Selected Biography

Crouch, Walter – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1889.  Parents: Robert Martin Steed Crouch (Cordwainer) and Ann Crouch [née Clover] (widow of Walter Oliver Roe Steed Crouch [d1874].  Home: Rotten Row, Long Melford [1889] to (1911).  Occupation: Carpenter (1911), Wheelwright and Blacksmith’s Striker for John Palmer of Hall Street [1916].  Service Record: At a Melford Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 Crouch’s employer, John Palmer applied for the exemption for two of his men, one of whom was Walter Crouch who was currently employed as blacksmith’s striker.  Palmer had lost two men already and was under contract to produce two hundredweight of horseshoes a week for the Army and do repairs on twelve farms in the district.  Walter Crouch was given conditional exemption.  As his exemption appears to be based on Palmer retaining the Army contract, it is not known if Crouch’s certificate remained valid until the end of hostilities, however no definitive military record has been found which might suggest otherwise.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk 1931.[1]

Note – [1] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 22.3.1916.