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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Cockneyrebel on Sunday 08 July 18 11:18 BST (UK)

Title: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Cockneyrebel on Sunday 08 July 18 11:18 BST (UK)
The above I believe married Mary Mckinnell Morrison 1902 in Malta, he was at Bulford Hut Barracks, Bulford  in 1911 as a married Quarter Master Sergeant. He was the son of Frederick Croft 1855-1921 and was a military gym instructor when Arthur was born; his mother was Eliza Ann Eastwood 1858-1930.
I believe Mary passed away q1 1974 Durham Eastern but can find no record of any children or when Arthur passed away?
Cr
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: MaxD on Sunday 08 July 18 11:54 BST (UK)
His record has survived.  He had an extremely chequered Great War career ending with being busted to Sapper and imprisoned.  His discharge from the army was in August 1919 when he gave his address on discharge as 4 Kingsgate Street Winchester.  No death found yet but perhaps this gives an area?


One child is on his record Arthur Frederick William born York 18 Feb 1906

MaxD
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 08 July 18 11:58 BST (UK)
Married in the Scots Church in Valletta 26.11.02. Son Arthur Frederick William born in York 18.2.06.
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Annette7 on Sunday 08 July 18 11:59 BST (UK)
Son died April 1987 Leeds.

Annette
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 08 July 18 12:01 BST (UK)
Possible marriages for the son in 1937 in Easington and 1953 in Leeds.
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Annette7 on Sunday 08 July 18 12:02 BST (UK)
Possible death for Arthur William - June qtr 1937 Hendon.

Annette
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Annette7 on Sunday 08 July 18 12:11 BST (UK)
The death entry for 1937 is definitely him. Listing in Probate shows he died 24 June 1937 Edgware, widow Mary McKinnell Croft.

Annette
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: MaxD on Sunday 08 July 18 12:16 BST (UK)
His wife and daughter are on the 1911 census at Bulford also.

Splendid sleuthing Annette and Shaun!

MaxD
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 08 July 18 12:19 BST (UK)
Not a daughter, Max !
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: MaxD on Sunday 08 July 18 12:25 BST (UK)
Absolutely right!   Still not thinking straight since the footie!

MaxD
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Cockneyrebel on Monday 09 July 18 09:47 BST (UK)
Thank you MaxD, Annette7 and ShaunJ for your great help. Incidentally I found the son in the 1939 register living in Rochester, Kent, married but wife not present but I don't know who he married?
Cr
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: MaxD on Monday 09 July 18 09:55 BST (UK)
The 1937 Easington Co Durham marriage was to Isabella R Leighton.  An Isabella R Croft, married, is living in 1939 in Co Durham with her sister (presumably) Wilhelmina Leighton.

Husband in 1939 is in the army.  1867950 Staff Sergeant Royal Engineers.  Suggests he was a pre war regular soldier.

Possible?

MaxD
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Cockneyrebel on Monday 09 July 18 10:36 BST (UK)
Yes MaxD seems a good bet and there appears to be a child born as well; also a possible marriage in Leeds later to tie in with his passing away?
Cr
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: MaxD on Monday 09 July 18 12:08 BST (UK)
FreeBMD has a number of Croft/Leighton births post 1937.

Presume you mean re-marriage of Isabella R Croft?  Can't find a sensible marriage at present.

MaxD
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Cockneyrebel on Monday 09 July 18 12:16 BST (UK)
No another marriage for the son in Leeds-he may have divorced Isabella?
Cr
Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: MaxD on Monday 09 July 18 14:50 BST (UK)
Oh the 1953 marriage (to Kathleen Walton) referred to by Annette.  Don't know.  No divorce records at Kew that I can see.  A Isabella Rebecca Croft died Durham May 1995, age is right for the wife of Arthur Frederick William.

Interesting snippet in a newspaper dated 31 Dec 1951 from a firm of solicitors in Leeds inviting Arthur Frederick William Croft, formerly of Chatham (a Royal Engineer) and Gillingham Kent when he "will hear of something to his advantage".

MaxD

Title: Re: Arthur William Croft b 30 Jan 1881 Barracks, Roscommon, Athlone, Ireland
Post by: Cockneyrebel on Tuesday 10 July 18 08:55 BST (UK)
It seems coincidental MaxD that there is a marriage in Leeds where Arthur passed away; maybe the records aren't available for divorces then? Yes the snippet is interesting.
Cr