CRADDOCK A.

ARTHUR CRADOCK 1892 – 1916

6/4189 Private Arthur Cradock, 1/6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 29 February 1916 and is buried at Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Ypres, Belgium. [1] and is commemorated on the Etherley War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in St. Cuthbert’s Church, Etherley. He was about 24 years old, the son of joseph and Jane Cradock.

Family Details

Arthur was born c.1892 at Tottenham, Coundon the son of Joseph and Jane Cradock. There were at least 5 children:

John born c.1881 at South Church
Isabella born c.1883 at South Church
Dora born c.1888 at Tottenham, Coundon
William born c.1890 at Tottenham, Coundon
Arthur born c.1892 at Tottenham, Coundon [2]

In 1891, the family lived at 761 Tottenham, Coundon which was a mining community serving Leasingthorne Colliery to the east of Coundon. By 1901 mother Hannah and her family, 11 year old William and 9 year old Arthur lodged with George Siddle at 1 Railway Terrace, Blue Row, Bishop Auckland. Hannah was his housekeeper. Presumably, Joseph had died. In 1911 19 year old Arthur lived with his brother John and his family at 8 David Terrace, Coronation, Eldon Lane near Bishop Auckland. John was a coal miner (waggon way man) and Arthur was a putter. [3]

Service Record

The service record of Private Arthur Cradock and the war diary of the 6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry have not been researched.

The 1/6th Battalion were formed in Bishop Auckland in August 1914 as part of the Durham Light Infantry Brigade, Northumbrian Division and in May 1915 became the 151^st Brigade of the 50th Division. [4] The Division moved to France 16 April 1915 and served with distinction on the Western Front throughout the war. Other battalions were:

1/7 Bn., Durham Light Infantry (DLI)
1/8 Bn., DLI
1/9 Bn., DLI
1/5 Bn., the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment joined June 1915

The Division took part in the following engagement: [5]

22 April – 25 May 1915: The Second Battle of Ypres 1915

Before entering the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (6th phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916), the Battle of Morval (7th phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916) and the Battle of Le Transloy (8th phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916)

Private Arthur Cradock did not enter France prior to 31 December 1915 since he was not awarded the 1914-15 Star. [6] He was killed in action 29 February 1916. [7] He did not see action at the Second Battle of Ypres nor the Somme.

The 6/DLI received a draft of 71 other ranks about 26 February 1916 [8] therefore it is likely that he arrived in France at that time. There was an exchange of artillery fire 28 and 29 February 1916 and 5 other ranks are named as casualties. [9] The 5 casualties 28 February 1916 were:

2609 Private A. Adamson from Crook
4017 Private M. Duffy from Bishop Auckland
1566 Private C.H. Gill from Blackhill, Consett
1423 Serjeant W. E. Johnson from Barnard Castle
1603 Private J. Marsh from Crook

There was 1 casualty 29 February 1916 – Private A. Cradock. [10] Private A. Cradock was probably a casualty of the usual violence of warfare, hit by exploding artillery fire, shrapnel or high explosive.

Private A. Cradock was awarded to British War and Victory medals. [11]

Burial

Private A. Cradock is buried at grave reference 1.K.29 Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Ypres. There are 1,422 burials. After the Armistice, the cemetery was used to concentrate burials from the battlefields and 52 burials from the Durham Cemetery at Zillebeke including 39 DLI Territorials, one of whom was Private A. Cradock, were laid to rest here. [12]

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Note: CWGC & SDGW the name is “Cradock”

[2] 1891 & 1901 census

[3] 1911 census Note: the name is “Craddock”

[4] http://www.1914-1918.net/dli.htm

[5] http://www.1914-1918.net/50div.htm

[6] Medal Roll index card

[7] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[8] Moses

[9] Moses p.58

[10] Soldiers Died in the Great War

[11] Medal Roll card index