|
|
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.
If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.
Site Home
Help & FAQs
Features
Submissions
Information
Advertisements
World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Lt. Maurice Stanley Craike-Pickering MC.
British Army 25th Machine Gun Battalion Machine Gun Corp
from:Beverley, East Yorkshire
(d.14th April 1918)
My Great Great Uncle, Lieutenant Maurice Stanley Craike-Pickering MC. was son of Seth Pickering and his wife Mary Craike of Beverley East Yorkshire. He was born at Beverley in 1886 and educated at Beverley Grammar School. In 1901 he began work as an apprentice Cabinet Maker to his father who was a cabinet maker and shopkeeper in Beverley. He was Initiated into Constitutional Lodge No 294 Province of Yorkshire North and East Ridings and was a Joining Member of Maguncor Lodge. Later he became a Rubber Planter in Dutch Borneo.
Commissioned and Gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant 13th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 7th April 1915; transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 26th November 1915; served with the Expeditionary force in France and Flanders from March 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 14th November 1916) "For conspicuous gallantry in action. with his machine gun with great courage and determination, repulsing an enemy counter-attack at a critical time".
The husband of Jean Craike-Pickering of 29 Braidburn Court, Edinburgh, he was wounded at the First Battle of the Somme on the 15th September 1916. He died of his wounds in the Herbert Samuelson Hospital Brighton on the 14th April 1918 aged 32. Remembered with Honour in Brighton and Preston Cemetery. Sussex.
Pte. James Craker
Australian Imperial Forces C Coy. 15th Btn
from:Brisbane, Qld
James Craker served with the 15th Battalion, Australian Infantry Forces in WW1, he was with the 15th Reinforcement.
Pte Leonard Albert Cramp
British Army 2/13th (2nd Kensington) Battalion London Regiment
from:Kingsclere
(d.10th December 1918)
Leonard Cramp was wounded in action while serving with the 2nd/13th Kensington Battalion, London Regiment and died of his wounds. He is buried at St Mary's Church Kingsclere, North Hampshire.
Pte. J. F.T. Cramphorn
British Army 2nd/1st Btn. Sussex Yeomanry
(d.18th December 1918)
Private Cramphorn is buried in the south-west corner near the entrance to the Boyle Church of Ireland Churchyard, Co. Roscommon, Ireland.
Pte. Charles John Crampton
British Army 1st Btn. Wiltshire Regiment
from:Twickenham
My grandfather, Charles John Crampton, was a school teacher who joined the army aged 38, which seems quite late for someone in a profession to be joining up. He joined the Army Cycle Corps which again seems an unusual unit to join at that age. I have inherited his war diary which tells us of some of his comrades who were injured or killed in WW1 between June 1916 and 26th Jan 1919. I would like to learn more about him as I never knew him.
A/Bdr. Ezra Crampton
British Army 12th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:The Lye, Stourbridge, Worcestershire
On the 10th of Decemeber 1915, Ezra Crampton was called to the Colours and attested into the Royal Garrison Artillery. He had been born in 1890 in Lye, Stourbridge, Worcs. He was immediately placed to the Army Reserve and on the 5th of Mar 1917, was mobised and posted to No. 3 Depot (Heavy and Siege) Royal Garrison Artillery, at Plymouth. Here he would have undergone his military induction before a posting to 16 Company, 398th Siege Battery, just over three weeks later. He was posted as a Gunner and undoubtedly underwent special-to-arms training with 398 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. Ezra obviously gave an above average performance during this phase of his military service and was promoted Acting Lance Bombardier on the 15th of June 1917.
On the 28th of July 1917, Ezra was confined to barracks at Plymouth, indicating his deployment overseas was imminent. His wait was not protracted. On the 5 Aug 1917, Ezra was posted to France to serve with 12th Siege Batterym Royal Garrison Artillery, who had been deployed behind the front-line since the 8th Mar 1915. The battery were equipped with heavy Howitzers and their primary task was to destroy enemy artillery, supply routes, railways and stores.
Ezra served with 12th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery until the 17th of Nov 1917, when was evacuated back to England suffering from Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), apparently caused by the inhalation of toxins from poisonous gas, resultant from enemy action or from the burnt propellant of our own guns. On the 19th of Nov 1917, he was admitted to the University War Hospital, Southampton where he remained an in-patient until the 1st of Jan 1918. Ezra later appeared before the Medical Board and on the 11 Jun 1918, was considered 'no longer fit for war service' in accordance with para 392 xvi, King's Regulations (Army) 1912. His condition was attributed to War Service and Ezra was granted a small military pension.
He was discharged and returned to his wife Laura and home town of The Lye, Stourbridge, Worcestershire. Sadly, most of Ezra Crampton's Service Record was destroyed by fire. He eventually became a haulage contractor and passed away in 1953.
O/Stwd111 Cecil George Crane
Royal Navy HMS Coquette
from:Bedford
Cecil Crane joined the Royal Navy on 17th April 1912. He was driving a retired captain to the New Forest when the Cresey sailed, therefore, he was not onboard when it was sunk. He was on the Coquette when it was sunk on 7th March 1916, he was picked up by a Belgian trawler and taken back to Sheerness. For the remainder of the war he was at HMS Pembroke. He left the Navy on 31st December 1918.
Pte. Frederick Crane
British Army 1/10th (1st Hackney Rifles) Btn. London Regiment
from:Hackney, London
(d.15th Aug 1915)
TE. Harvey Lester Crane
United States Army C Coy. 106th Engineer Regiment
from:Brant, Michigan, USA
Harvey L. Crane was working in Detroit, Michigan when called to service in May 1918. His new wife of that year, Laura Woodman Crane, was worried for him his entire duty in Europe. He sailed from Hoboken, NJ USA on 16th of September 1918 to Liverpool, England on the HMAT SS Balmoral Castle. He was assigned to the 106th Engineers who were primarily repairers or builders of bridges and other structures necessary for military use in war-torn Germany and France. His main craft was welding all kinds of different metal. He returned to the states safely but, Laura would years later tell their two adult daughters, "Don't ever marry a military man before he goes off to war".
Pte. Henry Ernest Crane
British Army 9th Btn. Royal Fusiliers
(d.27th October 1916)
Henry Crane was born on the 4th November 1884, son of John Crane of Stoke Newington, London, husband of Irene Crane of Ruthven, Monkham's Drive, Woodford, Essex. He achieved a B.A. in Modern Languages in 1906 and a M.A in 1910. He was assistant head master at Heles School, Exeter 1906-108, at Kingswood school, Bath 1909 and finally at Bedford Modern School. Serving with the 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, he died on the 27th of October 1916 age 32 years in Lincoln and is buried at Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery. He is remembered on the War Memorial at Heles School, Exeter. A pupil of of Bedford Modern School (Modern Languages) 1915-16, commemorated on the School War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923.Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
Cpl. Percy Maurice Stanley Crane
British Army 19th (St Pancras) Battalion London Regiment
from:Wangford, Suffolk
(d.2nd Sept 1918)
Pte. Wilfred Frederick Crane
British Army 88th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps
from:63 Bath Street, Ipswich
Wilfred Crane was wounded in both legs on the 28th of June 1916, he returned on HMS Panama and was invalided out of the army.
William Crane
British Army 6th Btn. The London Regiment
(d.26th Sep 1916)
William Crane served with the 6th Battalion(City of London Rifles), the London Regiment during WW1 and died age 23 on the 26th September 1916. He is buried in Walthamstow (Queens Road) Cemetery. He was the husband of Annie Elizabeth Crane, of 28, Cornelia St., Roman Rd., Barnsbury, London.
Robert Coyde Crang
British Army Somerset Light Infantry
from:Brixham
Pte. Charles Cranidge
British Army Yorkshire Dragoons
from:Rollestone, Notts
Charles Cranidge was born in 1891 in Crowle, Lincolnshire. He was living with his parents, 5 brothers and a sister in Masons Arms, perhaps in the High Street, Crowle in 1901. Father Peter was an inn keeper. In 1911 he was apprenticed carpenter to Frederick Lee of Rollestone Nottinghamshire.
He joined the Yorkshire Dragoons on 20th of July 1915 and served as a private in France. He survived the war and died in Rollestone in 1957
Rflmn. John Johnson Cranidge
British Army 12th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
from:Crowle, Lincs
(d.29th March 1918)
L/Cpl. Charles Thomas Cranmer
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
from:4 Basnett Street, Burnley, Lancashire
(d.31st Oct 1918)
Charles Cranmer was killed in action on the 31st October 1918, aged 40 and is buried in the Tezze British Cemetery, Treviso, Italy.
Pte. Andrew Cranston
British Army 2nd Btn B Coy. Durham Light Infantry
from:103 Kilburn Terrace, Consett, Durham
(d.18th Jan 1917)
Pte James Jesse Cranston
British Army 2nd Btn. London Regiment
from:75 Northcote Road, New Malden
(d.16th June 1917)
Pte. Norman Cranston
British Army 21st Btn Durham Light Infantry
Served with 18th DLI
Gnr. Frank Edward Cranton
British Army 127th Heavy Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
Frank Cranton was a gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 187/ 291240. He was awarded the Victory and British Medals for Service in the Great War.
The following notes are a summary of events taken from Frank's Great War notebook kept by my father until his death and then passed onto me. The front cover of the thin notebook notes his service number as 187 (crossed out) and replaced with 291240. His rank as Gunner F. Cranton of the 127th Bristol Heavy Battery, RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery). If found return address of his father's abode in Brixton. This is quite sad as he must have written this thinking that if anything happened to him his notebook would at least be returned to his father.
Initially, he had problems getting the GWR to release him but he eventually signed up on 17th April 1915 at Ashton Gate Bristol about 15 miles from where he was working as a railway porter at Mells Rd on the Somerset and Dorset line. Basic training was given at Cleadon Meadows in August 1915. His notebook then gave his weight from when he was enlisted until 1917. He went from 11 stone 4lbs to 14 stone, so food couldn't have been too scarce.
On 19th April 1916 after a year of training his battery was moved to Bordon Camp, south of Basingstoke, pending transfer to France. He sailed from Southhampton to Le Havre in May 1916 followed by a 22-hour train journey to Nieppe (NW of Armentieres). On 31st May 1916 he was attached to the Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Division. Frank was returned to his battery on 7th August 1916.
On 24th August 1916 his battery was transferred to the Somme but Frank was left behind, being attached to 9th Corps HA HQ at Locre Chateaux on 6th September 1916. My understanding for the reason why Frank was kept back from the front and assigned to HQ was his understanding of shorthand which he had learnt on the railway. This was probably a fairly unique skill for a male and found to be useful for message taking. He was temporarily assigned to 49th HA at Nieppe from 28th Oct 1916 but returned to 9th Corps on 4th November 1916.
On 7th June at 3.10am Frank witnessed the Battle of Messines Ridge. His notebook reads "Seen, Felt & heard by me." If Frank was still at Locre, the battle was a good 10km away.
His brother, Arch, walked from Ypres where he was based to see Frank on 10th September 1917, a distance of about 12km. Frank walked half the distance back with him later in the day.
L/Cpl. George Vernon Craston MM.
British Army 3th Battalion Rifle Brigade
from:Stretford, Manchester
(d.16th May 1918)
George Craston was my great-uncle. He served in France, Gallipoli and Salonica. He died of wounds at Le Treport Hospital. He was awarded Military Medal posthumously for rescuing a wounded soldier from no-man's land. He served in the 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade but not sure if that was the case throughout the War.
L/Cpl. William Oliver Crathorn
British Army 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards
from:141 High Street, Harborne, Birmingham
(d.15th Sep 1916)
Birth: Sep. 27, 1891 Birmingham Warwickshire, England Death: Sep. 15, 1916, France [Edit Dates] William Oliver Crathorn was born on the 27th September 1891 at 21 Cavendish Road, Ladywood, Birmingham,Warwickshire, England. He was the only child born to William and Alice (nee Holmes),
On the 1901 census William, aged 10, is shown living at "back" of 103, High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, England, with his Mother and Father. Ten years later, on the 1911 Census, aged 19, he is still living with his parents at number 20, back of 141 High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, England. He is listed as an unemployed gardener.
After his death, his name W O Crathrn was entered on the War Memorial that stands in the churchyard of St.Peter's Church Harborne, Birmingham, England. The wording on the Memorial reads; To the glory of God and in remembrance of the men of Harborne who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919. Their name liveth for evermore. The following information appears on the Commonweath War Graves site. Crathorn, William Oliver Cemetery: Thiepval Memorial Country: France Area: Somme Rank: Lance Corporal Official Number: 16150 Unit: 4th Bn. Coldstream Guards. Force: Army Nationality: British Details: 15th September 1916. Pier and Face 7 D and 8 D. This small report was found on the internet made by a visitor to the Battlefield in 2003. The Guards Division didn't join the Battle until September as they were serving on different part of the line. On the 15th September 1916, the Guards Division took to the line at Ginchy where another large attack was planned.
This was the first battle in which tanks were committed and the Division was allocated three. Unfortunately, despite initial success, the tanks were prone to mechanical failure and soon broke down.
This was also the first occasion in which three Coldstream Battalions fought side-by-side in line. The 4th (Pioneer) Battalion was also present in support. The initial assault soon became muddled as a German machine-gun on the flank was causing much trouble. It was here that Lt Col J V Campbell, Commanding the 3rd Battalion, rallied the troops of various battalions, who had by now become completely mixed up, and led them to take these German positions and protect the flank. Once this was achieved he led them on to their objective. For his valour on that day, Colonel Campbell was awarded the Victoria Cross. Sunday morning saw us at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme. This impressive memorial holds the names of over 73,000 men from the Somme Battles who have no known grave.
Pte. Francis Craven
British Army Royal Welsh Fusiliers
from:Hereford
Francis Craven was captured after the 1st Battle of Ypres. He was held prisoner in Munster II until the end of the war.
Pte. Francis Ferguson Craven
British Army 7th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders
(d.10th Aug 1918)
Frank Craven served with 7th Seaforth Highlanders.
Pte. John Craven
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Gateshead
Pte John Craven
British Army 2nd Btn King's Own Scottish Borderers
from:108 Lockerbie Road, Dumfries
(d.23rd Apr 1915)
John Craven was the son of Adam Craven (1871-1951) and his wife Agnes McNae (or Craven).
He was the eldest of 7 children.
A younger brother - Francis 'Frank' Ferguson Craven was killed on 1918-09-10 at Flanders. Both John and Frank died aged 19 years.
Pte. William Allen Craven
British Army 18th (Bradford Pals) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment
from:Thackley
(d.1st July 1916)
As a family having a history of living in Thackley for 150 years, and myself having an interest in genealogy and local history, along with military history, I would like to portray a personal and hopefully touching story about my Great Uncle, William Allen Craven, brother of my maternal grandmother. One can only speculate how life was for most families in the mid to late 1800’s, as was the case with the Cravens, they were heavily committed to working in the woolen industry of Bradford, and moving around from rented property to rented property as their family grew in size. In fact the head of the family, James Arthur Craven, would move several times, all in Thackley, to better conditions and slightly larger properties as needs must. In May 1894 my great uncle entered the world and would eventually be part of a family of 6 however, his youngest brother would die at the age of 11 months named after his father. By the time William was 17 he became a Wollen O Junner as recorded in the 1911 census by the registrar.
As war loomed the campaign to recruit young men from the towns of Northern England became very prominent. William joined the 18th Bradford Pals, number 18/1667 part of The Prince of Wales (West Yorkshire) Regiment. He would leave for the final time from 79 Park Road, Thackley, saying his farewells to his family and girlfriend Florrie thinking he would return in a short while. They were marched to Ripon in May 1915 from Bradford, then transferring to Fovant in Wiltshire to be issued with tropical kit before eventually sailing to Egypt for further training.
They would return aboard the S.S. Minneapolis, disembarking in Marseilles on March 6th 1916, where they marched from the docks to railway sidings, for a train journey by ramshackle wagons at a leisurely pace in extreme cold weather, to Pont Remy railhead near Abbeville on the 9th March 1916. The 18th Battalion and William would march to Citerne where he would remain for two weeks for further training. One can only imagine the contrast to the hot climate of Egypt to the freezing cold and snow as they arrived, having covered 12 miles a day sleeping rough at night in filthy barns.
On March 25th they marched off towards Beaumont Hamel area, where they got near the western front with all its loud detonations and glaring flashes in the dark. On arrival beginning of April at Bus-les- Artois they were assigned billets. It is said the rolling plains of Picardy reminded many of the ‘Pals’ of Yorkshire. Eventually the 18th occupied a sector on the Serre Road, which is where my story commences.
So my journey commenced Easter 2013, in the company Smart Car via the channel tunnel train to arrive for our 3 night stay at Amiens using this as our base. The following very cold day we travelled to Albert and visited the museum, not to be missed, and eventually made our way onto Serre Road after visiting Hebuterne where a plaque remembers the Bradford Pals. It was here that we saw two coaches parked outside the main cemetery along with teachers and school children. I walked up the track where in the distance are Mathew, Mark, Luke & John copses along with small immaculately kept walled lined graves, set out to remember the fallen, some named and some unknown. It was here somewhere my great uncle fell after 7.30am on the 1st July 1916 in the Battle of the Somme, that a strange yet poignant event happened to me.
I had visited Railway Hollow and the memorial to the Accrington Pals and was walking back with Linda, when we saw walking towards us, a party of adults and children. My ears pricked up to the sound of a teacher who asked “Are you Martin Lonsdale?” To say I was surprised that I would be asked this in the middle of a ploughed field right in the middle of No-Mans land after 97 years from the start of The Battle of the Somme, seemed incredulous. It was followed up by “Yes I am” to which another lady teacher said we saw the car and we are all from Woodhouse Grove School, and I live in Idle. We wished them well and were glad to have met them.
Now I know this would not have happened if it was not for the Smart Car with my company name and logo, but was it not a moment when some time in life events take a turn for a reason. Could it have been that William was walking the very same path those 97 years ago and had seen a pal and shouted out “Hello mate”, the mind can run away with you thinking about it. I would like to think it was a connection, however, I am Yorkshire bred and accept it was a fate of coincidences.
William was never found his body presumably blown up or he disappeared in the mud after being mowed down by German machine guns, we will never know. The final part of the journey took me to Thiepval Memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens where his name is one of over 72,000 soldiers never to have had a known grave. Records showed that around half of the 150,000 British dead killed on the Somme in 1916 had no known grave. Should you ever go see this stunning Memorial, Pier and Face 2A, 2C and 2D his name is there, say hello to my Great Uncle and thank him and the rest of the fallen for their sacrifice.
I have re-produced one of the last letters he wrote on the 15th June 1916 to my grandmother who was 11 years old.
"Dear Sister, Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well and in the best of health trusting you are the same. I am very pleased indeed that you are writing to me, also keeping very friendly with Florrie while I am away. Mother wrote and told me that you had got a bicycle of your own now, so I guess you will see life a bit. Well I hope you are a good girl and helping mother all you can, because it is very hard for her now that Ernest and I are away from home. I trust that you will do all you can to comfort father and mother, until the struggle ends. I have got lots of stories to tell you when I see you again about the Germans. How is Ada getting along and has she got a bike also? I really ought to write her.
Give my best love to Percy tell him I will write later.
With best Love from your affectionate brother Allen xxxxx"
Later in life my grandmother was moved to Thackley Grange in 1987 suffering from dementia. The family all went to see her very shortly after my father had passed away who was called Allan Craven Lonsdale. Her eldest son my uncle, had not told her my father had passed away. As we were all around her bed, she said “Where is Allan” no one knew what to say for a second or two, but it was a request for her brother Allen her mind had regressed in time with her illness. A moment that will be with me for ever.
As a tribute on the 4th August this year, Robin Gamble of Idle Church arranged a day of remembrance. The Tenor bell commenced ringing from 8.00pm for each fallen soldier from our district. I heard it from my house and went along to the vigil at 9.00pm in tribute to the memory of a lost generation of young men, William Allen Cravens name was read out as one of the fallen.
Should you be passing 79 Park Road, have a think about my great uncle you might even live there. As for his other brother Ernest who also went to war, his story tells the tale of someone with a different outcome one of mystique and fear.
Sgt. William Craven
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
from:Blackburn
(d.26th Sept 1917)
My great uncle William Craven was killed in action during the Battle of Polygon Wood on the 26th Sept 1917. Aged only 20 yrs. he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial as his remains were not found.
L/Cpl. John Henry Cravern
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
from:7, Clifton Grove, Gravesend
(d.2nd June 1917)
I have John Cravern's 1914 star in my medal collection
Page 75 of 89
Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?
If so please let us know.
Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?"We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers.
This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.
If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Hosted by:
The Wartime Memories Project Website
is archived for preservation by the British Library
Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved -We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.
