Frank Ewart Crooks
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- Military History
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Frank Ewart Crooks was born in 1897 in Mansfiedl Woodhouse and was the son of Robert a coal miner and Ruth Crooks of 8 Allcroft Street Mansfield Woodhouse. His father Robert was born in 1857 in Mansfield Woodhouse and his mother Ruth Davis was born in 1855 in Sutton in Ashfield, they were married in 1877 in Mansfield and went on to have 11 children all of whom were born in Mansfield Woodhouse, William Henry b1877, Sarah b1880, Edwin b1882, Harriett b1884, Harold b1886, Eleanor b1889, Ruth b1892, Esther b1893, Albert b1895, Frank b1897 and Arthur b1899. In the 1911 census the family are living at 17 Parkers Lane Mansfield Woodhouse and are shown as Robert 54 yrs a coal miner , he is living with his wife Ruth 56 yrs and their children , Edwin 29 yrs a coal miner, Eleanor 22 yrs a ring frame miner in a cotton factory, Esther 18 yrs also a ring frame miner in a cotton factory, Albert 14 yrs a bobbin carrier in cotton spinning room, Frank 14 yrs a ring frame minder in a cotton factory, and Arthur 12 yrs a scholar.
Private Frank Crooks, enlisted at Mansfield and served with the 2/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles). He landed in the Balkans on 31st December 1915 and was killed in action on 6th December 1917. The Gallipoli veteran, serving there with the 9th Battalion of the regiment, was reported missing on 22nd January 1918 on the Western Front , he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval,
His brother Albert Crooks enlisted on 3rd May 1915 at Mansfield, he gave his age as 20 yrs and 205 days , his occupation was that of a coal miner and he lived at 8 Carlton Villas, Allcroft Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. He was posted to the 34th divisional ammunition column of the Royal Field Artillery. He embarked from Southampton on 11th January 1916, landing the following day at Le Harve. He was posted to the Trench Mortar Section on 17th November 1916. He survived the war and was demobilised on 26th January 1919 A further brother Sgt. Harold Crooks, 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was taken prisoner on 28th May 1918. An article in Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times published 2nd August 1918 : - “News also been received of Sergt. Harold Crooks, whom we reported in THE MANSFIELD REPORTER, a few weeks ago, as missing. Through the British Red Cross International Agency, we learn that he is a prisoner of war. From Geneva comes the following letter respecting his brother, Pte. Frank Crooks: – “We beg to inform you that the following report appears on lists despatched from Berlin: 22228, [sic] Frank Crooks,Notts and Derby. Disc sent in from Central Office, 15 4.18, without further details. Announced by Graves Administration of an etape inspect. In the absence of all details, we can make no definite assertion as to his death. Further particulars will be forwarded on receipt. We trust you will accept our sincere sympathy with you in the great anxiety and suspense you are suffering.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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