Private Percy Croft Manchester Regiment
The Man Percy Croft was born on Saturday 26th November 1898 in Barton Upon Irwell, Lancashire, son of William, a Laborer in an Iron Foundry and Martha Ann nee Blinston. He was one of four children, Florence (1902-1980), Gertrude (1905-1959) and another unknown sibling who died very young. He was Basptised on 1st February 1899 at Christ Church, Patricroft, Lancaster.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 7 Blears Buildings, Eccles and Percy now aged 12 still at School. At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, he was only 15 years old and too young to enlist, however when he reached 18 in November 1916, he enlisted into the Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment as a Private with service number 51321, later changed to 3703002 and transferring to the 1/5 Manchester Regiment with number 377784.
His exact movements are unknown, it is possible he lied about his age as it appears he may have fought in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme (1 Jul 1916 – 18 Nov 1916) as he seems to have qualified for the Combattants de la Somme Medal 1914-1918-1940, awarded by the French. However, the 1/5 Manchesters were in Mesopotamia at the time.
Sadly, his service records do not exist so exact details may never be known. Following the War he was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal and self-awarded the 1914-15 Star which complicates matters, considering the Somme Medal. He was released from the Army in 1923.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 7 Blears Buildings, Eccles and Percy now aged 12 still at School. At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, he was only 15 years old and too young to enlist, however when he reached 18 in November 1916, he enlisted into the Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment as a Private with service number 51321, later changed to 3703002 and transferring to the 1/5 Manchester Regiment with number 377784.
His exact movements are unknown, it is possible he lied about his age as it appears he may have fought in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme (1 Jul 1916 – 18 Nov 1916) as he seems to have qualified for the Combattants de la Somme Medal 1914-1918-1940, awarded by the French. However, the 1/5 Manchesters were in Mesopotamia at the time.
Sadly, his service records do not exist so exact details may never be known. Following the War he was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal and self-awarded the 1914-15 Star which complicates matters, considering the Somme Medal. He was released from the Army in 1923.
During the third quarter of 1924 in Barton Upon Irwell, he married Elizabeth Beck and they had one son, William George born during the second quarter of 1925. On 3rd February 1933, aged 34 Percy was employed as a Postman in Swinton, Manchester, his appointment appearing in the London Gazette of 10th July 1934.
The 1939 Register show Percy, Elizabeth and William, whose name has been redacted, living at 19 Dorning Road, Swinton and Percy listed as a Postman. During World War II he served in one of the various Civil Defence organisations and awarded the Defence Medal.
Percy’s son William married during the last quarter of 1944 and they had a son Stephen G, born in 1944.
In 1958, aged 60 Percy retired from the Post Office and was awarded his Imperial Service Medal, listed in the London Gazette of 28th October 1960. During August 1965, he applied for a replacement set of World War I medals, these being approved on 11th. It is possible it was at this time he ‘self-awarded’ the 1914-15 Star? Possibly believing he was entitled.
Following his retirement, Percy and Elizabeth moved to 1 Maes Derwen, Rhuddlan, Clwyd, Wales. Elizabeth passed away during the first quarter of 1978 and Percy, eight years later on 21st August 1986 aged 87, by which time he was living at The Poplars Nursing Home, 23 At Margarets Drive, Rhyl, Clywd.
The 1939 Register show Percy, Elizabeth and William, whose name has been redacted, living at 19 Dorning Road, Swinton and Percy listed as a Postman. During World War II he served in one of the various Civil Defence organisations and awarded the Defence Medal.
Percy’s son William married during the last quarter of 1944 and they had a son Stephen G, born in 1944.
In 1958, aged 60 Percy retired from the Post Office and was awarded his Imperial Service Medal, listed in the London Gazette of 28th October 1960. During August 1965, he applied for a replacement set of World War I medals, these being approved on 11th. It is possible it was at this time he ‘self-awarded’ the 1914-15 Star? Possibly believing he was entitled.
Following his retirement, Percy and Elizabeth moved to 1 Maes Derwen, Rhuddlan, Clwyd, Wales. Elizabeth passed away during the first quarter of 1978 and Percy, eight years later on 21st August 1986 aged 87, by which time he was living at The Poplars Nursing Home, 23 At Margarets Drive, Rhyl, Clywd.
Combattants De La Somme 1914-18-1940 Medal
The Story The medals awarded to Percy Croft and his grandson Stephen G, were acquired from E-Bay on 13th October 2023 and of initial interest because of the unusual World War I pair being engraved as ‘Duplicates’.
Having looked at the medals and considered them, the seller’s other items on e-Bay were also, thankfully checked. It was discovered that the vendor had split the family lot into four and all were being auctioned separately. Percy’s four main medals, Percys Imperial Service Medal, a World War I Somme Commemoration Medal and an Efficiency Medal named to Sergeant S G Croft.
This was the deciding factor as it would have been very wrong to allow the medals to be split and sold off separately. A rapid check on Ancestry and the usual cross referencing established that Stephen G Croft was in fact Percy’s Grandson (later confirmed in a copy of Percy’s will). Thus, a bid was placed on all four items to keep them together and they were won.
Ancestry.UK, OMRS AO’s and the London Gazette enabled a brief biography to be compiled on both Percy and Stephen. Interestingly Percy’s World War I Medal Index Card is annotated showing his medals were replaced on 11th August 1965, thus adding an interesting dimension to his WWI pair, although he is not entitled to the 1914-15 Star and wore an erased one. It has however, been retained with the group as worn by Percy.
Having looked at the medals and considered them, the seller’s other items on e-Bay were also, thankfully checked. It was discovered that the vendor had split the family lot into four and all were being auctioned separately. Percy’s four main medals, Percys Imperial Service Medal, a World War I Somme Commemoration Medal and an Efficiency Medal named to Sergeant S G Croft.
This was the deciding factor as it would have been very wrong to allow the medals to be split and sold off separately. A rapid check on Ancestry and the usual cross referencing established that Stephen G Croft was in fact Percy’s Grandson (later confirmed in a copy of Percy’s will). Thus, a bid was placed on all four items to keep them together and they were won.
Ancestry.UK, OMRS AO’s and the London Gazette enabled a brief biography to be compiled on both Percy and Stephen. Interestingly Percy’s World War I Medal Index Card is annotated showing his medals were replaced on 11th August 1965, thus adding an interesting dimension to his WWI pair, although he is not entitled to the 1914-15 Star and wore an erased one. It has however, been retained with the group as worn by Percy.
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: Erased (not entitled)
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 377784 PTE.P.CROFT. MANCH.R. DUPLICATE
- Victory Medal: 377784 PTE.P.CROFT. MANCH R. DUPLICATE
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Imperial Service Medal: PERCY CROFT
This page last updated 6 Nov 23
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