Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
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 52899 Elgie Cregeen

Age: 26
From: Douglas, IOM
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 18th October 1917
Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Esley (Elgie) Leslie Cregeen was born in 1890 at Malew Parish, Isle of Man and baptised 20th July, 1890., the son of Thomas and Ann Jane Cregeen.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Douglas Road, Malew, Isle of Man.

The father Thomas is aged 54, born in 1847 and is a farm labourer who was born in Rushen, Isle of Man, his wife Ann Jane who is aged 45, born 1856 with no occupation listed was born in Malew, Isle of Man as were their two children. Their two children are both living with them at the time of the Census, Ann aged 12, born 1889 and Algie aged 10, born 1891.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 32 Mill Street, Castletown, Isle of Man.

The mother Ann Jane is shown as a widow aged 54, with no occupation listed and her son Elgie (Algie in 1901) is aged 20 and employed as a coal carter.

SDGW shows that Elgie enlisted in Douglas, Isle of Man, as Private 52899 19th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. Elgie would have seen action with his battalion during the Somme in 1916, and by the summer of 1917 the Pals battalions are in the dreaded Ypres Salient. The Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, begins on 31st July and continues until November.

In October 1917 the battalion marched to relieve the 20th K.L.R. In the Hollebeke sector. The Battalion War Diary records:

16th October - in front lines. 1 OR Killed, 1 OR Wounded

17th October - holding front line positions. Patrols at night. 3 OR Wounded.

18th October - holding front line positions, sandbagging, bailing trench, wiring front line. 3 OR Wounded.

CWGC shows 3 Pals from 19th Bn K.L.R. KIA on 18/10/1917 - Pte Esley Cregeen, L/Cpl Henry L. Hughes, and Pte Frederick Leevers.

Elgie’s body was not recovered from the battlefield, or was subsequently lost, and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Flanders, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His death was reported in the Isle of Man Examiner dated 3rd November, 1917:

CREGEEN.__ Killed in action on 18th Oct, Pte. Elgie Cregeen, K.L.R. aged 26 years; son of Mrs. Cregeen, 36 Mill street, Castletown.

PRIVATE E. CREGEEN KILLED

Private Thomas Oates of Ballasalla, who arrived home on furlough from the battle-front on Saturday 20th October, brought the sad information that Private Elgie Cregeen, son of Mrs. Cregeen, 36 Mill-street, Castletown, had been killed. In a letter to the deceased soldier's mother, 20th October, the Rev. R. B. Parslew, C.F.,says,__

As chaplain to his regiment, it falls to my intensely sad duty to inform you of the death of your son, Private Elgie Cregeen, King's Liverpool Regiment. He was killed on the nighy of 17th-18th October while engaged on a working party, and died instantly. It was by a shell. He died doing his duty bravely and faithfully to the last: and we, his friends and comrades desire to express to you and yours our sincere sympathy in your sad bereavement. He was buried in a Military Cemetery behind our lines by me. But we do not sorrow as men without hope, but look forward to that great day of reunion when sorrows and partings shall be no more: and it is my earnest prayer that the great God and Father of us may be your sure comforter and consoler in your sad loss.

Private Cregeen who was 26 years of age, joined the army in February 1916, prior to which he was for three years an assistant in the employ of the Castletown Brewery Company, He was fifteen months in France, and was home on furlough as recently as a month ago.

His effects, including a War Gratuity of £7-10s, and a pension of 7/6d a week went to his mother Ann Jane (Annie) at 36 Mill street, Castletown.

Elgie is commemorated on the following Memorials -

The Manx National Memorial, St. John’s, Isle of Man

Isle of Man Roll of Honour

Croit E Caley Methodist Chapel, Douglas, Isle of Man

Castletown Primitive Methodist Church Roll of Honour

St. Lupus Church Stained Glass Memorial Window, Malew

Malew Parish Roll of Honour, St. Lupus Church

Harris Promenade War Memorial, Douglas

Castletown Royal British Legion Roll of Honour.

We currently have no further information on Elgie Cregeen, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(108 Years this day)
Sunday 16th June 1918.
Pte 57615 Fred William Preddy
23 years old

(105 Years this day)
Thursday 16th June 1921.
Captain Leonard George Duncan
43 years old