Crockett, Clifden James

Clifden James Crockett was born on 27th April 1894 and baptised on 31st May at St Michael and All Angels Church, Northampton.  At the time, his family address was 53 Colwyn Road, Northampton.  He was the youngest of eight children.

His father was the senior member of the firm Crockett & Jones, boot and shoemakers, of Northampton.

The 1901 census shows that Clifden (6) and his mother Susannah were away from home, visiting a family in Dewsbury. The rest of the family are recorded 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.

Clifden attended Oundle School and is listed on their census return in 1911.  The following article is a full copy of Clifden’s entry in the Oundle School World War I Memorial Archive.  Our sincere thanks to the Archivist at Oundle School and C Pendrill – Yarrow Fellow:

CLIFDEN JAMES CROCKETT 18 AUGUST 1916

Lieutenant Clifden James Crockett was 22 years old when he was killed during the Somme campaign of 1916. He came from Dallington near Northampton and was the son of Sir James and Lady Crockett. He was in Sidney House, was a decent shot and liked to speak in school debates.

Leaving Oundle in 1911 after only two years, he went to Germany for a time and on his return joined the family firm of Crockett and Jones, manufacturers of boots and shoes in Northampton.

He joined the 4th Battalion of his local Northamptonshire Regiment and went with them to the Dardanelles, landing at Suvla Bay in August 1915. After nine days he was wounded and invalided home. His CSM at Gallipoli wrote of him: “He showed us all enough to enable us to look on him as a good leader, and the boys would follow him anywhere.”

He then joined the reserve battalion of his regiment, before being attached to the 1st/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He then returned to France in July 1916 and was killed in action on 8th August, during the Battle of Pozières Ridge which started on 23rd July and lasted until early September. His Colonel wrote: “He is the most difficult to replace of all the officers we have lost. He was employed as Intelligence Officer, and was in charge of the battalion snipers. He went out time and time again to obtain information, and it always possessed the priceless quality of being reliable.”

NB this quote is also contained in the newspaper articles below.

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 in respect for the recent death of Clifden.

Clifden is buried in the British Cemetery of Pozières on the Somme close to where he fell.

His 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.