5 March 2017

Corporal 12103 Arthur Benjamin CROFT

9th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Birmingham City Police ‘C’ Division PC 284

Died Mesopotamia 25th January 1917 aged 25

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index cards 1914-1920

Police service historyArthur joined Birmingham City Police on 4th March 1912 as a 20 year old sawyer and he served on the ‘C’ Division, with warrant number 8195 and he resigned on 21st May 1915 to enlist in the Army. His collar number was PC C 284

Birmingham City Police records dated 17th May 1915, of the judicial Subcommittee shows with regards to applications to request permission to join the Army including that of Arthur CROFT.

Birmingham City Police records dated 21st May 1915

Arthur resigned 21st May 1915 to enlist in the Army in Birmingham

Notification of resignation - PC C 284 Arthur B Croft – these men are placed in the same position as Reservists

Birmingham City Police records dated 13th March 1918 records the death of Arthur Benjamin Croft

Arthur Benjamin Croft (single) Corporal Warwickshire Regiment, Killed in action Mesopotamia, 25th January 1917 (previously reported missing)

A Service was held at The Parish Church, BirminghamSunday 5th December 1920 3.30pm

Remembering those Birmingham City Police constables Killed in action, those who died on active service and those who died from illness due to war service

The following particulars of local men killed have been supplied.

Corporal Arthur Croft Royal Warwickshire Regiment was formerly a constable on the ‘C’ Division of the Birmingham Police Force

Arthur Benjamin CROFT’s entitlements to his British War Medal and his Victory Medal

Corporal 12103 Arthur B Croft 9th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment

War Service HistoryArthur died on 25th January 1917 in Mesopotamia.

In November 1916 Arthur's battalion was in training at Amara following its abortive attempts to relieve Kut. On Friday 1st December 1916 the battalion commenced operations on the right bank of the Tigris River and, on Thursday 14th December 1916, seized a Turkish position on the Shatt-al-Hai.

There followed a month of small engagements during which the battalion fought its way to within 100 yards of the main Turkish lines. At 10.30 am on the morning of Arthur's death the 9th battalion Worcestershire and 7th Battalion, North Staffordshire regiments attacked the enemy lines in the Hai Salient, seizing the positions which they then began to consolidate. When Turkish counter attacks threatened to drive these battalions back, Arthur's battalion was sent forward to assist. At noon the position became critical when the Turks recaptured a portion of their old lines held by the Worcester’s.

Arthur's battalion attacked with fixed bayonets across open land and routed the Turks, re-establishing the line. During the afternoon the Turks continued their counter attacks and, at 3.15 pm, by sheer weight of numbers, forced the battalions to retire. Casualties in Arthur's battalion amounted to 5 officers killed and 7 wounded with 52 other ranks being killed, 118 wounded and 11 missing.

Commemorated Panel 9BASRA MEMORIAL in Iraq

CWGC.com

Basra Memorial Stone 17 - typed 10 January 1928

Antecedents of Arthur Benjamin CROFT

Born June 7th 1891 Stone, Staffs. Baptised at Christ Church in Stone. Parents Benjamin and Mary J Croft. His father was a butcher. Arthur was the fifth of eight children: Martha, Alice, Elizabeth, Mary, Arthur,

Thomas, John, James. In 1901 the family were living at no 33 Old Road, Stone. 1911 census shows him at 5 Arthur Street, Stone his mother was now a widow,

and Arthur was working as a wood sawyer.