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Biographical Dictionary - Coorow, Carnamah, Three Springs


Surname

John Finley CROWE

Born 28 August 1905 in Manhattan, New York, United States of America [P433]
Son of John Finley CROWE and Florence Emily CORK [P433]
     His father, the son of a judge, was said to have been an Able Bodied Seaman with the American Navy [P433]
     His mother was from Kent, England and met his father during his travels; they married in England and then went to America [P433]
Following the presumed breakdown of his parents' marriage he shifted to England with his mother as a child [P433]
     In 1911 they were living with his mother's parents Elijah and Mary Ann CORK at 112 Castle Road in Chatham, Kent, England [20]
     Departed London, England with his mother and brother Charles A. CROWE on the steamship Omrah on 30 June 1916 [203]
     After a journey of just over a month they arrived on the Omrah in Fremantle, Western Australia on 6 August 1916 [338]
     He and his brother were put into care for a period of time, while their mother found work [P433]
At the age of about 21 he was naturalised and renounced his American citizinship so could join the WA Police Force [P433]
     Police Constable in the Western Australian Police Force; regimental number 1634 [87]
     He was initially stationed in the Perth suburb of Claremont and then in Geraldton, Northampton and Yalgoo [P433]
Married Rita Monica JACQUES on 30 May 1931 at the Ross Memorial Church in Perth [39: 13-Jun-1931]
     He and his recently married wife were living at 10 Bay View Mansions in the Perth suburb of Claremont in 1931 [50]
     After being transferred to Geraldton they resided at 82 Durlacher Street and at 73 Eleanor Street in Geraldton [50]
Arrived in Carnamah from Geraldton at 1:30 p.m. on 21 April 1938 to take over the Carnamah Police Station [88]
     At 4 p.m. took charge of the station from Maurice PLUNKETT including all government property, books and firearms [88]
     He was sent to Carnamah to temporarily run the local Police Station following the sudden resignation of Maurice PLUNKETT [88]
     Police Constable in Carnamah from 4 p.m. on 21 April 1938 to 5 p.m. on 28 April 1938 [88]
     During his short time in Carnamah he did general and intermittent duties in Carnamah and Coorow [88]
     At 5 p.m. on 28 April 1938 he handed control of the Carnamah Police Station over to William M. C. WHITE [88]
     Left Carnamah by train at 5:30 p.m. on 28 April 1938 on his way to Mingenew [88]
During the Second World War he was seconded to Army Intelligence and served in the Perth suburb of Fremantle [P433]
     This entailed being on the pillaging staff and being responsible for Italian interns who were considered aliens during the war [P433]
     In 1943 he and his family were living at 1 Fairbairn Street in the Perth suburb of Fremantle [50]
     The Americans were impressed with his work ethics and were keen for him to return when they learnt he'd been born there [P433]
     He rejected the suggestion, with Western Australia being his home, and continued to work for the WA Police Force [P433]
For many years he was in charge of Drivers' Licensing in Western Australia from the Traffic Branch on James Street in Perth [P433]
In 1949 was living at 38 Dunedin Street in the Perth suburb of Mount Hawthorn [50]
Later resided for many years at 88 Cloister Avenue in the Perth suburb of Manning [50]
After a full career in the Western Australian Police Force, he retired with the rank of Sergeant [P433]
He was a first class bowler, played for Manning in Division 1 and spent many happy years pursing the hobby [P433]
Resided of late in the Perth suburb of Manning [2]
Father of Joan Patricia and Beryl Monica [P433]
Died 4 January 1990; buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia (Presbyterian, JA, Plot 163) [2]


Reference:  Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'John Finley Crowe' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 28 March 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/john-finley-crowe [reference list]




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