Francis Mark Cragg
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Francis Mark, known as Frank, was the son of John and Mary Ann Cragg (née Smith). His father John was born in December 1857 at Dry Doddington, Lincolnshire, the son of Mark and Elizabeth Cragg. His mother Mary Ann Smith was born in 1865 at Ferlby, Lincolnshire. They were married at Thorpe by Newark St Laurence in December 1885 and according to the 1911 Census had had five children of whom four were still living. Their children were: John Henry b. Cotham 1886 bap. Thorpe by Newark St Laurence November 1886 d. 1907; Joseph Edward b. 1888, Francis Mark b. 27 May 1891 and Daisy Mary b. 1894 bap. May 1894 Balderton St Giles who were all born in Balderton and Cecil Bertram (Bertram/Bert) b. Hawton 1898 bap. Hawton All Saints July 1898. John and Mary were living in Cotham when their eldest son was baptised in 1886 but by 1891 John, a herdsman, his wife and two sons, Henry and Joseph, were living at The Grange, Balderton. They were still living in Balderton in 1894 when Daisy was baptised at the parish church, but had moved to Hawton by 1898 and were recorded there in 1901 with their five children. John was now a farm foreman while his eldest son John Henry was a farm labourer. John Henry probably died aged 20 in 1907 (Bolsover, reg. Chesterfield J/F/M). John, an engine driver (traction), and Mary had returned to Cotham by 1911 but only three of their four surviving children were still living at home: Frank a horseman on a farm, Daisy (no occupation given) and Bertram who was still at school. Joseph had married Esther Ann Groves at Heanor St Lawrence, Derbyshire, in 1909 and they were living in Swingate, Kimberley; Joseph was a railway shunter with the Great Northern Railway. Francis Mark, occupation labourer, emigrated to Canada in 1913, sailing from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 29 March onboard SS Arabic (White Star Dominion Canadian Service). When he enlisted in 1916 he gave his address as Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. His parents were living at Bowbridge, New Balderton, when Francis was killed in 1918 but the later CWGC record gave their address as 'Sunnyside', Hawton Lane, New Balderton, Newark. The 1921 Census (transcript not sighted) recorded John, Mary Ann, Daisy and two others (names not given) living in Balderton, Newark. Mary Ann died in July 1933; she and her husband were still living on Hawton Lane. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, her husband was living in Maidstone, Kent, with his married daughter Daisy Carden (m. Charles F Carden 1921 reg. Newark). John died in 1942 (reg. Maidstone). Francis's brother Cecil Bertram served with the 2nd South Wales Borderers (65353, served 3years 301days). He was wounded in late August 1918 and medically evacuated to Canterbury Hospital, Kent. Their brother Joseph also served and both he and Cecil survived the war. There is a record that Bertram, formerly of the South Wales Borderers and Notts (SR) Yeomanry, enlisted in the Royal Tank Corps, on 10 February 1921 (540221), probably as a member of the Territorial Force, re-enlisting for two periods of four years from 1 February 1924 and from 1 February 1928.
190th Winnipeg Rifles. 8th Battalion Manitoba Regiment, Canadian Infantry. Francis Mark Cragg enlisted on 27th April 1916 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He gave his age as 24 yrs and 11 months, home address Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was employed as a steam engineer. Francis named his father, John Cragg, of Cotham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, as his next of kin. He came to England in April 1917 and served in France from August 1917. He suffered from gas poisoning within days of arriving in France but did not have to return to the UK for treatment. Francis was killed in action the following year on 9th August 1918 and was buried at Manitoba Cemetery, Caix, Somme, France (grave ref. D.4). CWGC - History of the Manitoba Cemetery, France (extract): The village of Caix is 24km from Amiens. 'Caix was captured by the Canadian Corps (1st Cavalry Division) on 8 August 1918. Manitoba Cemetery, so named because it contains a great number of graves of the 8th Canadian Battalion, raised at Winnipeg, was made by the 1st Canadian Division Burial Officer after the capture of the village.' (www.cwgc.org)
Francis Mark's cousin, Thomas (Tom) William Cragg, the son of Joseph Cragg, his father's younger brother, served in the Worcester Yeomanry (275599, prev. Notts Yeomanry). He died in hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, from smallpox on 12 March 1919. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC additional information: 'Son of John and Mary Anne Cragg, of "Sunnyside", Hawton Lane, New Balderton, Newark, England.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Faithful unto death' Newark Advertiser, 11 September 1918 (photograph): ‘The Fallen Brave. Pte FM Cragg, Balderton. Mr and Mrs Cragg, of Bowbridge, New Balderton, and late of Cotham, have received the sad news that their son, Pte. Francis Mark Cragg, was killed in action on August 9th. Deceased was 27 years of age, and had been in the Army 2½ years, having enlisted in Canada where he had been for three years previous to enlistment. He was in the 190th Winnipeg Rifles, doing very well, and gained a sergeant’s certificate. Pte Cragg came over to England in April 1917, and went to France in August of that year. After only five days in the trenches he was gassed, but was not lucky enough to be sent home. In recent letter deceased stated he would be coming home on leave at any time now. Much sympathy is extended to Mr and Mrs Cragg in their sad loss. Pte Bert [Cecil Bertram] Cragg of the 2nd South Wales Borderers, the youngest son, was wounded on August 26th, and is now in Canterbury Hospital, where he is making satisfactory progress.’ (www.britishnewspapearchive.co.uk) This report was also published in the Newark Herald, 14 September 1918 Newark Herald, ‘Deaths’, 11 September 1918: ‘Cragg. Killed in action in France on August 9th, 1918, Pte Francis Mark Cragg, 190th Winnipeg Rifles, aged 27 years, the dearly-loved son of mr and Mrs John Cragg, of Bowbridge, New Balderton. Could w have raised his dying head, Or heard his last farewell, The grief would not have been so great For us, who loved him well. He sleeps beside his comrades In a hallowed grave unknown; But his name is written in letters of love On hearts that are left at home. From his loving Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Newark Herald, ‘Deaths’, 5 August 1933: ‘Cragg. On the 29th July, at Hawton Lane, Balderton, Mary Ann, the beloved wife of John Cragg, aged 68 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
