[9] In June 1908 Abercrombie abruptly left for Kalgoorlie, securing a permit[10] and playing out the remainder of the season for the Railways club in the Goldfields League.
[13] Abercrombie enlisted to serve in World War I in January 1916[14] and after completing 11 months of training at Royal Park embarked for France on the SS Victoria.
During an attack when our advance was held up by the fire of a hostile machinegun, this officer rushed forward with a bomb, with which he killed the gunner and put the gun out of action.
Rallying the men, who had been checked, he charged forward with fearless energy, and captured, after a hand-to-hand fight, the objective in his front, securing fifteen prisoners.
Throughout the operation, his coolness under heavy fire and his disregard for danger set a very fine example to his men.For this “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty” he was awarded the Military Cross in June 1918.