John Bernard Croak
Private, 13th Battalion, Quebec Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force. (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
- Register No.
- 276 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 13th Battalion, Quebec Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force. (Royal Highlanders of Canada) (register: 13th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 8 August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 27th September, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 18th May 1892 at Little Bay, Newfoundland
- Died
- 8th August, 1918 near Amiens, France. (died in action
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Hangard Wood British Cemetery, France
Digest of citation
On 8th August, 1918 at Amiens, France, Private Croak, having become separated from his section, encountered a machine-gun which he bombed and silenced, taking the gun and crew prisoners. Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded but refusing to give in, rejoined his platoon. When several more machine guns at a strong point were encountered, the private, seeing an opportunity, dashed forward, followed almost immediately by the rest of the platoon in a brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the trench line into which he led his men, bayoneting or capturing the entire garrison. He was again wounded and died almost at once
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CROAK, John Bernard. (reg No. 276).
Private. 13th Battalion, Quebec Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force. (Royal Highlanders of Canada).
London Gazetted on 27th September, 1918.
Born on 18th May 1892 at Little Bay, Newfoundland.
Died on 8th August, 1918 near Amiens, France. (died in action from wounds).
Memorial on grave at Hangard Wood British Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 8th August, 1918 at Amiens, France, Private Croak, having become separated from his section, encountered a machine-gun which he bombed and silenced, taking the gun and crew prisoners. Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded but refusing to give in, rejoined his platoon. When several more machine guns at a strong point were encountered, the private, seeing an opportunity, dashed forward, followed almost immediately by the rest of the platoon in a brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the trench line into which he led his men, bayoneting or capturing the entire garrison. He was again wounded and died almost at once.
from wounds).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Hangard Wood British Cemetery, France
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