Frank Herbert Crafts

He enlisted in Derby on 7 July 1892 and re-engaged 7 July 1904. He was promoted corporal on 25 October 1896, to sergeant on 19 January 1900 and to colour sergeant on 27 February1910. He was awarded the RN Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, effective 7 July 1907. He was discharged on 6 July 1913 having completed length of service. . He was mobilised 2 August 1914 and drafted to the Portsmouth Bn. He was at Dunkirk 19 September 1914-2 October 1914 and served in the defence of Antwerp from 3 October 1914-13 October 1914. He served in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 28 February 1915-3 May 1915. Papers missing from ADM/157/2661. RND Casualties of the Great War, 'All Portsmouth Battalion casualties at Gallipoli are recorded on CWGC as having died on 6 May 1915. However, it is most likely that they were killed in the charge up Razor-Back Hill, Monash Valley, on 3 May 1915, but they might have been killed at Anzac Beachhead on any date between 28 April 1915 and 3 May 1915.' Crafts has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. The 1914 Star was issued to his father on 18 October 1919; the clasp was issued 12 December 1924.

Mansfield Advertiser – 4th June 1915 THREE HUTHWAITE MEN KILLED MEMORIAL SERVICE Two Huthwaite men, Private J.T. Goodall and Private J.S. Ellis, both of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, have been killed in action “near the Dardanelles”, according to the official statement. Goodall was 26, and lived in Skegby Road. He leaves a widow and one child. Ellis’s home was in Newcastle Street, and he leaves a widow and four children. He was 33 years of age , and about 13 years ago enlisted in the Lincolns, but was bought off after a few months. Both men enlisted last September. Another Huthwaite native of the same regiment, killed at the same place, was Quartermaster F.H. Crafts, aged 40, whose home was at Sherwood. He had served 21 years, and had been a pensioner 8 months when the war broke out, and he immediately rejoined. He had several brothers at Sutton, and a sister is Mrs. A. Taylor, wife of the Chairman of Huthwaite Urban District Council. On Sunday morning a memorial service to the three men was held in the Parish Church it was conducted by the Rev. F.N. Beswick, and was largely attended. The proceedings were most impressive, and included the recital of the Burial Service, while the hymns and sermon were of an appropriate nature. The Union Jack flew at half-mast on the church tower, and at the close of the service Mr. A. Wilders rendered the Dead March from “Saul” on the organ. Notts Free Press – 6th. June, 1915: The long immunity from tragic news respecting its own soldier sons which Huthwaite has enjoyed was rudely shattered last week-end, when the news carried that three Huthwaite natives had made the supreme sacrifice in laying down their lives for their country. The departed heroes are Private J.T. Goodall, aged 26, of Skegby Road, Private J. Ellis (often known as Sheppard) of Newcastle Street, and the third is Quartermaster F.H. Crafts (40) who, though his home was at Sherwood, was born at Huthwaite and will be remembered by many people. Several brothers live at Sutton, and a sister is Mrs. A. Taylor, wife of the Chairman of Huthwaite Urban District Council. Crafts was single and had served 21 years and had been a pensioner for a year and a half, and when the war broke out he immediately rejoined. Goodall and Ellis both joined in September last. A singular feature is that all three belonged to the same regiment (the Portsmouth Brigade of the R.M.L.I.) and were all killed under exactly the same circumstances-officially stated as “near the Dardanelles”. About 13 years ago Ellis served a few months in the Lincolns, but was bought off. He was killed on the 30th. of April, but the date of the other deaths is not stated. Unfortunately, no photograph of Ellis is available Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged) 31 May 1915: 'CRAFTS, killed in action near the Dardenelles May 25th (sic) Colour Sergeant Frank Herbert Crafts RMLI Portsmouth Bn RM RND, son of William and Mary Crafts of 158 Haydn Road, Sherwood.' His parents' grave in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery includes the inscription: 'Also of Colour Sergeant Francis Herbert Crafts RMLI, son of the above [Mary Crafts], killed in action in the Dardanelles May 15th 1915 aged 41 years. Nobly did his duty.'