Walter Ernest Croker

Memorial: Wickwar - Holy Trinity Church

Regiment: Royal Field Artillery

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Shoeing Smith Gunner 10804

Parents: Henry and Elizabeth Croker (nee Sansum)

Home address: Bagstone, Cromhall, Nr Charfield

Pre-war occupation: Carpenter in a brewery in 1911

Date of birth: 1890

Place of birth: Eastville, Bristol

Date of death: 28/03/1918

Buried/Commemorated at: Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery (Ref: I. J. 19.), Foncquevillers, France

Age: 28

Further information:

Walter Ernest Croker was born in 1890 in Eastville in Bristol. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth Croker. His mother's maiden name was Sansum. His brother Reginald also died in the war. He had 2 nieces called Gladys and Ivy Brown. In 1911 his family lived at Bagstone, Cromhall, Nr Charfield. His father had worked as a general labourer in a quarry and was born in Bristol. His widowed (?) mother lived in the High Street, Wickwar. Walter was working as a carpenter in a brewery in 1911. His surname sometimes appears incorrectly as Crocker in censuses

Walter enlisted in Bristol and joined “A” Battery, 190th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. He became a Shoeing Smith. He died in March 1918 at about the age of 28

Walter Ernest Croker is buried in Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery in France. He is remembered on the Wickwar war memorials and the Chipping Sodbury Cottage Hospital Memorial Board which is now at Yate and District Heritage Centre. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals

Walter Ernest Crocker is remembered on the Wickwar Holy Trinity Church Memorial, the Wickwar Village Hall Memorial and the Chipping Sodbury and District War Memorial Cottage Hospital board, which is now at Yate and District Heritage Centre, under Wickwar

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Yate and District Heritage Centre and the book 'Lest We Forget' by Arthur Threlfall Searson. Forces War Records and CWGC