Selected Biography

Craske, Ernest William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 13.6.1890.  Parents: David Craske (Blacksmith) and Eliza [née Ong].  Home: Bridge Street, Long Melford (1901), 7 Lacy Road, Putney, London (1911), 4 Chancellors Road, Hammersmith, Middlesex [1917], 156 The Grove, Hammersmith [1919 and 1920], 23 Mildenhall Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (1939), South Court, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk [1985].   Occupation: Coach Builder (1911), Joiner [1917], Poultry Farmer (1939).  Married: Hilda Beak in 1917.  Service Record: Ernest enlisted on 10.9.1914 as Spr.1071 with the Royal Engineers, posted to France from 18.1.1915 seeing action at the First Battle of Ypres in 1914, the Battles of the Somme in 1916 and at Arras in 1917.  Ernest transferred on 18.6.1917 to the Royal Flying Corps, and on 1.4.1918 moved as Air Mechanic N^o. 402953 to the Royal Air Force, remaining on the Western Front until January 1919.  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 4.3.1985.[1]

[1] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Bury St Edmunds.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372] and Air Member for Personnel and predecessors: Airman’s Records [AIR 79/2980].  Recorded in the National Roll of the Great War, Section VII [London].  Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.