Cpl Bertie Henry CRICK s.n 9362, 7th South Staffs

[Markr]

Hello,    My  Grandfather Bertie CRICK, a man  Wolverhampton born, who's parents came from Northampton, as Bakers, I never knew unt, Walsallil a recent find of a birth certificate.

 

             He lived at  32 Orlando Street Walsall with my Gran  Edith Sarah Crick,  nee Meek. He fought in the Gallipoli Campaign, before being transferred to the Western Front

and died in action in Flanders Fields prior to the Battle of Passchendaele, on 17th July  1917.  Buried  at St Jan   No 2 Cemetery 

 

           Does anyone have a photo of him please.   Grandson Mark  Cooper

[tullybrone]

Hi,

 

Forum member Graeme Clarke - GraemeClarke - has a specific interest in Walsall and the Great War. I've sent him a PM to alert him to your post as if anyone has a photo it will be Graeme.

 

Good Luck

 

Steve Y

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Mark,

 

No photos of him in the local newspapers, I'm afraid.

 

Here is what I have on him, I would appreciate any corrections

 

Bertie Henry CRICK

Corporal 9362

7^th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

Died in Belgium on Tuesday 17 July 1917

 

     Bertie was born in Wolverhampton on Sunday 13 April 1890, the son of John Henry and Bertha Elizabeth (née Harrison) Crick of 58, Russell Street, Wolverhampton and later of 111, Green Lane, Walsall, his father being employed as a baker and confectioner.

     He was married to Edith Sarah Meek, a laundress, at Caldmore Parish Church, Walsall on Friday 26 December 1913 and possibly resided at 32, Orlando Street, Walsall although official records show him as residing in Birmingham. There was a daughter to the marriage, Dorothy Maud, born on Friday 24 November 1916.

     Bertie enlisted in the Army at Walsall at the outbreak of war and was drafted to Gallipoli on Saturday 11 September 1915. He later served in Egypt prior to being drafted to France where he was appointed Corporal on Saturday 24 February 1917.

     On Sunday 15 July 1917 Bertie’s battalion moved from Camp O near Poperinghe into trenches about a mile north of Ypres, relieving the 4/5^th Battalion, Black Watch. This sector is described in the Regimental History as being ‘one of the worst sectors on the whole front’. The battalion suffered losses from snipers and as such regular patrols were sent out to find and kill them. Casualties were also taken to enemy artillery.

     Wounded whilst in the trenches, most probably by shellfire, Bertie succumbed to his injuries the same day at 26 years of age.

     The War Diary records,

     “15 July 1917 - Took over front line trenches from 4/5 Black Watch about 1 mile north of Ypres.

     Casualties 13619 Pte. Cobley C. wounded.

     16 July 1917 - Enemy sent over large number of gas shells. Very troublesome to eyes, nose and throat, but apparently not very deadly. Enemy aeroplane driven from over our front line by Lewis gun fire.

     Casualties 16678 Pte. Partridge J., 18213 Pte. Smitheman wounded.

     17 July 1917 - Casualties 9362 Cpl. Crick B. died of wounds.”

     Bertie is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No.2 in Grave I.W.5 and is also commemorated on the roll of honour at St. Matthew’s Church, Walsall.

     His widow married Joseph Booth Gretton at Walsall in early 1919, he also having served during the war.

 

Regards,

 

Graeme

 

[Markr]

Graeme,   Thank you so much for this information and that of Andy Johnson's  help with locating Bertie Crick.   I was so pleased to receive it.  Thank you.

 

Mark

[Markr]

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky,

The Larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below                John McCrae     1872  -  1918.   Canadian Soldier Poet.

 

[Markr]

Graeme,   Hope you get this ok.  All the facts appear correct from my records.  I thank you once again. If you ever  come across a photo of Bertie I would very much

appreciate.  Walsall son. Commemorated Walsall Town Hall exactly 100 years ago on the 17th July  1917.

Markr

[GraemeClarke]

Mark

 

Hes also on St. Matthew's Church roll of honour (inside the church AND on the external pulpit), don't forget, and also in the Walsall RoH Book held at Essex Street LHC (unless they have now moved into the library).

 

Regards,

Graeme

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Hello Markr and Greame Clarke

I have found this web site by happy accident and am very impressed with what I see and of course have signed up. I am researching my family tree and am somewhat overwhelmed by this information about Bertie Henry Crick. I am from Walsall and am always wanting to know more about the people who went before us, particularly in the wars.

Markr, your gran, Edith Sarah Meek is my 1st Cousin twice removed. Or put another way, her father, Thomas Rufus Meek was brother to my Great Grandmother Sarah Elizabeth Meek (1863-1945) who moved to live the USA.

I am writing to ask if I may copy the information that you have gathered, photos and all, to my family tree record for Bertie. What an interesting (and rather sad) story. I treat all the records in my tree as memorials of my family, especialy of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice

And, by the way, should I find anything that relates to this man I would be pleased to share it with you.

Many thanks

Phil Jones

 

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Phil,

 

You are more than welcome to anything I post to use as you wish.

 

Do you have any photos of Bertie at all  ?

 

Regards

 

Graeme

[Markr]

Hello,  Does anyone have any photos of 7th South Staffs Great War soldiers in their cupboard please?  I am looking for one

of my grandad Bertie Henry Crick  July 17th 1917.  I have no photo yet ?, I have one of his brother Harold.  Both were killed in action, Bertie at the 3rd Ypres, known

as Passchendaele , buried at St.Jan No2 CWGC,  Ypres,   and Harold in Italy in 1918.   marktime

[Don Regiano]

Cemetery is La Brique No. 2 - just in case someone has a photo of his headstone - it is the one slightly detached, and nearer to the camera, from the third group of 5 headstones in the row immediately to the left of the Great Cross.

 

 

 

[Markr]

Terrific,  thank you  Dom,   so much. Mark

 

[Michelle Young]

Duplicate threads merged

[sadbrewer]

FRom The Walsall Observer.

Courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive

 

 

[Markr]

On 09/07/2017 at 09:34, GraemeClarke said:

Hi Mark,

 

No photos of him in the local newspapers, I'm afraid.

 

Here is what I have on him, I would appreciate any corrections

 

Bertie Henry CRICK

Corporal 9362

7^th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

Died in Belgium on Tuesday 17 July 1917

 

     Bertie was born in Wolverhampton on Sunday 13 April 1890, the son of John Henry and Bertha Elizabeth (née Harrison) Crick of 58, Russell Street, Wolverhampton and later of 111, Green Lane, Walsall, his father being employed as a baker and confectioner.

     He was married to Edith Sarah Meek, a laundress, at Caldmore Parish Church, Walsall on Friday 26 December 1913 and possibly resided at 32, Orlando Street, Walsall although official records show him as residing in Birmingham. There was a daughter to the marriage, Dorothy Maud, born on Friday 24 November 1916.

     Bertie enlisted in the Army at Walsall at the outbreak of war and was drafted to Gallipoli on Saturday 11 September 1915. He later served in Egypt prior to being drafted to France where he was appointed Corporal on Saturday 24 February 1917.

     On Sunday 15 July 1917 Bertie’s battalion moved from Camp O near Poperinghe into trenches about a mile north of Ypres, relieving the 4/5^th Battalion, Black Watch. This sector is described in the Regimental History as being ‘one of the worst sectors on the whole front’. The battalion suffered losses from snipers and as such regular patrols were sent out to find and kill them. Casualties were also taken to enemy artillery.

     Wounded whilst in the trenches, most probably by shellfire, Bertie succumbed to his injuries the same day at 26 years of age.

     The War Diary records,

     “15 July 1917 - Took over front line trenches from 4/5 Black Watch about 1 mile north of Ypres.

     Casualties 13619 Pte. Cobley C. wounded.

     16 July 1917 - Enemy sent over large number of gas shells. Very troublesome to eyes, nose and throat, but apparently not very deadly. Enemy aeroplane driven from over our front line by Lewis gun fire.

     Casualties 16678 Pte. Partridge J., 18213 Pte. Smitheman wounded.

     17 July 1917 - Casualties 9362 Cpl. Crick B. died of wounds.”

     Bertie is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No.2 in Grave I.W.5 and is also commemorated on the roll of honour at St. Matthew’s Church, Walsall.

     His widow married Joseph Booth Gretton at Walsall in early 1919, he also having served during the war.

 

Regards,

 

Graeme

 

On 14/06/2021 at 14:02, sadbrewer said:

FRom The Walsall Observer.

Courtesy of The British Newspaper Archive

 

 

 

[Markr]

Grahame, Please accept my belated reply. Thank you so much for your research in Bertie I was blown away.  Thank you . Im still looking for his

 

photo, so if you every discover one, please let me know.  In the process, I discovered a photo of  his brother Harold who was also killed in action

 

in Italy.  Thank you.  Sorry for the late reply, but it was much appreciated indeed.

 

 

[Matlock1418]

On 23/06/2017 at 06:10, Markr said:

My  Grandfather Bertie CRICK, a man  Wolverhampton born, who's parents came from Northampton, as Bakers, I never knew unt, Walsallil a recent find of a birth certificate.

 

             He lived at  32 Orlando Street Walsall with my Gran  Edith Sarah Crick,  nee Meek. He fought in the Gallipoli Campaign, before being transferred to the Western Front

and died in action in Flanders Fields prior to the Battle of Passchendaele, on 17th July  1917.  Buried  at St Jan   No 2 Cemetery 

Mark,

Don't forget there are several pension records cards which have relatively recently been released by WFA/Fold3

To share a few brief abstracts from the main card:

Widow: Edith Sara b. 3.6.93 Remarried - GRETTON [from another card]

[Later] Lived at: 19 Adam St, Walsall

Children:  Winifred Annie MEEK 22.8.12 (b.b.w.) [born before wedlock I think] and Bertha Lilian CRICK, b 4.1.14

A £5 death grant 3.9.17 and pension & allowances of 24/2 from 4.2.18 [per week]

Sorry no photo.

Good luck

:-) M

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Mark,

 

What details do you have for a Harold Crick.

 

The only Harold Crick I found who died in Italy was the son of Ernest and Emma Crick of Kettering, Northants.

 

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/638901/HAROLD ERNEST CRICK/

 

Although he is the same age as Harold's brother when he died, the parents do not match, or the area.

 

There is no mention in the local papers etc, of a brother serving or being killed.

 

Regards,

 

Graeme

Edited 18 June , 2021 by GraemeClarke

[Markr]

Hi Graham,

 

    Henry Crick,  I understand from my Niece (Debbie Archer nee Cooper ), was born in (1895- 1981) and died in Italy as you rightly say . I understand that the Crick's were a big family and came from Northampton to Walsall  as Bakers & Confectioners, before moving to Shepherd Street, Wolverhampton, where Bertie was born on 13/04/90 and died 17/07/17 in Ypres. The connection as far as I can see with Leominster is that Bertie's father John Henry Crick, 1838  or 1841 ? and had a bakers shop in Leominster at 8 West Street before moving to the Midlands. 124 Blue Lane West Walsall as a shopkeeper. His children were William John , Bertie Henry and Harold.

Henry married a Bertha Elizabeth Cruden also from Leominster.  There are six photos of the Crick on the website Churn Camp ( Wheatly family)

Thomas, Ernest & Maurice Crick, but nothing on Bertie. I remember my gran living in Little London, Caldmore, Walsall in the late 60's and she

have his medals and death plaque, which I remember holding. The photographs which I did not see there, but which she must have kept because

of their sentimental connection, but must have got lost somewhere along the line.

 

The John Henry Crick (Northampton connection 1841) who died in Leominster date unknown, had a father called Thomas Crick (1788-1876)

and his wife Hannah Howes (1797-1857), two children Arthur Percival, and Henry.

 

I will try and find the picture of Harold and send it.

 

Harold m Mary Crick and a son Walter who m Elizabeth Ann Evans (1867)  Thanks for all your help . Still no sign of a photo of Bertie, yet.  Markr

Private Harold Ernest Crick - CWGC Certificate.pdf

[GraemeClarke]

Morning,

 

Now I'm getting really confused.

 

The Harold who died in Italy, his parents were Ernest and Emma Crick of Geddington.

 

The Harold E. Crick, brother of Bertie, his parents were John and Bertha.

 

How can they be brothers ?

Graeme

[Markr]

Hi Graeme,

 

I need to recheck my source with Debs who told me about the Harold connection as there is something amiss here. It would appear there could

be two of them? Markr

[Markr]

On 21/06/2021 at 05:34, GraemeClarke said:

Morning,

 

Now I'm getting really confused.

 

The Harold who died in Italy, his parents were Ernest and Emma Crick of Geddington.

 

The Harold E. Crick, brother of Bertie, his parents were John and Bertha.

 

How can they be brothers ?

Graeme

Hi Graeme,   Sorry it's taken me so long to get back,  I am confused too, perhaps the Italian Crick, was Cousin ?   How do I go about buying Bertie Cricks medals back. Bertie is

                           listed on the enclosed 100th  Roll of Honour as he was born in Shepherd Street in that town ( now behind Sainsbury's Supermarket off the ring road.

[Matlock1418]

18 minutes ago, Markr said:

How do I go about buying Bertie Cricks medals back.

Assuming they still exist - First you have to find them!

You could try posting on the British Medals Forum https://britishmedalforum.com - they have a sub-forum "Seeking Family Medals" specifically for such purposes.

Good luck.

:-) M

[Markr]

Thanks for you kind advice.  Will let you know how I get on

[Markr]

On 25/05/2018 at 18:33, Guest said:

Hello Markr and Greame Clarke

I have found this web site by happy accident and am very impressed with what I see and of course have signed up. I am researching my family tree and am somewhat overwhelmed by this information about Bertie Henry Crick. I am from Walsall and am always wanting to know more about the people who went before us, particularly in the wars.

Markr, your gran, Edith Sarah Meek is my 1st Cousin twice removed. Or put another way, her father, Thomas Rufus Meek was brother to my Great Grandmother Sarah Elizabeth Meek (1863-1945) who moved to live the USA.

I am writing to ask if I may copy the information that you have gathered, photos and all, to my family tree record for Bertie. What an interesting (and rather sad) story. I treat all the records in my tree as memorials of my family, especialy of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice

And, by the way, should I find anything that relates to this man I would be pleased to share it with you.

Many thanks

Phil Jones

 

Hello,  I understand that some of the family emigrated to America after the war and wondered if there are any relatives there, who may have collected family tree and photos

by happy coincidence as I can't believe that she did not have a photo of him to remember him by> I just discovered an archive of WW1 photos, over 4,000 by a family in Ypres

 

who specialised in photographing British soldiers bu have yet to track down where they have or are been kept.  Enclosed a photo of research done by volunteers for the 14.18  centenary  before the pandemic. Cpl Crick is on there too.   Thanks to everyone who did the research so far as without their hard works this information may have been lost. Thank you all.