Frank Marshall Croft
- Family History
- Military History
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Frank Marshall Croft was born in 1894 in Grimsby and was the eldest son of Joseph and Charlotte Annie Croft (née Marshall). His father Joseph was born in 1864 in Skegness, Lincolnshire, and his mother Charlotte Annie Marshall was born in 1868 in Codnor Park, Derbyshire. They were married in 1892, their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration area. They went on to have six children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood before 1911. Their surviving children were: Frank Marshall b1894 Grimsby, Grace Hilda b 1895 Grimsby, Jack Arthur b1897 Nottingham and Joseph Herbert b1907 Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family was living at 6 Belton Street, Nottingham, and shown as Joseph 47 yrs a bricklayer, his wife Charlotte Annie 43 yrs and their children Frank Marshall 17 yrs a clerk, Grace Hilda 16 yrs a hairdresser's assistant, Jack Arthur 14 yrs a stocking turner and Joseph Hubert 4 yrs. The family was still living at 6 Belton Street when Frank was killed in July 1916. His brother Jack also served in France.
Lance Corporal Frank Croft enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He landed in France on 25th August 1915 and was killed in action on 7th July 1916. He was buried in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle (grave ref. IV.J.4).
Listed as 'CROFTS' on parish memorial. Personal dedication on CWGC gravestone: 'Greater Love Hath No Man.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 19 August 1916: ‘Croft. Killed in action, July 7th, 1916, Lance Corporal Frank M Croft, Northumberland Fusiliers, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Croft, 6, Belton-street. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. From his sorrowing mother, father, sister, brother, and brother Jack in France.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 July 1917: Croft. In loving memory of our dear son and brother Frank, killed in action July 7th, The supreme sacrifice. Mother, father, sister and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
