Private Ernest George Crook

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research. Thank you to the Crook family for the personal memories.

Ernest George Crook was born on 31^st March 1898 in Horsham, Sussex to baker Joseph William and Harriet Elizabeth (nee Hollingsworth).

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Marlborough Road, Shoreditch, London. Joseph was working as a journey man and baker and Harriet was looking after their daughter Minnie Emma.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 7 Queen Street, Horsham. Joseph was working as a baker and confectioner and Harriet was looking after their children: Minnie; William; Ernest and Archibald.

Ernest attended Mannings Heath School, Horsham and then joined Lower Beeding Church of England School in Horsham on 2^nd April 1906. At the time of the admission, the family lived in Plummers Plain, Horsham. On 3^rd November 1908, Ernest  was admitted into Pyecombe Church of England School in Sussex, the family were living in the same village. He left the school on 29^th August 1912.

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 7 Church Cottages, Pyecombe. Joseph was working as a baker and Harriet was looking after their children: Ernest; Archibald and Donald. The cottage had four rooms. Harriet stated that she had given birth to five children.

Ernest and his brothers left the parish on 6^th July 1915.

Ernest Crook enlisted in Hove, into the 4^th Battalion, the Royal Sussex Regiment. He was a Private with regimental numbers: 3859 and TF/201282.

Ernest was killed in an action on 26^th March 1917 in Egypt, and was commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Palestine, now Israel, on panels 25 and 26.

He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.

Ernest’s father Joseph received £7, 12s and 2d on 8^th October 1918 and a further £5 on 4^th November 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.

The 1918 Surrey, England, Electoral Register reads that Joseph and Harriet lived at Capel Street, Reigate.

Crook Family History

Ernest’s father Joseph William was born in the 3^rd quarter of 1866 in Kilsby (Northamptonshire), Warwickshire to farm labourer William, born about 1820 and Ann, born about 1825, both in Kilsby.

Ernest’s mother Harriet Elizabeth Hollingsworth was born in the 2^nd quarter of 1860 in St George in the East, Middlesex to labourer John  born about 1828 in Tottenham and Mary, born about 1831 in Brentwood, Essex. At the time of the 1881 Census, Harriet was a housemaid of ship owner and merchant George Traill at 24 Highbury Grove, Islington. Joseph and Harriet married in the 3^rd quarter of 1888 in Eastbourne, Sussex.

Ernest had four siblings: Minnie Emma born in the 1^st quarter of 1890 in Hackney, William John born about 1892 in New Cross, London; Archibald Joseph born in the 2^nd quarter of 1900 in Alfold, Sussex and Donald Edward born in the 2^nd quarter of 1902 in Horsham, Sussex.

The 1925 Surrey, England, Electoral Register reads that Joseph, Harriet and their sons Donald and Archibald lived at Hope Cottages, Capel Street, Reigate, Surrey.

Joseph died in 1931 in Reigate.

On Sunday 11th November 2018, the descendants of Ernest Crook met to remember their great-uncle.

David Crook (great nephew of Ernest) wrote to us:

“My mother Marie asked if I could send you a few words regarding the commemorative lunch we held on Ernest’s behalf, on the 100 year anniversary of Armistice.

The background to the day was that my three brothers (Lionel, Barry & Donald) & myself (David) inherited Ernest’s war medals and documentation, as a result of the sad passing of a close family member, Aunt Nancy (Ernest’s niece).

All four brothers were unanimous in the view that the medals and documentation should be kept together and should be bequeathed to Jacob (my son) as the eldest of the next generation.

We therefore arranged a lunch for Sunday 11/11/18, where my brother Lionel would present the medals to Jacob, which he had got framed in a presentation case.  My mother said a few words explaining to her grandchildren how closely related they were to Ernest (in three easy steps), and highlighting how young he was at the time (younger than many of them).

All in all, it was a very moving and memorable occasion and made all the more special by the fact that whole family made a great effort to attend from all over the country (15 of us in total).

Only my brother Donald and his partner Marianne were unfortunately unable to attend as they live abroad. Donald is named after Ernest’s younger brother. Donald was the first member of the family to research Ernest, which he did for their Aunt Nancy.”

Born	Horsham, Sussex
Son of	Joseph William and Harriet Elizabeth  (nee Hollingsworth) Crook
Regiment	4th Battalion. Royal Sussex Regiment
Number	3859
Date of Death	26th March 1917
Place of Death	Egypt
Cause of Death	Killed in Action
Age	18
Cemetery	Jerusalem Memorial, Israel