Canada. A First War Trio, To Private William Crouch, 27Th Infantry Battalion

1914-15 Star (430701 Pte W. CROUCH. 27/CAN:INF:); British War Medal ( 430701 PTE. W. CROUCH. 27-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (430701 PTE. W. CROUCH. 27-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, spotting and dimples on the Star, light contact on all three, replacement ribbons, better than very fine.

Footnote: William Crouch was born on June 20, 1874 in St. Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings Borough, East Sussex, England (note: the British Columbia Vital Statistics Death Registration states his date of birth as June 20, 1874, although he stated on his CEF Attestation Papers that it was June 20, 1873). He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (430701) with the 48th Infantry Battalion, on March 18, 1915 in Victoria, British Columbia, at the age of 41, naming his next-of-kin as mother, Annie Crouch of St. Leonards-on-Sea, stating that he he had twelve years previous service with the Royal Sussex Regiment and four years with the 88th Regiment, Victoria Fusiliers, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Keeper.

The Battalion was raised in British Columbia under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915, with the mobilization headquarters at Victoria. The Battalion sailed July 1, 1915 aboard the R.M.S. Grampian, with a strength of 38 officers and 1,020 other ranks, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.J.H. Holmes, arriving in England on July 10th. After two months training and orientation in England, he was transferred to the 27th Infantry Battalion on September 10, 1915 and posted to "C" Company on the 12th. Private Crouch embarked for service in the French theatre on September 17, 1915, arriving in Boulogne on the 18th. After one month in France, he was admitted to the 6th Canadian Field Ambulance on October 17, 1915, then transferred to the Divisional Rest Station, 6th Canadian Field Ambulance on October 19th, with "Neuralgia" (pain). Five days later, he was transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at Mont des Cats on October 24th. He was admitted to North Midlands Casualty Clearing Station on October 30th, diagnosed with "Myalgia" (muscle pain, a symptom of many diseases and disorders), discharged to base the same day, and returned to duty with the 27th Infantry Battalion on November 1st. He would again become sick five days after returning to duty, as he was admitted to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance, initially diagnosed as "N.Y.D." (Not Yet Determined), which was soon changed to "Neuralgia" on November 6, 1915. After six days' treatment, he was discharged to duty with the 27th Infantry Battalion on the 12th.

The following Spring, he was admitted to the Divisional Rest Station at Mont des Cats on April 27, 1916 with "Influenza", where he would recuperate for the next week before being discharged to duty on May 4th. Private Crouch's health would continue to be a concern, as he was again hospitalized, this time at No. 13 General Hospital at Boulogne on August 25, 1916. His condition was deemed serious enough for him to be invalided "sick" to England on August 27th aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis, having served one eleven months in France. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre at Folkestone and admitted to the General Hospital at Nottingham on August 28, 1916, suffering from a "Debility". After almost four weeks at Nottingham, he was transferred to King's Canadian Red Cross Convalescent Hospital at Bushy Park on September 23rd, where he would recuperate for the next seventy-seven days, before being discharged from hospitalization on December 9th. Private Crouch was posted to the General Details Depot on March 10, 1917, then transferred to the 1st Canadian Convalescent Depot on April 11th. In his Proceedings of a Medical Board Report, dated April 19, 1917 at the 1st Canadian Convalescent Depot, the doctor noted that Crouch had been in France and since returning from there, he was "unable to carry on any longer, was weak all over. Still short of breath on exertion. Is thin."

By July 16th, he was posted to the Manitoba Regimental Depot at Shorncliffe, then placed on command to the Canadian Discharge Depot at Buxton on July 27, 1917 for return to Canada. He embarked for Canada from Liverpool aboard the S.S. Carmania on August 26, 1917 and after his ocean voyage and train ride, he arrived at Esquimalt, British Columbia, where he was transferred to "J" Unit Military Hospitals Commission Command (MHCC) at Military District No. 11 on September 21, 1917 and placed in a Convalescent Home. After a week and a half, he was declared to be a "Temporary Outpatient" from October 1st to 9th. In his Medical History of an Invalid Report, dated January 2, 1918 at Esquimalt, the attending physician noted that the "Patient is 45 years old but looks older. There is a systolic murmur to be heard immediately over apex beat, heart otherwise normal. Lungs normal. Liver and spleen normal. Is still feeling weak. Sleeps well, eats well, is gaining weight, having gained seven pounds since December 26th, 1917. Gets short of breath after exertion." He was subsequently declared to be Category "E" (unfit for service in Categories A, B and C) and that he "should pass under his own control". Private Crouch, 27th Infantry Battalion was discharged as "being physically unfit for further service" on January 17, 1918 (as per instructions of a Medical Board Captain, Assistant Director of Medical Services on January 16th), credited with having served in Canada, England and France.

For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died at Victoria Veterans' Hospital in Saanich, Capital Regional District (Victoria), British Columbia on April 5, 1963, at the age of 88. He is buried in Veterans Cemetery in Esquimalt, Capital Regional District, British Columbia, Section B, Row 08, Plot 0018. In a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs, it stated that "The Department is authorized to place a memorial on the grave" (the document stamped Public Archives Records Centre, dated June 21, 1963 at Ottawa). He was honoured with a headstone, as per those issued to other veteran Canadian war dead, complete with cross and inscribed "WILLIAM CROUCH / PRIVATE / 27 BATTN C.E.F. / 5 APR - 1963 / AGE 88".