Family History
Pte. Wilbert Croft was the son of Rosetta May Byam and John Croft. Rosetta May Byam was a descendant of the Byam family which can be traced back to about 1635 in the United States. He was a direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the American Revolution. This branch of the Byam family later moved to Canada. His father, John Croft, was an immigrant from Worlaby, Lincolnshire, England. He arrived in Canada in 1885 on the immigrant ship Hanoverian.
The Crofts had four children: Wilbert, Charles Lorne (known as Lorne), Olive Leona and Cecil. Both Wilbert and Lorne enlisted in the 136th Battalion C.E.F. in Port Hope. Their sister Olive married Gunner Russell Fraser Pirie (41st Battery CFA) of Dundas, Ontario, in 1922.
The Croft children had a difficult childhood after their mother died of tuberculosis in 1913, and their father remarried and started a second family. They were raised with the help of aunts and uncles. Cecil Croft was afflicted with polio and was disabled. Aunt Rose Croft did her best to help look after the children.
Pte. Wilbert Croft died of tuberculosis in Kingston, Ontario, while under the responsibility of the Invalided Soldiers' Commission (ISC). He was buried in Welcome United Church cemetery in Port Hope next to the grave of his parents and his father's second wife.
Pte. Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2). This noted that Croft was the eldest son of John Croft, and that the funeral would be held from his Hope Street residence with burial at Welcome Cemetery.
Pte. Wilbert Croft's Military Service
Pte. Croft enlisted in the 136th Battalion in Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. His service number was 805556. He was discharged from his military service on June 30th, 1916 at Barriefield military training camp as physically unfit, having complained of illness. He was hospitalized for two weeks in Port Hope in June 1916 with tuberculosis. In late May 1918 the Dept. of Militia and Defence decided to discharge Canadian soldiers suffering from tuberculosis and hand them over to the charge of the Invalided Soldiers' Commision (ISC). On July 30th, 1918, a report was made recommending that Pte. Croft be discharged and transferred over to the responsibility of the ISC. It was also recommended that he be placed for further treatment in a Sanitorium. He died at the Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth, on October 28th, 1918.
An index card that lists "Promotions, Transfers, Discharges, etc." states that Pte. Croft served from March 15, 1916 and was dischaged on June 30th, 1916. He was paid from March 15th up to and including July. This form is stamped that the unit (136th) sailed to England on September 25th, 1916. Military District No. 3 is noted in the corner.
1918 Documents (from Military File)
"Medical History of an Invalid" - this report was completed in Kingston, Ontario, on July 30th, 1918. This includes the - "Opinion of the Medical Board".
Items No 1 to 4 - Pte. Croft was described as 21 years old, born on Oct. 14th, 1896, and enlisted at Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. Unit = 136th Battalion and Regimental No. = 805556. His personal description was 5 feet 8 inches tall, 111 pounds, pale complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and "scar outer surface right calf". (*Note that another report says blue eyes).
Item No. 7 - His service period was stated as from March 15th, 1916 to June 30th, 1916. It is noted that he has not been overseas. "Original disease or disability" and "Present disease..." were marked as Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Date of origin of medical condition is "Likely previous to enlistment", and cause is "Unknown".
Item No. 10 asks for the history of the medical condition: "Man first noticed trouble early in 1916 shortly after going to Camp."
Item No. 11 asks if the disabling condition, even if originating before enlistment, was aggravated on military service. Answer - Yes.
Item No. 14 asks about treatment. Answer - "Was in Hospital, Port Hope, Ont., for two weeks in June 1916.
War Medals
Wilbert Croft's military file contains an index card listing service medals awarded and whether the Memorial Plaque and a Scroll were sent to the next of kin. NOK was named as his father John Croft in Port Hope, and he received all the medals. No memorial cross was sent to the family as Pte. Croft's mother was deceased. The bronze Memorial Plaque was despatched to the next of kin on Feb. 11, 1922. The location of these medals is not known today.
Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Sanitorium, Kingston, Ontario
The Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Hospital opened in 1912, and was used for soldiers with tuberculosis during the first World War. The control of the sanitorium was transferred to the Kingston Health Association in 1924 and sold in 1925. Source: S. Mcleod, "Kingston wasn't spared from the ravages of The King's Evil", The Kingston Whig Standard, 2010).
===============
Death (1918)
There are inconsistencies in relation to the date and year of his death. His CWGC marker has the death as October 28th, 1919. This is an error since his Province of Ontario Death Registration is for October 28th, 1918. It was registered for the County of Frontenac, Division of Kingston. Place of death was Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth. Cause of death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Informant: Invalided Soldiers' Commission. Duration of disease: at least two years. Also, Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2).
In addition, Croft's "Veteran's Death Card" submitted to Veterans Affairs, gave the date of death as October 25th, 1918, with a letter sent October 28, 1918. The place was Mowat Sanitorium Kingston.
Stamped over the card: "Death was related to service".
It is clear that the CWGC grave marker currently in Welcome Cemetery needs to be replaced with the correct year 1918, although it is still unclear whether the day is October 25th (death card) or 28th.
* * * * * * * *
This is a condensed version of a lengthy report I wrote for the Canadian Great War Project on the military service of Pte. Wilbert Croft. You can read the full report here.
* * * * * * * *
In loving memory of Pte. Wilbert Croft, 136th Battalion C.E.F.
Researched & written by: Marika I. Pirie (great niece)
Pte. Wilbert Croft was the son of Rosetta May Byam and John Croft. Rosetta May Byam was a descendant of the Byam family which can be traced back to about 1635 in the United States. He was a direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the American Revolution. This branch of the Byam family later moved to Canada. His father, John Croft, was an immigrant from Worlaby, Lincolnshire, England. He arrived in Canada in 1885 on the immigrant ship Hanoverian.
The Crofts had four children: Wilbert, Charles Lorne (known as Lorne), Olive Leona and Cecil. Both Wilbert and Lorne enlisted in the 136th Battalion C.E.F. in Port Hope. Their sister Olive married Gunner Russell Fraser Pirie (41st Battery CFA) of Dundas, Ontario, in 1922.
The Croft children had a difficult childhood after their mother died of tuberculosis in 1913, and their father remarried and started a second family. They were raised with the help of aunts and uncles. Cecil Croft was afflicted with polio and was disabled. Aunt Rose Croft did her best to help look after the children.
Pte. Wilbert Croft died of tuberculosis in Kingston, Ontario, while under the responsibility of the Invalided Soldiers' Commission (ISC). He was buried in Welcome United Church cemetery in Port Hope next to the grave of his parents and his father's second wife.
Pte. Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2). This noted that Croft was the eldest son of John Croft, and that the funeral would be held from his Hope Street residence with burial at Welcome Cemetery.
Pte. Wilbert Croft's Military Service
Pte. Croft enlisted in the 136th Battalion in Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. His service number was 805556. He was discharged from his military service on June 30th, 1916 at Barriefield military training camp as physically unfit, having complained of illness. He was hospitalized for two weeks in Port Hope in June 1916 with tuberculosis. In late May 1918 the Dept. of Militia and Defence decided to discharge Canadian soldiers suffering from tuberculosis and hand them over to the charge of the Invalided Soldiers' Commision (ISC). On July 30th, 1918, a report was made recommending that Pte. Croft be discharged and transferred over to the responsibility of the ISC. It was also recommended that he be placed for further treatment in a Sanitorium. He died at the Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth, on October 28th, 1918.
An index card that lists "Promotions, Transfers, Discharges, etc." states that Pte. Croft served from March 15, 1916 and was dischaged on June 30th, 1916. He was paid from March 15th up to and including July. This form is stamped that the unit (136th) sailed to England on September 25th, 1916. Military District No. 3 is noted in the corner.
1918 Documents (from Military File)
"Medical History of an Invalid" - this report was completed in Kingston, Ontario, on July 30th, 1918. This includes the - "Opinion of the Medical Board".
Items No 1 to 4 - Pte. Croft was described as 21 years old, born on Oct. 14th, 1896, and enlisted at Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. Unit = 136th Battalion and Regimental No. = 805556. His personal description was 5 feet 8 inches tall, 111 pounds, pale complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and "scar outer surface right calf". (*Note that another report says blue eyes).
Item No. 7 - His service period was stated as from March 15th, 1916 to June 30th, 1916. It is noted that he has not been overseas. "Original disease or disability" and "Present disease..." were marked as Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Date of origin of medical condition is "Likely previous to enlistment", and cause is "Unknown".
Item No. 10 asks for the history of the medical condition: "Man first noticed trouble early in 1916 shortly after going to Camp."
Item No. 11 asks if the disabling condition, even if originating before enlistment, was aggravated on military service. Answer - Yes.
Item No. 14 asks about treatment. Answer - "Was in Hospital, Port Hope, Ont., for two weeks in June 1916.
War Medals
Wilbert Croft's military file contains an index card listing service medals awarded and whether the Memorial Plaque and a Scroll were sent to the next of kin. NOK was named as his father John Croft in Port Hope, and he received all the medals. No memorial cross was sent to the family as Pte. Croft's mother was deceased. The bronze Memorial Plaque was despatched to the next of kin on Feb. 11, 1922. The location of these medals is not known today.
Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Sanitorium, Kingston, Ontario
The Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Hospital opened in 1912, and was used for soldiers with tuberculosis during the first World War. The control of the sanitorium was transferred to the Kingston Health Association in 1924 and sold in 1925. Source: S. Mcleod, "Kingston wasn't spared from the ravages of The King's Evil", The Kingston Whig Standard, 2010).
===============
Death (1918)
There are inconsistencies in relation to the date and year of his death. His CWGC marker has the death as October 28th, 1919. This is an error since his Province of Ontario Death Registration is for October 28th, 1918. It was registered for the County of Frontenac, Division of Kingston. Place of death was Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth. Cause of death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Informant: Invalided Soldiers' Commission. Duration of disease: at least two years. Also, Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2).
In addition, Croft's "Veteran's Death Card" submitted to Veterans Affairs, gave the date of death as October 25th, 1918, with a letter sent October 28, 1918. The place was Mowat Sanitorium Kingston.
Stamped over the card: "Death was related to service".
It is clear that the CWGC grave marker currently in Welcome Cemetery needs to be replaced with the correct year 1918, although it is still unclear whether the day is October 25th (death card) or 28th.
* * * * * * * *
This is a condensed version of a lengthy report I wrote for the Canadian Great War Project on the military service of Pte. Wilbert Croft. You can read the full report here.
* * * * * * * *
In loving memory of Pte. Wilbert Croft, 136th Battalion C.E.F.
Researched & written by: Marika I. Pirie (great niece)
Family History
Pte. Wilbert Croft was the son of Rosetta May Byam and John Croft. Rosetta May Byam was a descendant of the Byam family which can be traced back to about 1635 in the United States. He was a direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the American Revolution. This branch of the Byam family later moved to Canada. His father, John Croft, was an immigrant from Worlaby, Lincolnshire, England. He arrived in Canada in 1885 on the immigrant ship Hanoverian.
The Crofts had four children: Wilbert, Charles Lorne (known as Lorne), Olive Leona and Cecil. Both Wilbert and Lorne enlisted in the 136th Battalion C.E.F. in Port Hope. Their sister Olive married Gunner Russell Fraser Pirie (41st Battery CFA) of Dundas, Ontario, in 1922.
The Croft children had a difficult childhood after their mother died of tuberculosis in 1913, and their father remarried and started a second family. They were raised with the help of aunts and uncles. Cecil Croft was afflicted with polio and was disabled. Aunt Rose Croft did her best to help look after the children.
Pte. Wilbert Croft died of tuberculosis in Kingston, Ontario, while under the responsibility of the Invalided Soldiers' Commission (ISC). He was buried in Welcome United Church cemetery in Port Hope next to the grave of his parents and his father's second wife.
Pte. Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2). This noted that Croft was the eldest son of John Croft, and that the funeral would be held from his Hope Street residence with burial at Welcome Cemetery.
Pte. Wilbert Croft's Military Service
Pte. Croft enlisted in the 136th Battalion in Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. His service number was 805556. He was discharged from his military service on June 30th, 1916 at Barriefield military training camp as physically unfit, having complained of illness. He was hospitalized for two weeks in Port Hope in June 1916 with tuberculosis. In late May 1918 the Dept. of Militia and Defence decided to discharge Canadian soldiers suffering from tuberculosis and hand them over to the charge of the Invalided Soldiers' Commision (ISC). On July 30th, 1918, a report was made recommending that Pte. Croft be discharged and transferred over to the responsibility of the ISC. It was also recommended that he be placed for further treatment in a Sanitorium. He died at the Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth, on October 28th, 1918.
An index card that lists "Promotions, Transfers, Discharges, etc." states that Pte. Croft served from March 15, 1916 and was dischaged on June 30th, 1916. He was paid from March 15th up to and including July. This form is stamped that the unit (136th) sailed to England on September 25th, 1916. Military District No. 3 is noted in the corner.
1918 Documents (from Military File)
"Medical History of an Invalid" - this report was completed in Kingston, Ontario, on July 30th, 1918. This includes the - "Opinion of the Medical Board".
Items No 1 to 4 - Pte. Croft was described as 21 years old, born on Oct. 14th, 1896, and enlisted at Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. Unit = 136th Battalion and Regimental No. = 805556. His personal description was 5 feet 8 inches tall, 111 pounds, pale complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and "scar outer surface right calf". (*Note that another report says blue eyes).
Item No. 7 - His service period was stated as from March 15th, 1916 to June 30th, 1916. It is noted that he has not been overseas. "Original disease or disability" and "Present disease..." were marked as Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Date of origin of medical condition is "Likely previous to enlistment", and cause is "Unknown".
Item No. 10 asks for the history of the medical condition: "Man first noticed trouble early in 1916 shortly after going to Camp."
Item No. 11 asks if the disabling condition, even if originating before enlistment, was aggravated on military service. Answer - Yes.
Item No. 14 asks about treatment. Answer - "Was in Hospital, Port Hope, Ont., for two weeks in June 1916.
War Medals
Wilbert Croft's military file contains an index card listing service medals awarded and whether the Memorial Plaque and a Scroll were sent to the next of kin. NOK was named as his father John Croft in Port Hope, and he received all the medals. No memorial cross was sent to the family as Pte. Croft's mother was deceased. The bronze Memorial Plaque was despatched to the next of kin on Feb. 11, 1922. The location of these medals is not known today.
Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Sanitorium, Kingston, Ontario
The Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Hospital opened in 1912, and was used for soldiers with tuberculosis during the first World War. The control of the sanitorium was transferred to the Kingston Health Association in 1924 and sold in 1925. Source: S. Mcleod, "Kingston wasn't spared from the ravages of The King's Evil", The Kingston Whig Standard, 2010).
===============
Death (1918)
There are inconsistencies in relation to the date and year of his death. His CWGC marker has the death as October 28th, 1919. This is an error since his Province of Ontario Death Registration is for October 28th, 1918. It was registered for the County of Frontenac, Division of Kingston. Place of death was Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth. Cause of death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Informant: Invalided Soldiers' Commission. Duration of disease: at least two years. Also, Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2).
In addition, Croft's "Veteran's Death Card" submitted to Veterans Affairs, gave the date of death as October 25th, 1918, with a letter sent October 28, 1918. The place was Mowat Sanitorium Kingston.
Stamped over the card: "Death was related to service".
It is clear that the CWGC grave marker currently in Welcome Cemetery needs to be replaced with the correct year 1918, although it is still unclear whether the day is October 25th (death card) or 28th.
* * * * * * * *
This is a condensed version of a lengthy report I wrote for the Canadian Great War Project on the military service of Pte. Wilbert Croft. You can read the full report here.
* * * * * * * *
In loving memory of Pte. Wilbert Croft, 136th Battalion C.E.F.
Researched & written by: Marika I. Pirie (great niece)
Pte. Wilbert Croft was the son of Rosetta May Byam and John Croft. Rosetta May Byam was a descendant of the Byam family which can be traced back to about 1635 in the United States. He was a direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the American Revolution. This branch of the Byam family later moved to Canada. His father, John Croft, was an immigrant from Worlaby, Lincolnshire, England. He arrived in Canada in 1885 on the immigrant ship Hanoverian.
The Crofts had four children: Wilbert, Charles Lorne (known as Lorne), Olive Leona and Cecil. Both Wilbert and Lorne enlisted in the 136th Battalion C.E.F. in Port Hope. Their sister Olive married Gunner Russell Fraser Pirie (41st Battery CFA) of Dundas, Ontario, in 1922.
The Croft children had a difficult childhood after their mother died of tuberculosis in 1913, and their father remarried and started a second family. They were raised with the help of aunts and uncles. Cecil Croft was afflicted with polio and was disabled. Aunt Rose Croft did her best to help look after the children.
Pte. Wilbert Croft died of tuberculosis in Kingston, Ontario, while under the responsibility of the Invalided Soldiers' Commission (ISC). He was buried in Welcome United Church cemetery in Port Hope next to the grave of his parents and his father's second wife.
Pte. Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2). This noted that Croft was the eldest son of John Croft, and that the funeral would be held from his Hope Street residence with burial at Welcome Cemetery.
Pte. Wilbert Croft's Military Service
Pte. Croft enlisted in the 136th Battalion in Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. His service number was 805556. He was discharged from his military service on June 30th, 1916 at Barriefield military training camp as physically unfit, having complained of illness. He was hospitalized for two weeks in Port Hope in June 1916 with tuberculosis. In late May 1918 the Dept. of Militia and Defence decided to discharge Canadian soldiers suffering from tuberculosis and hand them over to the charge of the Invalided Soldiers' Commision (ISC). On July 30th, 1918, a report was made recommending that Pte. Croft be discharged and transferred over to the responsibility of the ISC. It was also recommended that he be placed for further treatment in a Sanitorium. He died at the Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth, on October 28th, 1918.
An index card that lists "Promotions, Transfers, Discharges, etc." states that Pte. Croft served from March 15, 1916 and was dischaged on June 30th, 1916. He was paid from March 15th up to and including July. This form is stamped that the unit (136th) sailed to England on September 25th, 1916. Military District No. 3 is noted in the corner.
1918 Documents (from Military File)
"Medical History of an Invalid" - this report was completed in Kingston, Ontario, on July 30th, 1918. This includes the - "Opinion of the Medical Board".
Items No 1 to 4 - Pte. Croft was described as 21 years old, born on Oct. 14th, 1896, and enlisted at Port Hope on March 15th, 1916. Unit = 136th Battalion and Regimental No. = 805556. His personal description was 5 feet 8 inches tall, 111 pounds, pale complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and "scar outer surface right calf". (*Note that another report says blue eyes).
Item No. 7 - His service period was stated as from March 15th, 1916 to June 30th, 1916. It is noted that he has not been overseas. "Original disease or disability" and "Present disease..." were marked as Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Date of origin of medical condition is "Likely previous to enlistment", and cause is "Unknown".
Item No. 10 asks for the history of the medical condition: "Man first noticed trouble early in 1916 shortly after going to Camp."
Item No. 11 asks if the disabling condition, even if originating before enlistment, was aggravated on military service. Answer - Yes.
Item No. 14 asks about treatment. Answer - "Was in Hospital, Port Hope, Ont., for two weeks in June 1916.
War Medals
Wilbert Croft's military file contains an index card listing service medals awarded and whether the Memorial Plaque and a Scroll were sent to the next of kin. NOK was named as his father John Croft in Port Hope, and he received all the medals. No memorial cross was sent to the family as Pte. Croft's mother was deceased. The bronze Memorial Plaque was despatched to the next of kin on Feb. 11, 1922. The location of these medals is not known today.
Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Sanitorium, Kingston, Ontario
The Sir Oliver Mowat Memorial Hospital opened in 1912, and was used for soldiers with tuberculosis during the first World War. The control of the sanitorium was transferred to the Kingston Health Association in 1924 and sold in 1925. Source: S. Mcleod, "Kingston wasn't spared from the ravages of The King's Evil", The Kingston Whig Standard, 2010).
===============
Death (1918)
There are inconsistencies in relation to the date and year of his death. His CWGC marker has the death as October 28th, 1919. This is an error since his Province of Ontario Death Registration is for October 28th, 1918. It was registered for the County of Frontenac, Division of Kingston. Place of death was Mowat Sanitorium, Portsmouth. Cause of death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Informant: Invalided Soldiers' Commission. Duration of disease: at least two years. Also, Croft's obituary appeared in the Port Hope Evening Guide on October 29th, 1918 (Pg. 4 / Col. 2).
In addition, Croft's "Veteran's Death Card" submitted to Veterans Affairs, gave the date of death as October 25th, 1918, with a letter sent October 28, 1918. The place was Mowat Sanitorium Kingston.
Stamped over the card: "Death was related to service".
It is clear that the CWGC grave marker currently in Welcome Cemetery needs to be replaced with the correct year 1918, although it is still unclear whether the day is October 25th (death card) or 28th.
* * * * * * * *
This is a condensed version of a lengthy report I wrote for the Canadian Great War Project on the military service of Pte. Wilbert Croft. You can read the full report here.
* * * * * * * *
In loving memory of Pte. Wilbert Croft, 136th Battalion C.E.F.
Researched & written by: Marika I. Pirie (great niece)
