Cripps, Bernard Allanson

Lieutenant Bernard Allanson Cripps - 41st Battalion AIF

Bernard Allanson Cripps was born in Fremantle WA on the 11th September 1894 to George and Marion Cripps. He had a younger brother Leonard, born in Fremantle in 1892 who unfortunately died after 7 days.

The family then moved to Sydney where a daughter Lily was born in 1897, then they moved north to Townsville Queensland where further children were born, Leslie (1901), Leonard (1903), Doris (1905), Ernest (1906) and Stanley (1908).

Prior to the Great War Bernard was working as a Picture Framer. He also was serving in the Queensland citizen military forces.

On the 8th August 1914 Bernard was mobilised and was sent to garrison Thursday Island. A week later he enlisted for service outside Australia and was part of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. He embarked from Townsville on the ship Kanowna however there was trouble being caused by the firemen on that troopship so it returned to Townsville and therefore did not take part in the capture of German New Guinea. Bernard was discharged from the AN&MEF on the 18th Septemner 1914.

On the 30th September 1915 Bernard enlisted into the AIF at Townsville. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 2 & 3/4 inches tall;

Weight - 120lbs;

Chest Measurement - 30-33 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Light Brown.

After his successful enlistment Bernie was sent to No.11 Depot Battalion where he was taken through the basics of infantry work. He was then assigned to the newly created 41st Battalion AIF. He had the regimental number 158 and the rank of Lance Sergeant.

He trained with this unit in Queensland for several months  and then they left for Sydney where the 41st Battalion departed on the transport ship Demosthenes on the 18th May 1916. After the long sea voyage they reached Plymouth England on the 20th July 1916.

The men were then disembarked and sent to the 3rd Division Training Ground at Salisbury Plains. They spent the next few months here training in preparation of being sent to France.

On the 24th November 1916 the 41st Battalion proceeded over the Channel to France and after their arrival the 41st Battalion was sent to the Armentieres sector. They would remain here till March 1917 before moving to Ploegsteert in Southern Belgium.

On the 5th February 1917 Bernard was promoted to Sergeant.

The 41st Battalion had their first major action at the Battle of Messines in June 1917 and then played a significant role in the capture of several German posts at Warneton on the 31st July 1917.

On the 19th August 1917 Bernard was commissioned in the field and became a Second Lieutenant. On the 9th September 1917 he was sent on  a bombing course, returning to the 41st Battalion a week later on the 16th September 1917.

From September to November 1917 the 41st Battalion would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. They were in the line from September 30th but their first major action was at Zonnebeke/Hill 40 on the 4th October 1917.

The 41st Battalion captured their objectives and the following day Bernard was wounded by shrapnel through the abdomen. After initial treatment at the aid station he was transported back to the 2nd Red Cross Hospital at Rouen.  He spent over ten days here under treatment and when it was safe to move him, Bernard was shipped to England.

He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on the 17th October 1917. His condition soon improved though he would have several weeks in hospital.

On the 3rd January 1918 Bernard was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. On the 18th January 1918 Bernard returned to France and was sent to the Australian Infantry Base Depot. He had ten days here and was taken back on strength of the 41st Battalion on the 30th January 1918.

From January to March 1918 the 41st Battalion was helping to hold the front line in Belgium between Ypres and Messines.

On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched a massive assault which broke through the British front further south. The Australian Divisions began to be sent to the Somme. The 41st battalion was sent to an area just north of the Somme River at Sailly Laurette and Sailly le Sec. Several actions with the enemy took place and the German advance in this sector was stopped.

The 41st Battalion remained in the Somme and Villers-Bretonneux sector for the next few months.

On the 28th April 1918 Bernard had been promoted to Lieutenant.

Bernard took part in his units successful capture of Hamel village on July 4th 1918. He survived this action and from August 8th 1918 when the great advance from the Villers Bretonneux front commenced, Bernard was with his unit.

The Germans fell back and the Australians advanced, with the 41st Battalion seeing further action near Clery and Peronne. Bernard was granted leave to the UK on the 15th September 1918 and returned on the 30th September 1918. His unit was then fighting at Bony in the Hindenburg Line so Bernard saw action in the unit's last fight.

He was with the unit their first day in the line and also their last. After the action at Bony the 41st Battalion was pulled out of the line for a well deserved rest.

On the 11th November 1918, as well as being the day of the Armistice, it appears Bernard was sent on an attachment to the Australian Flying Corps, however he returned to the 41st Battalion on the 1st December 1918.

When the Armistice was signed the Germans pulled back to their own borders. The Australians were then sent into what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium. Bernard went with his unit to Belgium. He remained with his unit till April 1919. Bernie had a period of leave in the UK in March 1919, but then returned to the 41st Battalion for a short period.

On the 7th April 1919, Bernard was sent to England for repatriation. On the 27th May 1919 Bernard boarded the transport ship Rio Pardo, and after the long sea voyage disembarked in Sydney on the 24th July 1919. Bernard then took the train to Brisbane and then Townsville.

Bernard was discharged from the AIF on the 12th September 1919.

On the 8th April 1920 Bernard married Mabel E Quin and a daughter Marion was born in 1921.

They lived in Brisbane up to World War Two and prior to enlistment was living at 57 Bell Street Kangaroo Point Qld with his Mabel and Marion.

On the 7th July 1940 Bernard enlisted for service in the Second World War. He was assigned the number Q185231. He was given the rank of Captain and was initially assigned to the HQ. On the 20th August 1940 Bernard was then sent to the Caloundra Infantry Training Depot also known as the 11th Training Battalion. He served at this unit until September 1942. He was then transferred to the 1st Australian "B" Class Training Unit. His posting there was until the 5th April 1944. Bernard was then transferred to the HQ of the 2nd Australian POW Company. His served there until the 23rd January 1945 when he was put on the retired list.

Bernard died on the 23rd December 1950.

On the 30th December 1950, the Townsville Daily Bulletin published an obituary for Bernard;