William Walter Warner

[dib44]

Hi Folks.

I wonder if any of you knowledgeable folks could help me please,
William Walter Warner was KIA in WWI as the following from Find my Past states.

Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
Name: William Walter WARNER
Rank: C.S.M.
Initials: W W
Birthplace: Birmingham
Residence:
Enlisted: Birmingham
Regiment, Corps etc.: Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Battalion etc.: 1st Battalion.
4.8.14 Malta. 3.9.14 sailed for England and on arrival joined 22nd Bde. 7th Div. at Lyndhurst. 7.10.14 landed at Zeebrugge. Nov. 1917 to Italy. 4.11.18 22nd Bde. 7th Div. Italy; west of Udine.
Number: 8285
Date died: 25 September 1915
How died: Killed in action
Theatre of war: France & Flanders

Have tried searching for his service records with no luck, he was serving in the RWF before the outbreak of WW1, when he married my great aunt Lucy Elizabeth Cruxton in 1912 he was a corporal based in the barracks at Wrexham.

William was born in Birmingham 1885.

After his sad demise in 1915, his widow married another RWF Edward Martin (1892/1972) in 1920 in Lucknow, India, when the couple married
Edward was a sergeant in the first battalion RWF based in India, there is also no trace of his service records either.

As an aside, Lucy Elizabeth had four brother who also fought in WW1

John Patrick Cruxton 1885/1915
Charles Richard Cruxton 1888/1943

( The above brothers also served in the RWF before emigrating to Canada, John being KIA 1915)

Herbert William Cruxton 1894/1924
Frederick Phillip 1897/1928. (my gradfather)

Not sure if the last two brothers served in the RWF, buth their father did.

John Thomas Cruxton 1861/1899.

The family lived in Nelson Street, Wrexham, as I understand very close to the RWF barracks.

Apologies for digressing, would it be possible to find the service records of William Warner, and/or Edward Martin, if so
would you please be able point me in the right direction please?

Kind regards.

Ray

[Baconwallah]

The only William Walter Warner whose service record I could find, served with the 21st Londons. I also searched for Walter Warner (his name according to the Medal Index Card) but no such luck.

What I have in my 1st Bn database (ranks are 1914 ranks):

Warner, William Walter, 8285 Sgt
Born Birmingham 1885. Enlisted 1903. Landed 09/02/1915. A Coy. KiA (CSM) 25/09/1915, age 29. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Perhaps the RWF Museum has a little more information in the 1st Bn Casualty Reports. You can e-mail Brian Owen, the Curator, and ask. The e-mail address is on the Museum website. No harm in trying.

Husband no 2 was most likely Edward Martin 10949:

Martin, Edward, 10979 Pte
Enlisted c.1913. Landed 07/10/1914. A Coy. Reported missing 21/01/1914. PoW. Remained in the Army after the war, renumbered 4178985.

No service or pension records there either.

Hope this helps.

John

PS Strangely, I can find no Cruxtons with the RWF in the Great War. The only one in Soldiers Died is Pte Arthur Cruxton 3877, Royal Fusiliers, KiA 09/07/1916.

[dib44]

Many thanks Bacon Wallah.

Great information, Thank You Kindly.

Apologies, I may have misled you in relation to Cruxtons serving in the RWF in the Great War.

John Patrick Cruxton emigrated to Canada in 1906, on his attestation papers dated Sept 1914, to the question
have you ever served in any military force? he reply RWF 3 Years, so this must have been pre 1906.

His demise:
Births Dec 1885 Cruxton John Wrexham 11b/277
Name: CRUXTON, JOHN PATRICK
Nationality: Canadian (Born in Wrexham Wales)
Rank: Private Age: 29
Regiment/Service:Canadian Infantry
(Central Ontario Regiment)
Unit Text: "C" Coy. 15th Bn.
Date of Death: 03/05/1915
Service No: 27326

Charles Richard Cruxton, emigrated to Canada to join his elder brother in 1913, on his attestation papers dated October 1915, to the question
have you ever served in any military force? he reply RWF 5 Years as a corporal , so this must have been pre 1913.

Herbert William Cruxton, on his medal card he served in the R E ? as a corporal no dates on card (Reg number 94838) (WR286963)

Frederick Phillip Cruxton, on his medal card he served in the RFA 35 BDE 1915/1919.(reg number 118049)

Their father John Thomas Cruxton, according to his service record joined the 23rd Brigade (RWF?) in September 1880 and left September 1892
after 12 years service (regimental number 3073)

Once again thank you kindly for your invaluable information, shame there are no service records for William W Warner or Edward Martin, but who knows, they may surface in the coming years.

Thank You.

Ray

[Baconwallah]

I must admit that I did not look for Cruxtons in Canada!

Non-RWF I have the service records of Herbert William Cruxton 94838, Royal Engineers, of 42 Nelson Street, Hightown, Wrexham, locomotive fireman, enlisted 30/04/1915. If you do not have the papers, let me know if you want them and I can e-mail the lot.

John