Harold Croxford

Harold Croxford was born in 1896 in Nottingham and was the son of William Thomas and Gertrude Elizabeth (Elizabeth) Croxford (née Cluroe). Both his parents were born in Radford, Nottingham, in 1874. William and Elizabeth were married at St Wilfrid, Wilford, Nottingham, on 5 May 1894 and had the following children who were all born in the Meadows, Nottingham: Elizabeth Hilda (Hilda) b. 18 October 1894 bap. North Wilford St Faith 25 March 1900; Harold b. 1896; Florence Gertrude b. 1900 (reg. J/F/M) bap. St Faith 25 March 1900; Laura Annie b 20 January 1903 and William b. 18 June 1905. The family was living at 96 Briar Street when Hilda and Florence were baptised in 1900. By the time of the 1911 census the family was living at 66 Briar Street, Meadows, Nottingham, and shown as William Thomas Croxford 37yrs a painter and paper hanger, his wife Elizabeth 36yrs and their children Elizabeth Hilda 16yrs a glove hand finisher, Harold 14 yrs in the printing trade, Florence 11yrs and Laura Annie 8yrs who were both scholars and William 5yrs. Also living with them was a lodger, Nellie Hustem 17yrs, a lace clipper. The second daughter, Florence, died in 1915 (J/F/M Nottingham) aged about 15. The family was living at 57 Hawthorn Street when Harold enlisted in March 1915. William Thomas died in Nottingham General Hospital in July 1927 following an accident (see 'Extra information'). He and his wife were then living at 51 Hawthorn Street. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his widow Elizabeth was living at 65 Wendover Road, Nottingham, with her married daughter Laura Birtwhistle (married Henry Birtwhistle 1929). The records of two other members of the household remain closed. Elizabeth died in 1959 and Laura in 1975. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth Hilda, married Richard Bowers (b. 4 May 1894) in 1916 (J/F/M) and their first child, Richard, was born on 25 September that year. Her husband enlisted in October 1916 but was not mobilised until 3 April 1917. He was posted to the RAMC (183331) and served in Africa (Mombassa and South Africa) where he suffered from malaria. In 22 April 1919 he was admitted to Kitchener's Military Hospital, Brighton, with malaria. He was discharged on 4 December 1919 to Salisbury Terrace, Hawthorn Street. In 1939 Elizabeth and Richard, a lace curtain machinist, were living on Shepton Crescent, Nottingham, with their children Lawrence Herbert (b. 1924) a grocer's errand boy, Hilda Grace (b. 1927), William Harry (b. 1928) and Harold E. (b. 1936). Their son Richard was married (1937). Elizabeth Hilda died in 1974. The surviving son William married Elizabeth Kenyon (b. 29 April 1908) in 1932 and in 1939 they were living at 66 Rupert Street, Meadows; William was a painter and decorator and Elizabeth was in the hosiery trade. William died in 1972.

He worked in the printing trade in 1911 but was a coal miner loader when he enlisted in 1915.

57 Hawthorn Street, Meadows, Nottingham. Enlisted Nottingham

7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) formerly Grenadier Guards (23559). Private Harold Croxford of 57 Hawthorn Street, Meadows, Nottingham, originally enlisted on 22nd March 1915 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 18 yrs and 237 days, occupation coal miner loader. He joined the Grenadier Guards at White City, London on 28th March 1915 (service number 23559). He was discharged from the Army on 6th November 1915 being no longer physically fit for service due to pulmonary tuberculosis. Harold was called up on 18th May 1917 at Derby; he was now 20 years old. He declared that he had previously served for 230 days in the Grenadier Guards. Harold was still living at 57 Hawthorne Street, Meadows, Nottingham, and his next of kin was his father William Thomas of the same address. He was posted to the 7th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment On 1st August 1917 he was again medically discharged from the army with pulmonary tuberculosis and issued with a Silver War Badge no 496690. He was awarded a pension from the 2nd August 1917. He had not served overseas. Harold died on 4th February 1919 at Nottingham and was buried in Wilford (St Wilfrid) Churchyard, Nottingham. The grave was unmarked but he is now commemorated with a CWGC special memorial: 'Buried elsewhere in this churchyard'.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’. 4 February 1919: ‘Croxford. On February 4th, at 51, Hawthorne-street, Harold, beloved son of Mr and Mrs Croxford, passed peacefully away, after much suffering. From sorrowing family and Dick [Richard Bowers] in Africa.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 11 July 1927: ‘Local Happenings. William Thomas Croxford, aged 53, painter, of 51, Hawthorn-street, Nottingham, was alighting from a tramcar in the Market-place, on Saturday afternoon, when he fell, striking his head on the ground. He seemed to recover from the mishap and went home, but later in the day became very ill and had to be removed to the General Hospital, where he lies suffering from concussion.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 15 July 1927: ’Local Happenings. A verdict of ‘Accidental death’ was returned at an inquest held at the Nottingham General Hospital, last evening, on William Thomas Croxford, aged 53, a journeyman painter and decorator, who died as the result of a fall from a moving tramcar in the Market-place. The widow, Elizabeth Croxford, of 51, Hawthorn-street, said that last Saturday morning her husband had been working at the Theatre Royal. Just before one o'clock a gentleman brought him home. Deceased just put his hands to his head, said ‘Oh, my poor head’ and never spoke again. At six o’clock she sent for a doctor.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)