Benjamin Crosby
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Benjamin Crosby was born on 30th March 1893 at Ruddington, he was the son of Frederick Charles a farmer and the late Mary Ann Crosby née Garton, of Flawford Lane, Ruddington, Nottingham. Frederick Charles was born in 1858 at Gosberton, Lincolnshire and Mary Ann Garton was born in 1851 at Tollerton she died in 1905 aged 54 yrs, they were married in 1879 their marriage was recorded in the Bingham registration district, they went on to have 6 chilidren, Mary, Cassy, Sarah, David and Louisa. In 1901, the family lived on Wilford Road and in 1911 at Flawford Cottages (both Ruddington) in 1911 Frederick Charles 53in yrs is a farmer and a widow , he is living with two of his children, Benjamin 18 yrs a labourer and Louisa 20 yrs.
Private Benjamin Crosby enlisted at Nottingham whilst residing at Ruddington, Serving with 4th Bn South Staffs, he was probably a Special Reservist. He was killed in action on 24th March 1918 having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Special Reserve This was a form of part-time soldiering, in some ways similar to the Territorial Force. Men would enlist into the Special Reserve for 6 years and had to accept the possibility of being called up in the event of a general mobilisation and otherwise undertake all the same conditions as men of the Army Reserve. Their period as a Special Reservist started with six months full-time training (paid the same as a regular) and they had 3-4 weeks training per year thereafter. A man who had not served as a regular could extend his SR service by up to four years but could not serve beyond the age of 40. A former regular soldier who had completed his Army Reserve term could also re-enlist as a Special Reservist and serve up to the age of 42. Additional information Peter Gillings
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