Personal Profile

BSM. Cratchley, Cornelius

Battery Sergeant Major

Date of Birth: 19/7/1867, Swansea
Occupation: General Labourer
Employer: Swansea Corporation

Personal Details

WORKING NOTES

Born 19/7/1867, St Mary, Swansea. Parents - William & Martha

- Bapt 2 Oct 1867. Dads occ-Labourer

1871 - 17 Pentrequinea, Swansea. 3yo. W parents & 3 bros

1881

1887 - Married Q3, Swansea. Elizabeth Ann Challacombe

1891 - 121, Pentrechwyth Road, Swansea. 23yo. Occ-General Labourer. W wife, Elizabeth Ann & Wm (1889)

1901 - 56 Foxhole Rd, Swansea. 33yo. Occ-General Road Labourer, Swansea Corporation. W wife & 3 children

1911 - 163 Glamorgan Ter, Foxhole Rd, Swansea. 43yo. Occ-General Labourer, Borough Council. W wife, Wm Jn (1890), Sarah (1894), James Silvanus (1897), Geo Cornelius (1909)

1921 - 17 Maesteg St, St Thomas, Swansea. 53y10m. Occ-Foreman of Roads, Swansea Corporation. W wife, Elizabeth Ann, George Cornelius (1908), Doris (1912)

1928 - Died aged 61, 29 November 1928. Add-17 Maesteg St. Effects to daughter?

Mr Cornelius Cratchley (68) of 17 Maesteg-street, St Thomas, died at his home on Friday last after an illness that had dragged its insidious course over a long period. He had been a victim of the scourge of consumption. Latterly, his condition had been regarded as hopeless by his medical attendant... The late Mr Cratchley was a foreman in the Corporation Highways department, and had been in municipal employ for 42 years. He was greatly liked and respected.

- South Wales Daily Post, 5/12/28 (FMP)

Address:
Swansea

Military Service

No service records

Enl 1st Glam RGA (Vols) No 245

1892 - Sept - Artillery competition, Briton Ferry, Western Mail, Sergeant Cratchley

1906 - Feb - 1st RGVA Hop, CSM, Cambrian 2/2/1906

1907 - August - Awarded Volunteer Long Service Medal, 245, Coy Sergeant Major C Cratchley, 1st Glamorganshire RGA (Volunteers)

1908 - Transferred to 1st Welsh (How) Bde. Likely very low no, poss no 1

1908 - In orders for 1908 camp as BSM in 3rd Bty (later 1st Glam Bty)

1908 - Oct - Swansea Gunners Good-bye to their Brigade Sergeant Major. "Eulogistic speeches were also made by BSM Campbell, Gibbs and Cratchley"

1914 - Feb - Attended 1st Battery Annual Dinner, BSM Cratchley, CDL 25/2/1914

Son John Cornelius, S/2064, Rfn, 11th Rifle Brigade. Died of Wounds 6 Sep 1916, buried La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie; France

He was a well-known member of the RFA (TF) and held high non-commissioned rank, being a possessor of a long service medal. He also held two Royal Humane Society certificates, one for life-saving from drowning and the other for prompt action in the case of a man who had been rescued.

- South Wales Daily Post, 5/12/28 (FMP)

Explanation Of Abbreviations

Awards

  • 14/15 – 1914/15 Star
  • BWM – British War Medal
  • VIC – Victory Medal
  • SWB – Silver War Badge
  • TFEM – Territorial Force (1908-1921)
  • TEM – Territorial Efficiency Medal (1921-1930)
  • TFWM – Territorial Force War Medal

Gallantry

  • MID – Mention In Dispatches
  • LG – London Gazette
  • MM – Military Medal
  • DCM – Distinguished Conduct Medal

Sources

  • ROLL – Medal Roll for British War Medal and Victory Medal (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • MIC – Medal Index Cards (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • SR – Service Record (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • SR-F – Service Record (FindMyPast.co.uk)
  • SR-NA – Service Record (National Archives) – officers
  • COMM – Commission letters (National Library of Wales)
  • SWB – Silver War Badge Records (Ancestry.co.uk)
  • PENS – Pension Records (Western Front Association/Fold3)
  • CWGC – Commonwealth War Grave Commission
  • RAA – Royal Artillery Attestations 1883 -1942 (FindMyPast.co.uk)
  • NEWS – Newspapers
  • CENS – Census Records (Ancestry.co.uk & FindMyPast.co.uk)
  • BFB – Briton Ferry Boys at the Front Fund Committee Records (swansea.gov.uk)
  • FAM – Family Records
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