbourne from where she took further passage across the Bass Straits to Burnie on the northern coast of Tasmania at a further cost of £1.14.6, paid for by the Repatriation Office. By now, Archibald was receiving an army pension of fifteen shillings a week. It is at this point that Archibald's life in Australia reaches an end. What became of his wife and daughter is not known. Nothing further is known about the next few years until 1928 when his story becomes part of that of the Cook and Baker families, and his second marriage in London. |
