1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 52295 Arthur Birkett Croman
- Age: 26
- From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
- Regiment: 9 R WELSH FUSIL
- Died on Thursday 19th July 1917
- Commemorated at: Oosttaverne Wood Cem Whytschaete
Panel Ref: I.D.7
Arthur Birkett Croman was born on the 08th May 1891 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, the son of Joseph Croman and his wife Mary Ann (nee Carter), both born in London, and who married in Tower Hamlets in 1879, his father was a wharfinger. They had ten children, two of whom died young. Arthur had older siblings William, Henry, Albert, and Emily and younger siblings Amy, Alexander and Lucy.
The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 108 Exmouth Street, Birkenhead. Arthur is 9 years old and is living with his parents and five siblings. His father is a 42 year old shipping clerk born in London in 1859, whilst his mother is 40 years old and was born in Poplar, London in 1861. His siblings, three of whom were born in Poplar are listed as William J. a 19 year old railway signaller, Henry E. a 17 year old cycle fitter, Albert aged 13, Emily Florence is 11 and was born in Birkenhead as was Amy Josephine aged 9 and possibly a twin of Arthur. Also present is a servant Emma Johnson.
Arthur was educated at Holy Trinity School and St. John’s, Grange Road, Birkenhead.
The 1911 Census shows the family have moved to 16 Sherlock Lane, Poulton. Arthur cannot be traced but his parents and five siblings are recorded in the household. His parents have been married for 32 years and have had ten children eight of whom have survived. Those at home are; Henry Edward 27, Emily Florence 21, Amy Josephine, Alexander Octavius 9 and Lucy Charlotte 7.
Although Arthur's occupation is not known he was a member of the Typographical Association which was a Trade Union.
When he was 24 he married Florence Louise Liggett, in St. Michael in the Hamlet Church, Toxteth, on 04th January 1916, giving his address as 7 Alwyn Street, and his occupation as soldier.
Arthur was killed in action on 19th July 1917, aged 26.
He now rests at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery in Belgium.
The "Oosttaverne Line" was a German work running northward from the river Lys to the Comines Canal, passing just east of Oosttaverne. It was captured on 7 June 1917, the first day of the Battle of Messines, the village and the wood being taken by the 19th (Western) and 11th Divisions. Two cemeteries, No.1 and No.2, were then made by the IX Corps Burial Officer on the present site and used until September 1917. They are contained in Plot I, II, and III of the present cemetery, which was completed after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields (including many from Hill 60).
During the Second World War, the British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk.
The cemetery contains 1,119 First World War burials, 783 of which are unidentified. Scattered among these graves are 117 from the Second World War, five of them unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Arthur was commemorated in Du Ruvigny's Roll of Honour:
CROMAN, ARTHUR BIRKETT, Private, No. (-) (-) Battn. The King's (Liverpool Regt,) son of Joseph Croman of 16 Sherlock Lane, Poulton, Wallasey, and brother to L.-Corp W. J. Croman (q.v.) born Birkenhead, County Chester 08th May 1891; educ. Holy Trinity and St. John's, Grange Road, Birkenhead; was a printer; joined the King's (Liverpool Regt.) in July 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the end of the year, and was killed in action 19 July 1917.
His widow posted a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 08th May 1918:
“In sad but loving birthday (May 8) remembrance of Private Arthur B. Croman, R.W.F., dearly loved husband of Florence L. Croman (Liggett), killed in action July 19, 1917, aged 26 years.
‘Twas hard to part with one so loved, so tender, and so young,
On whose dear life so many fond affections clung
But God is wise far than I and doeth all things best,
And he has taken my dearest husband to dwell amongst the blest.
Sadly missed by loving wife Flo and all at 135 Beresford Road.”
And an In Memoriam notice on the anniversary of Arthur's death on 19th July 1918:
“In affectionate remembrance of Private Arthur B. Croman, R.W.F. (late Pals), aged 26, killed in France July 19, 1917, dearly loved husband of Florence L. Croman (Liggett); also my dear and only brother Charlie, died July 5, 1917, aged 26.
No morning dawns, no night returns,
But still we think of thee.
Sadly missed by his loving wife and sister Flo, and all at 135 Beresford Road, Dingle.”
His widow Florence received his effects, war gratuity, and pension of 13/9 a week.
His older brother, Lance Corporal William James Croman, served with the 17th Battalion of the London Regiment in France and the Middle East, and was wounded in Palestine. After recovering from his wounds he was sent back to the Western Front, where he was killed in action at Ypres, on 28th September 1918. William now rests at Dranoutre Military Cemetery in Belgium where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:
A LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER SADLY MISSED
William was also commemorated in Du Ruvigny's Roll of Honour:
CROMAN, WILLIAM JAMES, L.-Corpl., No. (-) 17th Battn. (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) The London Regiment (TF) son of Joseph Croman of 16 Sherlock Lane, Poulton, Wallasey, by his wife Mary Ann; and brother to Private A.B. Croman (q.v.), born London 9 May 1881; educ. Holy Trinity Schools, Birkenhead; was subsequently employed as an Assistant in the Stepney Gas Works, London, and was for some years a member of the Cheshire Volunteer Engineers; joined the Poplar and Stepney Rifles in April 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from 28 Sept. to Dec. 16, when he was sent to Salonika, thence to Egypt and Palestine; was wounded outside Jerusalem, and after a period in hospital in Cairo was sent back to France, where he was killed in action at Ypres 28 Sept. 1918 being hit by a sniper. Buried there. Captain H. S. Moser wrote: "It was during one of our advances, and I cannot speak too highly of your husband's admirable conduct. His section was being held up by a machine gun and a sniper, who was causing considerable trouble with his section. He managed to kill five or six of the enemy, and whilst trying personally to locate the sniper, he was shot and killed instantaneously. Your husband was always one of the most popular and best men in the company, and always did his duty like a true Britisher. He was married and had two children.
Arthur and William are both commemorated on the Wallasey Civic Memorial.
Arthur is also commemorated on the Memorials at -
St. Luke's C of E Church, Poulton, Cheshire
St. Cleopas C of E. School, Toxteth.
We currently have no further information on Arthur Birkett Croman, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Grateful thanks are extended to Kim Wright who visited Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery and took the photograph of Arthur's resting place.
Killed On This Day.
(109 Years this day)Sunday 22nd April 1917.
Pte 52865 Hyman Barnett Gadansky
28 years old
(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
Pte 136181 Edwin Williams
19 years old