Name
George Robert Murray Crofts
20 Aug 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/05/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Welsh Regiment
3rd Bn. attd. 2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panels 23 and 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bedmond memorials, St James' Church RoH, Stavely-in-Westmorland, Cumbria.
Pre War
George Robert Murray was born on 20 Aug 1892 the eldest son to Reverend John Crofts, clergyman and Alice Maud Mary (nee Cronshaw) in Dalton, Wigan.
He attended school at Christ’s Hospital School from 1903 – 1911, excelling at Classics (Gold Medal and Senior Grecian) and gave an address at King George V’s Coronation. He gained a Classical Scholarship at Jesus College, Oxford, in 1910, and was placed in First Class of Classical Moderations in 1913. George was a member of his school and college rugby teams as well as rowing for his College. George was also a member of the Officer Training while at Jesus College.
Wartime Service
On 15 Aug 1914, George was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Welch Regiment in Cardiff, and transferred to Barry Island when the Battalion was re-located.
He went to France on 19 March 1915 joining the 2nd Battalion just after the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.
On 9 May 1915 the 2nd Battalion took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge when the initial attack failed on the parapet of the front line, the 2nd Battalion losing 8 from the 11 lead officers including George. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial.
Additional Information
Brother John Ernest Victor served as Cpl 66630 Royal Army Medical Corps with 101 Field Ambulance in France from Nov 1915 to Jan 1919. George’s Mother lived at East Cottages, Bedmond in 1920’s.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
