Died
25 April 1941
Sources
Place
Walks
Themes
William George Craddock (505535)
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer Craddock (then Sergeant) from a family tree on Ancestry – reproduced with permission from Rachel Jordan-Evans via Ancestry).
The North-Western Evening Mail 30 April 1941 carried news of the funeral:
AN ULVERSTON INTERMENT
WARRANT OFFICER W. G. CRADDOCK
The rector of Ulverston, the Rev. J. S. Rimmer, M.A. R.D., officiated at the funeral at Ulverston Cemetery on Tuesday of Warrant Officer William Geo. Craddock, whose death took place in a North-Western Hospital on Friday.
The chief mourners were: Mrs. Craddock (Wick, near Littlehampton), mother; Mr. L. Craddock (Fifeshire), Mr. J. Craddock (Portsmouth), Mr. A. Craddock (Southampton), brothers; Mrs. D. Craddock (Fifeshire) sister-in-law; Mrs. Tregellis (London), together with officers and men with which he had served.
The coffin was of polished elm and was draped with the Union Jack.
Arrangements were carried out by Messrs. W. Tyson and Son, The Gill, Ulverston.
CWGC: Son of George and Sarah Elizabeth Amy Craddock, of North End, Portsmouth.
From rafcommands.com - Circumstances of Death: Attached to No. 2 BGS. He was admitted to the Conishead Priory EMS Hospital, Ulverston, where he died the same day of a perforated gastric ulcer.
No 2 BGS was the Bombing and Gunnery School, based at Millom.
From Ancestry we learn the following:
William George Craddock was born on 25 September 1899 in the Parish of St Mark, Portsmouth. He joined the R.A.F. on 25 May 1926.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census they are living at 1 King Edward’s Terrace, North End, Portsmouth. The household contains George Craddock (28) Bricklayer, born Southampton; Sarah E. A. Craddock (23) born Portsmouth; Leonard H. Craddock (3) born Portsmouth; William G. Craddock (1) born Portsmouth; and Charles J. Craddock (23) Brother, Bricklayer’s Labourer, born Southampton.
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census the family is at 49 Newcomen Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth. Ancestry has them listed as Braddock, but the household is George Craddock (38) Bricklayer (Contractors), born Southampton; Sarah Craddock (34) born Portsmouth (they have had nine children, seven still living); Leonard Craddock (13) School and Newsboy, born Portsmouth (as were all the children); William Craddock (11) School; Evelyn Craddock (9) School; Charles Craddock (8) School; Frederick Craddock (5) School; Phoebe Craddock (2) and Archibald Craddock (2 months).
1921 Census
The 1921 Census sees him as a Visitor at 16 St Aubyn Street, Devonport, Devon. The household is Agnes Blake (60) Widowed, Home Duties, born Devonport; Albert Balsam (21) Son, Single, Clerk, Royal Army Ordnance Depot, H.M. Gunwharf, Devonport; Edward Balsam (24) Son, Single, Canteen Assistant NAAFI, HMS Lucia, born Devonport; and William Craddock (21) Single, Visitor, Canteen Assistant NAAFI, HMS Lucia, born Portsmouth.
HMS Lucia had an interesting life. Built in Hartlepool in 1907 for a German shipping line, she was captured in 1914, and converted into a submarine depot ship. She survived WW2, in spite of being damaged by Japanese dive bombers, was sold off in 1946 and finally scrapped in 1951.
1939 Register
I have been unable to find William George Craddock in the 1939 Register: I suspect serving personnel were not required to complete the survey. Nor can I be certain that he is the Flying Officer William George Craddock (later Flight Lieutenant) in the 1938/39/40 RAF list for General Duties.
