Albert Arthur Croucher (1887-1916)

Dates

Birth: October-December 1887 Cuckfield, Sussex, UK
Father: Isaac Croucher 1848-1930
Mother: Esther Rist (Riste) [Faulkner (Foulkner)] 1845-1911

Christening: Unknown

Marriage: 17 May 1915 Holy Trinity, Cuckfield, East Sussex, UK
Wife: Rose Annie Webber 1881-1943

Death: 14 July 1916 Somme, France

Children

None known

Notes

Birth of Albert Arthur Croucher in FreeBMD in October-December 1887 in Cuckfield (2B 156).

In the 1891 census as Albert Croucher aged 3, born in Cuckfield, Sussex, and living with his parents (Isaac and Esther), brother (Alfred) and (half)sister (Kate) at 5 Bunells Cottages, Cuckfield, Sussex.

In the 1901 census as Albert A Croucher aged 13, born in Cuckfield, Sussex, and living with his parents (Isaac and Esther), and brother (Alfred E) in Whiteman's Green, Cuckfield, Sussex.

His mother died in January-March 1911 in Cuckfield.

In the 1911 census as Albert Arthur Croucher aged 23, born in Cuckfield, Sussex, single, a carman to a builder, and living with his widowed father, (half)sister (Elizabeth Harriet), and cousin (Mabel Croucher) in four rooms at 5 Whitemans Green Cottages, Cuckfield, Sussex.

Marriage of Albert A Croucher and Rose A Webber in FreeBMD in April-June 1915 in Cuckfield (2B 452).

Entry in Ancestry West Sussex, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936 for Albert Arthur Croucher aged 27, father Isaac Croucher, single, and Rose Annie Webber on 17 May 1915 in Cuckfield. "Page 59 [...] 1915. Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of Cuckfield in the County of Sussex. [No.] 118 May 17 1915 Albert Arthur Croucher [aged] 27 [a] bachelor [and] Private Royal Sussex Regt [of] Colchester [father] Isaac Croucher [a] Labourer, [and] Rose Annie Webber [aged] 32 [a] spinster [of] Cuckfield [father] James Webber [a] Wheelwright. Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after banns [...] in the Presence of Isaac Croucher [and] Nellie Maud Webber."

Entry in Ancestry British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 for Albert Croucher G/2664 Royal Sussex Regiment awarded Victory, British and 15 Star having served in France from 24 July 1915.

Entry in Ancestry UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 for Albert Croucher of Cuckfield Sussex Private G/2664 8th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment killed in action on 14 July 1916 in the Western European Theatre.

Entry in Commonwealth War Graves Commission for Albert Croucher Private G/2664 8th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment died on 14 July 1916, commemmorated on Pier and Face 7 C Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. "Croucher, Pte. Albert G/2664. Royal Sussex Regt. 14th July 1916."

On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained.