Name
Charles Crook
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/07/1919
51
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pioneer
604544
Royal Engineers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BELLS HILL BURIAL GROUND
Plot E.5. Grave 44.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
THE WEARY FIND ETERNAL REST
UK & Other Memorials
We are not aware of any memorial in Bells Hill
Pre War
Charles was born in Leckhampstead Bucks in 1868 to William Crook, a schoolmaster, and Sophia (nee Warner). Charles had 2 sisters, Julia Lucy and Catherine. The family were living at School House, Church End Leckhampstead.
On the 1891 Census Charles was living with His Uncle’s Family at Alston Road, South Mimms, and working as a housepainter. He married Louise Teresa Nicholls in 1895 and on the 1901 Census they were living at 55 Puller Road, Barnet with two children Dorothy Louise (born 1896) and Colin Charles (born 1897). By the 1911 Census the family had moved to 1, Trent View Cottages, Bath Place Barnet and now had 3 more sons, Ronald James, (born 1904), Terence Edward (born 1907) and Sidney Richard (born 1909).
Wartime Service
Charles attested on 24 Aug 1914 as Private 13061 for the Territorial Force Protection Companies, giving his home address as 21, Mays Lane Barnet and on 30 Sep 1914 was posted to 168 Protection Company, Middlesbrough. The force was renamed the Royal Defence Corps in 1916. Charles served until being boarded medically unfit for further service on 13 Mar 1918, the cause being arteriole sclerosis. (He later stated was caused by inhaling poisonous fumes from Blast furnaces on the River Tees). Charles was discharged on 24 Aug 1918. However on 13 Sep 1918 he seems to have been enlisted in the Army Pay Corps as Private 22949 and then discharged, with a pension of 10s 4d per week, on 7 Nov 1918 at Bordon Camp, Hants. Charles died on 19 Jul 1919 in Cosham Hospital.
Charles was interred in Bells Hill Burial Ground with his rank stated as Pioneer 604544 Royal Engineers – no corresponding records could be found. He claimed his silver War Badge B136985.
Additional Information
Soldiers Effects (as Pioneer 604544 RE) - War Gratuity £15 (for previous service in Royal Defence Crops) and arrears of £3 5s was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
