Crews, Cecil Arthur
770 Private Cecil Arthur Crews - 16th Battalion AIF
Cecil Arthur Crews was born in Fremantle WA on the 11th December 1886 to John and Emily Crews. He was one of twelve siblings born into the family.
The family lived in Fremantle till the early 1890's then moved to Perth and then Leederville. In 1910 Cecil was living at Roe Street West Perth and was working as civil servant for the Western Australian Government Railways and later became a locomotive fireman.
On the 28th September 1914 Cecil enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 & 3/4 inches tall;
Weight - 116lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-34 inches;
Complexion - dark;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment Cecil went into Blackboy Hill Camp. After a short time in the training depot, Cecil was assigned to the 1st Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF.
The 16th Battalion was initially made up of Western And South Australians and after initial training in WA the 16th battalion went to Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria. The whole 4th Brigade was now training in Melbourne. On the 22nd December 1914 Cecil embarked from Port Melbourne with the 1st Reinforcements aboard the transport ship HMAT Berrima.
After arriving in Egypt the battalion trained there for the next few months where it was part of the New Zealand and Australian Division. On the 22nd March 1915 Cecil was sent to "B" Company of the 16th Battalion. In early April 1915 the 16th Battalion left Egypt for Lemnos Island off the coast of Turkey and here they undertook more training.
The 1st Australian Division had been tasked with making the initial landings in the Australian & New Zealand sector and the 4th Brigade would land later in the afternoon to reinforce them. On April 25th 1915 the Australians landed at Anzac Cove and North Beach and attempted to make their way inland. The key heights weren’t taken but the positions along the 2nd Ridge fell to the Australians and a fierce battle ensued between the combatants. Approximately at 5pm on April 25th, the 16th Battalion began making their way from the troopships to the shore and after landing were pushed up towards the vital areas on the 2nd Ridge such as Popes Hill. The 16th Battalion fought in this vicinity for the next week. On the 2nd May 1915 during the attack at Dead Mans Ridge Cecil was wounded in the left foot.
He was treated at the Field Ambulance on the Beach and was then sent to a Hospital ship. Cecil was then transported to England where he was sent to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.
Cecil was in hospital till November 1915 when he was sent to the AIF camp at Harefield. The injury to his foot was deemed serious enough that he be returned to Australia. After spending six more months in England Cecil departed from home in May 1916. He boarded a transport ship Themistocles in Portland England and returned to WA, disembarking in Fremantle on the 19th June 1916.
John only had a few months in WA as his foot improved to such an extent that he was assigned to the 20th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion that were soon to leave WA.
On the 10th October 1916 Cecil embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the HMAT Suffolk and set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 2nd December 1916. He was then disembarked and sent to the 4th training Battalion at Codford on the Salisbury Plains.
Cecil remained here for the next two months and was sent to France on the 9th February 1917. He spent two days at the base depot but then joined the 16th battalion on the 13th February 1917.
The 16th Battalion were then on the Somme battlefield. Just after he joined them, the 16th Battalion took part in the actions around Stormy Trench and in April 1917 fought a major action at Bullecourt.
The 16th Battalion, as part of the 4th Brigade were tasked with breaking the line at Bullecourt and capturing the German positions. This assault finally went ahead on April 11th 1917 with the assistance of tanks though with no artillery support. On the 4th Brigade front, the 16th & 13th Battalion broke through the thick barbed wire and despite the heavy German fire managed to capture sections of the trenches. However due to their flanks being unsupported and the lack of supporting fire along with running out of ammunition, the survivors had a choice to remain and become prisoners of war or to make a dash back for their own lines.
The 16th Battalion had very heavy casualties with only a handful of men making back to their own lines. Cecil had made it into the German trenches but had been wounded when a German bullet hit him in the thigh/leg. He therefore could not evacuate and was captured by the Germans.
He received medical treatment from the Germans and was taken to hospital. Due to his wound the Germans put him forward for early repatriation as it was clear that Cecil would play no further part in the war.
However Cecil spent a year as a prisoner of the Germans. He had been sent to Holland which was a neutral country. In April 1918 he was repatriated to England and was admitted to King George Hospital in Stamford. After a few weeks Cecil was then transferred to No.1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.
In June 1918 Cecil was then transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. He remained here for the next few months. On the 23rd September 1918 Cecil boarded the transport ship Runic and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 17th November 1918.
After being disembarked Cecil was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for more treatment on his wounds.
After his return home Cecil Married Ethel Sawley in 1918. He was still receving treatment to his wounds and was not discharged from the AIF until the 16th may 1920.
A son John was born in 1920, then followed by daughters Audrey and Elvie.
In 1922 the family was living at Coogee street Leederville and Cecil's occupation was still noted as a soldier. The family lived here till the 1950's
Cecil died on the 25th January 1956 in Mt Hawthorn aged 69. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.