Croft War Memorial TF 509 617

Rough hewn granite Celtic wheel cross on octagonal plinth and three stepped base 3900mm x 2590mm x 2590mm at the junction of Church Lane, Washdike Lane and Pinchbeck lane. Erected by Mr. H. C. Wood. Mason.

© Michael Peck

IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF CROFT WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.

H. ARMSTRONG C. FRITH D. JARVIS W. PEARCE. WM. TIMSON J. A. BAKER E. GOOD. W. E. KIME M. PETTY W. TIMPSON F. BAKER J. HALL F. P. KIRK C. PINNER A. J. TIMPSON J. C. BARRATT J. P. HAMMOND F. A. LARDER H. T. RICCALL F. TIMPSON F. R. BEAN J. HARRISON J. W. LARDER T. W. SANDERSON C. TYSON G.W. BRAY J. HARRISON A. LEA A. SANDERSON A. TYSON H. E. BROWN W. HOLLAND S. C. MILLER H. SANDERSON H.TYSON H. J. CHAMBERLAIN B. HOLLAND G. H. MILLER H. R. SEARBY T. WAITE G. H. COOK D. HOLLAND W. E. MOODY W. SIMPSON EYRE T. WAITE F. COTMAN F. HOWARD F. MOODY C. STEEL M. WILLERTON T. S. CRAM F. JACKSON H. PARKER E. SWINTON S. J. WOODS A. EMMERSON W. JACKSON J. PEACOCK J. W. TATMAN A. WOODS A. EPTON E. JANNEY A. E. BROUGHTON DCM M. H. TEAR

THESE FIFTEEN GAVE THEIR LIVES 1914 – 1918

J. A. HASTINGS A. HEWINSON F. BROWN W. HEWINSON W. W. WEST G. T. BROWN A. M. POCKLINGTON H. W. WEST G. BURMAN E. POCKLINGTON H. WHITE H. E. FRITH F. RHOADES A. WOODS J. WARD G. C. WOODS THESE THREE GAVE THEIR LIVES 1939 - 1945 R. T. BROUGHTON E. S. HEWITT W. S. SEARBY

Note, Sixteen not Fifteen names inscribed for 1914 – 1918.

Croft All Saints- Internal TF 509 618

West wall of nave brass tablet 160 x 220mm on a light oak backing plate 200 x 260mm, beneath is a framed and glazed copy of High Flight by John Gillespie Magee.

© Michael Peck

© Michael Peck

© Michael Peck

High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941

1914 – 1918

Fred Brown, Private 11158. 8th Battalion, Regiment. Killed in action 3rd July 1916, aged 25 years. Son of G.W and Ellen Brown of Croft Bank, Lincs. Born Wainfleet, enlisted and resident Wainfleet, Lincs. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial. Pier and Face 1C.

George Towler Brown, Private 25197. 10th Battalion, West Riding Regiment. Died of wounds 28th October 1918, aged 21 years. Son of George William and Ellen Brown of Croft Bank, Lincs. Enlisted Louth and resident Wainfleet, Lincs. Commemorated Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade. Plot 3. Row A. Grave 5.

George Burman, L/Bombardier 202676. L Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action 21st August 1918, aged 25 years. Son of Mr and Mrs W Burman of Ashby, , Lincs. Husband of Alice Burman of Croft Marsh, Lincs. Commemorated Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere. III.E.5.

Harold Elijah Frith, L/Sergeant 14972. 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 11th April 1917. Born and enlisted Lincoln, resident , Lincs. Commemorated Wancourt British Cemetery. Special Memorial 5.

John Arthur Hastings, Private 6266. 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action 15th January 1917, aged 28 years. Son of William and Mrs M.J Hastings of Old Chequers, Croft, Lincs. Born Croft and enlisted Spalding, Lincs. Commemorated Warlencourt British Cemetery. II.L.40.

Arthur Hewison, Private 12939. 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 29th November 1915. Born Boston, enlisted Skegness and resident Wainfleet, Lincs. Commemorated Menin Road South Military Cemetery. Menin Road North Memorial 20. and Thorpe St. Peter.

William Hewison, Private 12774. 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 8th June 1917. Born Stickney, enlisted Skegness and resident Thorpe (St Peter), Lincs. Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Panel 21. and Thorpe St. Peter

Arthur Pocklington, Private 16316. 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of wounds 7th November 1918, aged 26 years. Son of William and Sarah Pocklington of Grange Farm, Croft, Lincs. Born Croft, enlisted and resident Croft, Lincs. Commemorated Curgies Communal Cemetery. North-Eastern side.

Ernest Pockington, Private 43268. 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, formerly 2407 Suffolk Cyclists Battalion. Killed in action 6th September 1916, aged 18 years. Son of William and Sarah Pocklington of Old Bolingbroke, Lincs. Enlisted Skegness, Lincs. Commemorated Agny Military Cemetery. F.45.

Frank Rhoades, Private 40747. 10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Killed in action 7th August 1916, aged 30 years. Son of Mrs E Jarvis of 154 Drummond Road, Skegness, Lincs. Born Croft, enlisted Spilsby and resident Skegness, Lincs. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial. Pier and Face 10C, 10D and 11A.

J. Ward, Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW and no further information currently.

William Walter West, Corporal M2/133991. 29th Div M.T Coy, Royal Army Service Corps. Died home 6th November 1918. Born , enlisted Lincoln, Lincs and resident Mansfield, Notts. Commemorated Croft (All Saints) Churchyard.

H. W. West, Possibly Henry Willis West. 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Killed in action 25th October 1914. Born , enlisted and resident Boston, Lincs. Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Panel 11..Market Rasen and Market Rasen St. Thomas

Harry White, Private 241686. 2/5th Battalion, West Riding Regiment. Killed in action 3rd May 1917. Born Croft, enlisted and resident Wainfleet, Lincs. Commemorated Arras Memorial. Bay 6.

Arthur Woods, Private 42211. 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, formerly A/16869 Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 25th April 1917, aged 18 years. Son of James and Mrs S.A Woods of Croft, Lincs. Born Wainfleet, enlisted Boston and resident Wainfleet, Lincs. Commemorated Arras Memorial. Bay 8.

G. C. Woods, Appears to be George C Woods, born Croft c 1889 the son of John and Emma Woods. Possibly George Charles Woods. Gunner 32651. C Bty, 100 Bde, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action Salonika 20th April 1918, aged 29 years. Husband of Martha Matilda Woods of 40 Union Street, Rotherhithe, . Enlisted Deptford and resident Hatcham (?). Commemorated Karasouli Military Cemetery. B.411.

1939 – 1945.

Raymond Thomas Broughton, Gunner 1717361. 5 Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 12th September 1944, aged 24 years. Son of William and Ada Emily Broughton of Croft, Lincs. Commemorated Singapore Memorial. Column 14. BROUGHTON; Treasured memories of our dear Ray, lost at sea September 12th, 1944. "Love and remembrance last forever." – From mother, dad and Connie (Croft). Louth Standard Obits – September 24 1949

Edgar Sydney Hewitt, Aircraftman 1st Class 547085. 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 24th May 1940, aged 22 years. Son of Edgar and Nancy Hewitt, husband of Jean Hewitt of , Lincs. Commemorated Skegness (St Clement) Churchyard.

William Stacey Searby, Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber) 1577517. 57 Squadron, Royal Air Force VR. Died 1st April 1945, aged 23 years. Son of Henry R and P.M Searby of Croft, Lincs. Husband of Doreen Searby of Croft, Lincs. Commemorated Croft (All Saints) Churchyard.

Rene Jean Charles Alfred Dupraz. Flying Officer J/21009. 53 OTU, Royal Canadian Air Force. Died 15th June 1943, aged 23 years. Son of Emil and Jeanne Dupraz of White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. Commemorated Runnymede Memorial. Panel 173 and and Remembrance Books.

Croft connections not commemorated on memorial

Herbert Cade, Private 26959. 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 31st July 1917. Born Croft, enlisted Lincoln and resident , Lincs. Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Panel 21. Commemorated Wainfleet St. Mary.

Walter Holvey, Private 13026. 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 27th September 1915. Born Wainfleet, enlisted Burgh and resident Croft, Lincs. Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Panel 21 and .

Henry Jackson, Private 46845. 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Killed in action 23rd March 1918. Born Croft and enlisted Wainfleet, Lincs. Commemorated Arras Memorial. Bay 7. Commemorated Wainfleet St. Mary.

Charles Wifred Johnson, 16862, Private, 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. Son of Mr. C. E. and Mrs. E. Johnson, of 41, Normanton Rd., East Park Rd., Leicester. Native of Croft, Lincs. Born Croft, Lincs, enlisted Peterborough, Northants. Died of wounds 5th October 1915, aged 20, interred Cologne Southern Cemetery, Koln(Cologne), Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany.

Charles Kime, 8140, Private, 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. Son of Richard and Emma Kime, of , Alford, Lincs. Native of Croft. Born Croft, Wainfleet, enlisted Spilsby, Lincs, resident Burgh, Lincs. Killed in action 23rd May 1915, aged 23, interred Spoilbank Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. [No known Lincolnshire memorial] In loving memory of Pte. Charles Kime, the youngest son of Richard and Emma Kime of Boothby, who was killed in action May 23rd, 1915, age 24 years. Thy grave too far away to see, But not too far to think of thee. L&NLA 20th May 1916 [Obits] L&NLA 19th May 1917 [Obits]

John Henry Padley, Private 42249. 10th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, formerly 24241 Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action 9th October 1917, aged 29 years. Son of Henry and Mary Padley of White Gate Farm, , Lincs. Born Croft, Lincs, enlisted South Farnborough, Ham and resident Burgh, Lincs. Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial. Panel 35 to 37 and 162 to 162A. and Bratoft.

Walter Welberry, 22809, Private, 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, Born Croft, enlisted . Killed in action 2nd April 1918, commemorated Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and .

Walter Percy Woods, 240820, Private, 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. Son of John Tom Woods and the late Emma Woods of Wainfleet Road, Skegness, Lincs. Born Croft, Lincs, enlisted Grimsby, resident Skegness, Killed in action 12th January 1917, aged 25, commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium and Skegness War Memorial.