George Alec Cranswick
- Family History
- Military History
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George Alec Cranswick was born on 21st May 1898 at Hunmanby, Yorkshire and was the son of the late William Henry a farmer and Jane Elizabeth Cranswick née Bourdass of 3 Oriel Street, Oxford. His father William Henry was born in 1863 at Rudston, Yorkshire, he died on 30th May 1907 at Grantham aged 44 yrs and his mother Jane Elizabeth Bourdass was born in 1867 at Bridlington they were married in 1887 their marriage was recorded in the Bridlington Registration district, they went on to have the following children, Ida b1890, Phillip b1896 and George Alex b1898 all were born at Hunmanby, Yorkshire. In the 1901 census the family are living at Hunmanby village, Yorkshire. In the 1911 census George Alec is a boarding pupil 12 yrs of age at St Winifreds School, Kenley Surrey. His probate was proven on 11th March 1919 in Nottingham , it shows him as George Alec Cranswick of Linby, Nottinghamshire, a second lieutenant in H.M.Army died on or since the 18th November 1917 in France or Belgium his effects of £209 1shilling and 3 pence were left to Jane Elizabeth Cranswick, widow (his mother)
Lieutenant George Alec Cranwick served as a Private in the Officer training Corps whilst at Nottingham University. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment on the 6th of July 1915, later serving with the 6th (Service) Battalion. He attended No. 2 School of Military Aeronautics from the 11th of September 1916 and on the 16th of September transferred to the Wireless School at Brooklands. On the 4th of November 1916 he was posted to 35 Squadron, based at Thetford. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps with the rank of Temporary Flying Officer (Observer) on the 28th of March 1917 with seniority from the 3rd of February 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of July 1917 and from the 24th of July he attended the Central Flying School. He was confirmed in the rank of Flying Officer on 2nd of October 1917 with seniority from the 3rd of February 1917. On the 22nd of August 1917 he was posted to 20 Training Squadron and to 54 Training Squadron on the 31st of October. On the 3rd of November 1917 he was posted to 23 Squadron and joined them in France. On the morning of the 18th of November 1917 he took off at 9.28am in a Spad 7 aircraft (registration B3575) on a wireless interruption patrol. He was last seen at 10.20am to the northwest of Passchendaele but was not seen again and was posted as missing.He is commemorated on the Arras Flying Service Memorial, France.
He applied for a commission in the Special Reserve of Officers on the 22nd of June 1915 and underwent a medical examination at Nottingham on the 21st of June 1915 at which he was passed as fit for general service. The Officer Commanding the Nottingham University Officer Training Corps wrote the following in support of his application: -"Knows his work well and could take charge of a Platoon. Excellent at reconnaissance works and maps. Takes and sends semaphore well, can send 15 words a minute and receive 10 with buzzer and soundless. This is an excellent candidate whom I recommend very highly indeed."He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment on the 6th of July 1915, later serving with the 6th (Service) Battalion. He attended No. 2 School of Military Aeronautics from the 11th of September 1916 and on the 16th of September transferred to the Wireless School at Brooklands. On the 4th of November 1916 he was posted to 35 Squadron, based at Thetford. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps with the rank of Temporary Flying Officer (Observer) on the 28th of March 1917 with seniority from the 3rd of February 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of July 1917 and from the 24th of July he attended the Central Flying School. He was confirmed in the rank of Flying Officer on 2nd of October 1917 with seniority from the 3rd of February 1917. On the 22nd of August 1917 he was posted to 20 Training Squadron and to 54 Training Squadron on the 31st of October. On the 3rd of November 1917 he was posted to 23 Squadron and joined them in France.On the morning of the 18th of November 1917 he took off at 9.28am in a Spad 7 aircraft (registration B3575) on a wireless interruption patrol. He was last seen at 10.20am to the northwest of Passchendaele but was not seen again and was posted as missing.His father received the following telegram dated the 21st of November 1917: -"Regret to inform you 2/Lt G.A. Cranswick York and Lancs Regiment attached RFC 23 Squadron reported missing November eighteenth. This does not necessarily mean killed or wounded. Further news sent immediately received."He was officially declared as being dead on the 22nd of June 1918 but investigations and enquiries as to his fate continued even after the war was over.Above information is courtesy of the Lancing College war memorial website.
