Sometimes, when I research a dead soldier from the Great War, I discover a massive void where part of their lives were. If the family is interesting and my research throws up a bit of information, I might write about them here, on my blog. Occasionally, when I do that, I’ll get a comment from a descendent who might fill in some of the blanks for me. It’s not often, but it’s definitely worth a try.
And so, for today’s entry, I’m going to discuss Frank Croon and his family.
Frank was born in around 1891 in Tadworth, near Epsom, Surrey. His father, Harry Henry Croon was a groom. He married Emma Killick on October 11, 1879 in St Andrew’s church in Kingswood, Surrey. Their first child was Daisy. She grew up to marry a chap called McMurtry. A second daughter, Lily, was born in around 1886. Then came Harry. And, finally, Frank.
Before the kids arrived, Harry Henry and Emma were living and working in Banstead. Harry Henry was a stableman in 1881, and they were both 22.
There is an odd entry on the 1891 census. Emma and the three kids are living at 92 Tadworth Cottages, High Road, Banstead, Surrey. There is no sign of Harry Henry. The odd thing is a note from the enumerator in the second column, where the street address is usually entered. The note reads:
91) 92) 93) There is but three rooms in the lot. It is a lie they have told.
1891 English census return
There are 12 people living in the three rooms. One of them appears to be Emma’s widowed mother and her granddaughter, Grace.
Sadly, Lily Croon died in 1895 aged only nine. This might be a bit of a turning point for the Croon family, because, in 1897, there’s a divorce petition made by Harry Henry against Emma.
The basis of the divorce request is because, he claims, she had an affair with an “…unknown male…” and had an “…illegitimate son…” by him. This son was Bertie, Frank’s half brother.
Come 1901 and Daisy, Henry and Frank are visiting the Brooker family at Bradford House, Surbiton. Emma is not with them. She is living with her sister and family at 3 Tadworth Green, Banstead and working in a jam factory. Eliza, Emma’s sister, is married to Cornelius Thompson, a bricklayer’s labourer. They have seven children, a niece and a boarder also living in the house. There is no note in the column this time.
Bertie Croon, the illegitimate one, is living with the Ayling family in Chapel Road, Banstead. There are 12 people in the house. Bertie is only four and he’s stated to be the nephew of Arthur Ayling. There is also a Frederick Killick living in the house who must be a relation of Emma’s.
Then, on August 26, 1907, Frank enlists as Private 47555 in the Royal Artillery at Woolwich. His attestation form states that his mother, Emma was living at 207 Hook Road, Epsom at the time. He has no address for his father. He also listed Daisy, Harry and Bertie as his siblings.
He was sent to South Africa where he served from October 14, 1910.
On the 1911 census return, Emma is living with George Buckley, a Bricklayer’s Labourer, at 30 Station Road, Tadworth, Surrey. They claim to have been married for nine years. Bertie, who is 14 in 1911, is also living with them with the name Buckley. Is George the “…unknown male…”? Seems very likely. Their marriage is not registered until 1915 which leads me to believe that they didn’t bother marrying until them.
Meanwhile, over in South Africa, Frank pays his way out of the army and, on September 11, 1911 he was discharged.
[Herein lies a void]
Now, rush forward to 1914 and the reason I started all of this. Trooper O/188 in the 5th Mounted Rifles of the Imperial Light Horse dies on September 27 and is buried in Lüderitz Military Cemetery in Namibia. His name on the Commonwealth Graves website is F Croon. He is not the only Croon listed but he’s the only one whose name starts with the letter F.
I was researching an F Croon, listed on the Surbiton war memorial.
Interestingly, the Imperial Light Horse was a South African only regiment. It was made up of men from South Africa. Should I assume that Frank stayed in South Africa after his discharge then, at the outbreak of war, decided to re-enlist? Or, maybe it’s all just a coincidence.
Mind you, on December 17, 1914, a Mrs Daisy McMurtry along with her husband John, left the UK aboard the P&O ship Borda, bound for Cape Town, South Africa. Still a coincidence?
Whatever the answer, it was a delightful little mystery that kept me busy for a little while.
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