Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Anchises’ A68 for Suez 2.9.1915.
Roll Rank Trooper/ Private.
Roll Unit 8th Reinforcement 10th Light Horse.
Crawford disembarked at Suez with the 8th Reinforcement of the 10th Light Horse in early October 1915 and entrained to the Abassia Detail Camp near Cairo. This unit was still in training when plans were drawn up for the withdrawal of the Anzacs from Galliopli. Crawford and the 10th Light Horse Regiment marched out to Serapeum in February 1916, to join the the 3rd Light Horse brigade in their defence of the Suez Canal.   He fought at the Battle of Romani 4-6th August 1916. Crawford was moved to the 3rd Brigade Machine Gun Squadron 2.9.1916 at Hod-el-Fatir and marched out to Serapeum for Machine Gun training course 26.10.1916. He passed his 1st Machine Gun Course with Lewis Guns, in Zeitoun 27.10.1916 and was subsequently promoted to Lance Corporal 1.11.1916.  The 10th LH fought at the Battle of Magdhabab in Sinai on 23.12.1916. Crawford attended a Machine Gun Course in Alexandria 12.3.1917. Crawford was wounded in action at the Second Battle of Gaza with a gunshot wound to his shoulder (communited compound fracture of humerus) 19.4.1917. The 10LH suffered the highest casualties in this encounter  since Gallipoli.  Crawford was transferred to 53rd Welsh Casualty Clearing Station at Jemmia, then was moved to the No.14  Australian General Hospital at Abassia, Cairo 24.4.1917. National Archives Australia records show he was reported 'dangerously as ill' 14.5.1917 and 'out of danger' 19.5.1917.  Crawford was listed for early return to Australia ‘for a change’ and embarked at Port Suez per HT ‘Nueralia’ for Durban 21.5.1917. He embarked from Durban for Cape town per HT ‘Oxfordshire’ as an invalid. He then embarked from Cape town per HT ‘Karoola’ for return to Australia.
Embarked for Australia per HS ‘Karoola’ 28.7.1917 (with neuralgia).
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 18.8.1917.
Discharged 19.2.1918.
Final Rank Private, 3rd Machine Gun Squadron.
Medical Condition Invalided, gunshot wound and neuralgia.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos HMAT 'Anchises'. Photographer A.C.Green, photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of Great Southern Cards
            3rd Light Horse Brigade Machine Gunner Squadron 1917. Photographer J.F. Hurley, photograph sourced AWM B01489
            Troops of the Australian Light Horse moving forward during the Second Battle of Gaza, April 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM J0112
            Wounded men from Battle of Gaza arriving at the  No. 14 General Hospital Abassia April 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM J00394

Information Source
AWM B01489. 3rd Light Horse Brigade Machine Gunner Squadron 1917. Photographer J.F. Hurley, photograph sourced  from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM J0112. Troops of the Australian Light Horse moving forward during the Second Battle of Gaza, April 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM J00394. Wounded men from Battle of Gaza arriving at the  No. 14 General Hospital Abassia April 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll – Lindsay William Crawford
Great Southern Cards. HMAT 'Anchises'. Photographer A.C.Green, photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of Great Southern Cards, http://www.greatsoutherncards.com.au/UK-ships.htm
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
NAA: B 2455, Crawford L W S
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll



Brookton, WA.

Associated Images