The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3018) Private Frank Crouch, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (3018) Private Frank Crouch, 9th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3018 Private Frank Crouch, 9th Battalion, AIF
KIA 20 April 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 29 October 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Frank Crouch.

Frank Crouch was born to Edwin and Agness Crouch in Bulimba, Queensland, in 1894. He grew up in Bulimba and attended the local state school. Following his schooling, he gained employment as a brass moulder.

Crouch enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in June 1915 in Brisbane. After a brief period of training he was allocated to the 10th reinforcements to the 9th Battalion.

He embarked with his unit in early October aboard the transport ship Warilda, bound for Egypt. He joined his battalion in January as it returned to Egypt from the Gallipoli campaign. Following a period of rest and reinforcement, the battalion sailed for France in March.

By mid-April the men of the 9th Battalion were in reserve billets near Rouge-de-Bout, one mile behind the front line in the Armentières sector. Intermittent artillery fire was landing nearby.

Early in the afternoon of 20 April the battalion’s C Company billets were heavily shelled. One shell landed outside a canvas tent, wounding four soldiers. As men went to assist, another shell landed, killing several men and wounding others.

A further shell hit a brick wall of a nearby billet, causing a further 47 casualties. The company was decimated, with 25 men killed and a further 50 wounded. Several other men would die from their wounds over the ensuing days. One of those killed in the blast was Private Frank Crouch. He was 22 years old.

Later that day, Crouch and the others were laid to rest in the Rue-Du- Bacquerot (13th London) Graveyard at Laventie.

Crouch’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Frank Crouch, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our
nation.