George Crosbie

RankPrivate 3/938
regimentNew Zealand Medical Corps
Military Service

When Crosbie volunteered in New Zealand he already had previous Territorial military experience – in the 6th HLI before he emigrated and subsequently in the 15th North Auckland Regiment.
He volunteered on 12th April 1915, and arrived at Trentham Camp near Wellington 3 days later. He sailed on 9th October and disembarked at Suez on 15th November. A month later, on 21st December, he sailed to Marsa Matruh 150 miles west of Alexandria on SS Noor el Bahr.
On 18th February 1916 he disembarked at Alexandria from SS Missir. A month later, 25th March, he was formally attached to 1st Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade and embarked with them for France on the 6th April 1916.

By comparing Crosbie’s Service Record with histories of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force it is possible to recover the broad details of his military service.
The dates of his movements coincide with those of what became known as the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. The first two battalions of this brigade left Wellington for Egypt on 10th October, the 1st Battalion arriving on 15th November and the second on the 18th. Both Battalions were stationed at Aerodrome Camp, Heliopolis. Between the 19th and 21st December the 1st Battalion moved to Marsa Matruh to join the Western Frontier Force. There they took part in operations against the Senussi sect which had invaded western Egypt from Libya until returning to Alexandria between 15th and 17th February. In the middle of March the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the brigade arrived in Egypt and Rifle Brigade became the 3rd Brigade of the new New Zealand Division. There was a degree of re-organization at this time and Crosbie’s Service Record shows this is when he was officially attached to the 1st Battalion. The Brigade arrived at Marseilles between the 12th and 14th April and travelled north by train. The Brigade started its first tour of duty in the trenches on the night of 22nd/23rd May .east of Armentieres but the exact circumstances of Crosbie’s death are unknown.

Born

13 February 1893, Glasgow

Death31st May 1916
Circumstances of Death

Killed in action

Age23
BurialCite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, I. B. 9
CWGC Information

none

Parents

Thomas S Crosbie (c1862-1924) & Margaret Spittal (c1862-1930)

Father's Occupation

Cashier in a bakery (1911)

Siblings

Jeanie (c1887-1894), James (c1889-), Andrew (c1891-1917), John S (c1896-), Margaret (1901-), Bethia (c1908-)

Spouse

Unmarried

Education

Whitehill School, Glasgow

Occupation

Farm labourer employed by Dr Beattie, Auckland in 1915

1901 Census

58 Roslea Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow

1911 Census

Not at family home: 3 Armadale Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow

Home Address

1915 – Tangiteroria, North Island, New Zealand

Glasgow NecropolisCompartment Sextus Lair 23
Other Memorials

Scottish National War Memorial
Whitehill School War Memorial

Other Information

On the 12th December 1911 Crosbie left London bound for Auckland, New Zealand. His occupation on the passenger list for SS Mamari was given as labourer.
Brother of Private Andrew Crosbie, killed in action 26th June 1917

Acknowledgements and Sources

Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below.  The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk

Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org

Family Search – www.familysearch.org

The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/

Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

The war effort of New Zealand, edited by H T B Drew.  1923 – http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Effo.html

The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, compiled by Lieut-Col W S Austin. 1924. – http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-NZRi.html

Archives New Zealand Service Record for George Crosbie – http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21899261&digital=yes

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Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

 
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