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Private George Lawrence Crossen
Description
TitlePrivate George Lawrence CrossenSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionGeorge was born at Brookside on 15 November 1893, son of Thomas and Ellen Crossen. Before enlisting he was working as a farm labourer for W. H. Conway, Kirwee. He had previous military experience having served with 13th Regiment. He was 5ft 8in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair.
George enlisted on 18 October 1915 and was assigned to 9th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. After training at Trentham he embarked for Suez on 8 January 1916 and disembarked on 8 February. As he was suffering from measles he was sent on the NZ Isolation camp at Zeitoun, arriving 9 February 1916. On 25th he was admitted to No.4 Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis and was not discharged to duty until 9th March. He was attached to the strength at base depot and then joined the 1st Battalion at Ismailia on 18 March. Shortly after he embarked for France from Port Said on board the Franconia. An interesting notation on his record shows that he was attached to the Mayor for fire duties at Amentiers between 1 and 19 of August. He was wounded in action during fighting at the Somme on 27 September, suffering a severe wound to his elbow. He was sent to 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen, then evacuated to England on board the Panama on 30 September. He was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley on 3rd October and later transferred to the No.1 NZ General Hospital at Brockenhurst on 2 January 1917. On 30 January he was classed as unfit and then embarked for New Zealand on board Maheno from Liverpool on 18 March. A medical board was held in Christchurch on 29 May 1917 and the findings were that a piece of shrapnel, which struck him in the right elbow, had caused destruction of the elbow. In the words of the medical report “the lower end of the humerus was pulverised” his hand was limp, meaning that the right arm was useless. The disability was permanent. He was sent to Coronation Hospital, Cashmere, Christchurch. Sadly it seems that during his hospitalisation he had been exposed to Phthisis (Tuberulosis) and it was this that killed him on 12 October 1919, age 26. He was buried in Lincoln Cemetery and remembered on the Rolleston Roll of Honour.
Coronation Hospital was used as a sanatorium for the treatment of what was called consumption which is now known as TuberculosisFirst NameGeorge LawrenceLast NameCrossenFamilySingleSon of Thomas and Ellen CrossenDate of Birth1893Place of BirthBrookside, CanterburyDate of Death12 October 1919Place of DeathLincoln, CanterburyCause of DeathDied of SicknessAge at Death26
George enlisted on 18 October 1915 and was assigned to 9th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. After training at Trentham he embarked for Suez on 8 January 1916 and disembarked on 8 February. As he was suffering from measles he was sent on the NZ Isolation camp at Zeitoun, arriving 9 February 1916. On 25th he was admitted to No.4 Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis and was not discharged to duty until 9th March. He was attached to the strength at base depot and then joined the 1st Battalion at Ismailia on 18 March. Shortly after he embarked for France from Port Said on board the Franconia. An interesting notation on his record shows that he was attached to the Mayor for fire duties at Amentiers between 1 and 19 of August. He was wounded in action during fighting at the Somme on 27 September, suffering a severe wound to his elbow. He was sent to 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen, then evacuated to England on board the Panama on 30 September. He was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley on 3rd October and later transferred to the No.1 NZ General Hospital at Brockenhurst on 2 January 1917. On 30 January he was classed as unfit and then embarked for New Zealand on board Maheno from Liverpool on 18 March. A medical board was held in Christchurch on 29 May 1917 and the findings were that a piece of shrapnel, which struck him in the right elbow, had caused destruction of the elbow. In the words of the medical report “the lower end of the humerus was pulverised” his hand was limp, meaning that the right arm was useless. The disability was permanent. He was sent to Coronation Hospital, Cashmere, Christchurch. Sadly it seems that during his hospitalisation he had been exposed to Phthisis (Tuberulosis) and it was this that killed him on 12 October 1919, age 26. He was buried in Lincoln Cemetery and remembered on the Rolleston Roll of Honour.
Coronation Hospital was used as a sanatorium for the treatment of what was called consumption which is now known as TuberculosisFirst NameGeorge LawrenceLast NameCrossenFamilySingleSon of Thomas and Ellen CrossenDate of Birth1893Place of BirthBrookside, CanterburyDate of Death12 October 1919Place of DeathLincoln, CanterburyCause of DeathDied of SicknessAge at Death26
Connections
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryLincoln CemeteryRolleston Roll of Honour Occupation before EnlistingFarm LabourerRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details18th October 1915Service Number6/3671Embarkation8th January 1916Reinforcement9th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private George Lawrence Crossen. Selwyn Stories, accessed 02/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/421