“One of Taranaki’s best Rugby forwards in the years immediately prior to the war, Mr. Cornelius (“Con”) Joseph Crowley, died in the New Plymouth Public Hospital on Saturday. A son of Mr. C. P. Crowley, of Palmer Road, Kaponga, he was invalided out of the R.N.Z.A.F. about two years ago, since when he had been under medical treatment in the military hospital at Rotorua and at home. A member of the Kaponga Football Club through all the lower grades to senior status, the late Mr. Crowley was a very fine forward, one who ranked with the best in the province in recent years. While with the Third Division of the N.Z.E.F. in the Pacific he played outstandingly good football, although in company of former All Blacks in Rankin. Bowman. Dalton and others of similar calibre.
Returning to New Zealand in 1943, Mr. Crowley transferred to the RN.Z.A.F. and served in New Caledonia for some time, it being in that area where he was attacked by the disease which caused his death.” [Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 157, 9 July 1946, Page 7]