Frank William Croucher (1890-1974)

Dates

Birth: 15 February 1890 Blacksod Bay, Bellmullet, County Mayo, Ireland, UK
Father: (Frank) Alban (Allan) Thomas Croucher 1855-1891
Mother: Emily Jane Cawdery (Caudery, Cordery) [Hale (Hales)] 1863-1945

Christening: Unknown

Marriage: 3 February 1915 Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK
Wife: Ivy Ethel Allen 1892-1967

Death: 9 May 1974 44 Old Manor Gardens Caravan Site, Wallington, Fareham, Hampshire, UK

Children

Ivy Francis Silver Croucher 1915
Frank Harvey L Croucher 1918-1998
Marjorie Doris Croucher [Robertson] 1919-1986
Kenneth Alban Croucher 1921-1978
David Reginald Croucher 1930-a1965

Notes

Entry in Ancestry Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958 for Frank William Craucher (sic) in January-March 1890 in Belmullet, Ireland (4 61).

His father died in January-March 1891 in Belmullet, Ireland.

His brother was born on 3 September 1891 in Southsea, Hampshire.

In the 1901 census as Frank Croucher aged 11, born in Ireland, and living with his uncle and aunt (Mark and Caroline Robinson) and brother (Sidney) in 3 rooms at 8 Dorset Place, Weymouth, Dorset. This address was shared with another family.

Entry in Ancestry UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 for Frank William Croucher born 15 February 1890 in Belmullet, Mayo, No. 234586 first service date 20 September 1905 on Ganges last on 25 December 1927 on Excellent, and another in Ancestry UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 for Frank William Croucher first service date August 1905, both refer to same entry born 15 February 1890 in Belmullet, Mayo, at GR (Greenwich) School, 5ft 6 inches on joining, light brown hair, blue eyes, dark complexion joined 20 September 1905, joined on 15 February 1908 for 12 years to 23 October 1919 as No. 234586, and a long list of stations and ships to 25 December 1927.

An entry in Ancestry Public Member Trees adds Service number 234580 (sic) Joined aged 15 1/2 (Greenwich schoolboy) and signed up for 12 years. 5ft 6 inches on joining, light brown hair, blue eyes, dark complexion. Commenced full navel service after 18th Birthday 14/2/1908. 6ft, grey eyes, fresh complexion.

Entry in Ancestry Ancestry UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 for Frank W Croucher 234586 P.O. Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal.

In the 1911 census as Frank William Croucher aged 21, born in Ballyglass, Mayo, Ireland, single, an able seaman in the Royal Navy, and living with his mother (Emily Jane) and brother (Alban Thomas) in four rooms at Merton House, St John's Road, Fratton, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Marriage of Frank W Croucher and Ivy E Allen in FreeBMD in January-March 1915 in Portsmouth (2b 729).

An entry in Ancestry Public Member Trees adds the following: 3 February 1915 at St James Church in the parish of Milton, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Frank was a seaman RN on HMS Duncan and Ivy was living at 90 Eastney Road, Portsea.

His children were all born in Portsmouth between 1915 and 1930.

Entry in Ancestry UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 for Frank William Croucher born 15 February 1890 in Belmullet, Mayo, No. 234586 first service date 14 February 1830 (sic) on Excellent and last on 21 January 1841 (these should be 1930 and 1941) on Collingwood. On the original (partially illegible there are entries for 31 December 1929, 14 February 1930 31 December 1940 and 31 December 1941, and he was also on Victory I.

In the 1939 England and Wales Register as Frank W Croucher born 15 February 1890, married, a rigger - heavy worker HM Dock, and living with Ivy E Croucher (wife?) and two others at 153 Chatsworth Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

His wife died in Gosport in 1967.

Death of Frank William Croucher, born on 3 February 1890, in FreeBMD in Portsmouth (20 868) in April-June 1974.

There are twenty five entries in Ancestry Public Member Trees for Frank William Croucher.

The following is from an email:

Dad’s grandfather we now believe was a coastguard – and he died trying to rescue some people off a wrecked ship off the coast at Black Sod Bay in Ireland. His wife (don’t know her name) was at the time pregnant with my great uncle –Sidney and gave birth to him in Portsmouth in 1892. Frank W Croucher was born in Ireland in 1890. Frank and Sidney were then brought up by their aunt and uncle – Mark and Caroline Robinson which could be why your trial goes cold in 1901. They lived in Weymouth They had a lodger in 1891 called Edward Dainty and Sidney Croucher we know went on to marry a Lilly Dainty, possibly a daughter of Edward? Frank Croucher married Francis Ivy Silver Allen in 1915 in Portsmouth. They had children – Ivy, Margaret, Ken, David (my Dad). I am hopefully that somewhere in the Croucher line, I can get back to finding out who the father and mother of Frank and Sidney were as from 1901 they were bought up their aunt/uncle. We know “he” was a probally a coast guard and died off of Black Sod Bay in County Mayo Ireland attempting to rescue some people in a boat. “She” was pregnant at the time with Sidney and return to Portsmouth where she gave birth to her son – but what happened then? Where did she go?

Relationship

Frank William Croucher was the father of David Reginald Croucher, husband of Patricia Ann Ashford, my half third cousin once removed.

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