Crockett, Lawrence Charles

Lawrence Charles Crockett was born on 10th April 1881 and baptised at St Lawrence Church, Northampton on 8th May.  At the time his family were living at 83 Clare Street, Northampton.

Lawrence’s father, James was the senior member of the firm Crockett & Jones, boot and shoemakers, of Northampton.

The 1901 census shows  the family living at 36 East Park Parade, Northampton.  As well as Clifden’s father, James, those listed are Emily Rose (28), Frederick J (24), Lawrence Charles (19), Leonard Marshall (15), Dora Florence (13) and Marjory Ruth (9).  A further brother, Henry Robert (age 26) was not living at home at this point.  Lawrence’s youngest brother, Clifden (6) and his mother Susannah were away from home, visiting a family in Dewsbury.

Lawrence married Olive Victoria Mayne at Holy Trinity Church in Richmond on 18th June 1914.

His youngest brother, Clifden, was killed in action in 1916.  An item in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo of 26th October 1916, reports on “the marriage of Miss Dora Crockett, second daughter of Mr & Mrs JHC Crockett of Dallington Lodge, Northampton, who has been doing excellent hospital work in France, in company with her sister Miss Madge Crockett”. It notes that it was a quiet wedding out of respect for the recent death of Clifden.

Lawrence died on 17th October 1918 at the Mundsley Sanatorium in Norfolk.  He left probate of £5,942 13s 1d to his widow Olive, who was living at 16 Devonshire Place, Eastbourne.

Northampton Chronicle and Echo Friday 18th October 1918
There will be sincere sympathy with Mr & Mrs JHC Crockett and the members of their family on the death from illness, contracted while in service in Malta, of Capt Lawrence Charles Crockett, RAMC who was a dentist in civil life, played cricket and hockey for Northamptonshire, and hockey for the North. He is the second son Mr & Mrs Crockett have lost in the war.

The Northampton Independent, October 26th 1918

Lawrence’s eldest sister, Emily Rose, married Ernest Harry Longland, who was, prior to the war, the vicar at St Paul’s Church, Warwick.  Hence Clifden and his brother Lawrence appear on the St Paul’s Memorial as well as Warwick War Memorial.  Neither were on the original list drawn up by the Committee so a request must have been forwarded at a later date.