Charles Frederick CROUCH
Service
number: QX27813. Age:
38 years 1 month. Enlisted: 4 Mar 1942.
Occupation: Fisherman. Next of kin: (wife) Mrs Eileen Crouch.
Address
on enlistment:
Bribie Island.
Soldiers
beside a dugout at 2/15th Battalion headquarters,
El Alamein area, Oct 1942.[1]
Service
Summary:
4 Mar 1942: 2/15 Infantry Battalion.[2]
23 Aug 1942: Embarked from Sydney on U.S. 16 HT P3.
“In July 1942, in the face of a heavy
German onslaught that threatened to break through to Suez, the 9th Division was
hurriedly moved back to North Africa. The 2/15th subsequently took part in the
First and Second Battles of El Alamein during the remainder of the year. Throughout August, the 2/15th subsequently
held a position in the north-east sector of the line from Hill 33 to the coast.
On 1 September, the 2/15th participated in the 9th Division's diversionary
attack south of Tel-el-Eisa, codenamed Operation Bulimba, which was planned as
a response to German offensive actions further south during the lead-up to the
final assault in late October and early November 1942. In heavy fighting near
Point 23, a low rocky outcrop, the battalion lost about half of its fighting
strength, sustaining 183 casualties, amidst heavy hand-to-hand fighting as the
battalion came up against heavy resistance after penetrating a German
minefield. Ogle's carrier struck a mine
during the operation, and he was seriously wounded.
The battalion's role in the September attack,
including the efforts of Corporal Horton McLachlan, who received the
Distinguished Conduct Medal, was later depicted in a painting by Ivor
Hele. Among the casualties at El Alamein
was the 2/15th's recently appointed replacement commanding officer, Lieutenant
Colonel Keith Magno, who was mortally wounded by artillery fire after the
battalion was heavily shelled while forming up during an attack around Trig 29
– a valuable piece of high ground south-west of Tel-el-Eisa – on 28 October. Casualties over both periods the battalion
fought around Alamein totaled 81 killed, 23 died of wounds, 276 wounded and
seven captured.”[3]
27 Feb 1943: Returned to Australia at
Sydney.
12 Feb 1944: Discharged.
Life
Summary:
Charles Frederick Crouch (1904-1972), was the eldest son of Charles and
Emma Crouch. Charles Crouch married Eileen Ormiston in 1934 and the couple made
Bribie Island their home where he worked as a fisherman.
Fred
and Eileen Crouch in 1941.[4]
After his military service, Charles Crouch returned
to Bribie Island where he and his wife raised their family.
Charles Crouch, aged 73, died 7 Sep 1977
and was buried at Redcliffe Cemetery.
[1] Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial
P01614.013 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C242355
[2] Information on 2/15th Australian
Infantry Battalion https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56058
[3] Wikipedia
2/15th Battalion (Australia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2/15th_Battalion_(Australia)
[4] Photo kindly provided by Pam Smith (nee
Crouch).
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