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Family of Francis CROWHURST (E4) and Emily Alice CARTWRIGHT (W4)
Born in 1892 in Herne Hill, London.
Alice Emily died on 1 April 1981, at the age of 89. She was buried on 5 April 1981 in Elmers End Cemetery, Beckenham.
Alice is listed in the 1901 Census living with her parents at 229 Railton Road, Lambeth at the age of 9.
Alice Emily married Alfred COLLINS.
Alfred was born in 1891. Alfred died in South London on 2 February 1930, at the age of 39. He was buried on 5 February 1930 in Crystal Palace Cemetery.
Occupation: Soldier.
They had the following children:
Winifred Winifred married Michael CARROLL. She had a daughter Patricia CARROLL who was a Concert Pianist and played at the Albert Hall Leslie Alfred Joseph Gladys
E5
Francis (Frank) CROWHURST
Born on 19 October 1893 in Brixton, London.
Recorded resided at 68 Northcote Road, West Croydon in 1927; at 75 Whytecliffe Road Purley in 1933; and at 598 Brighton Road, South Croydon, Surrey in 1936.
Francis (Frank) died in 51 Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, London on 20 October 1975 at the age of 82. He was buried on 25 October 1975 at Bandon Hill, Wallington Surrey.
Cause of death: Cancer of the Oesophagus
Occupation: Club Steward, Soldier, and Mechanical Engineer.
Religion: Anglican..Although born Francis he was known all his life as Frank - and insisted that was his actual name!
In
1896, at the age of 3, Frank lost the sight of one eye in an accident. Another
child poked a stick in his left eye while playing.
Frank is listed in the 1901 Census living with her parents at 229 Railton Road, Lambeth at the age of 7.
In 1907, at the age of 14, Frank was employed as a Page Boy at the Grand Metropolitan Hotel, Brighton.
In 1910 he was a Steward at the Seaford Golf Club.
On 20 June 1922, Frank was granted a Hawkers License in Northampton. The certificate refers to him as Francis (not Frank) Crowhurst ‘of the parish of Ashley in Cambridge county.’
On 1 June 1923 Frank Crowhurst obtained a License to drive a Carriage drawn by horses or mules, for 15s 0d.
At the age of 21, on 6 September 1914, Frank enlisted in the Army.
His attestation papers state that he lived in Herne Hill, and previously at 21 Newman Street, Lower Tooting, London.
He was enlisted into the 9th Lancers for a period of three years 'unless the War lasts longer'. He served in East Kent Regiment "the Buffs", 7th Battalion unit initially in charge of horses. (Regiment number G/3132)
His regimental employment record shows that he was a Dutyman from 6 September 1914 to 10 December 1915, a Transport Driver from 11 December 1915 to 2 January 1918 and a Dutyman again from 2 January 1918 to 9 February 1919. He attended active service army schools for RFA Riding Course, 82nd RFA Brigade and obtained a Musketry 2nd Class qualification.
The reference provided by Lt. Col. A Kingsmith, commanding
7th Buffs states:
"This man is hard working with a good experience of horses, and has proved a capable transport driver for the past three years."
On demobilization on 17 March 1919, Frank was paid £34 16s 20d including a war gratuity of £25 10s. He was awarded three medals:
The 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The Medals
Frank carried back from the front line in France a spent brass cartridge shell weighing 32lb. This is now an umbrella stand at The Ivy House in Frome.
On 1 October 1927 when Francis (Frank) was 33, he married Ellen (Nell) Mary Frances PLOWMAN (P23), in St James Church Croydon. Witnesses at marriage: Emily Louise Cue and Henry James Plowman
Ellen was the daughter of William PLOWMAN (6 February 1848-22 April 1919) and Elizabeth GROSSMITH (10 September 1851-7 February 1933). She was born on 2 February 1894 in Croydon, England. She died in November 1979 and was buried in Bandon Hill, Wallington, Surrey.
They had one child:
During the Second World War, Frank served as a Fireman, dealing with some horrendous fires in London and Bristol during the Blitz. He saw some frightful sights, but always refused to talk about his wartime experiences.
After the war he worked as an aircraft mechanic at a factory on Purley Way, Croydon.
During his spare time, with his wife, he caned chairs. They made little money from this, often only charging the costs of materials only. Later when he had retired the caning took over their house. Everywhere there were stacks of chairs waiting to be repaired.
One commission was the re-caning of a three-piece suite for the Queen Mother. It is doubtful that they made much money from such a prestigious contract. The ‘middleman’ probably made that!
E7 Florence CROWHURST.
Born in 1896 in Herne Hill, London.
Florence married Frank SCIVENES.
They had one child:
Frank.
He died of Multiple Scheloris aged 32
My Family Tree is a 60 minute documentary that I have made with my digital camcorder and edited into a video production.
This documentary is the story of four families. It is the story of my father's parents, Brigden and Chapman, and my mother's parents, Crowhurst and Plowman.
The video can be purchased for £5 plus £2 postage and packaging. To order a copy click here