Highland Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Ernest Francis Crooks was born 1894 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 10 children of whom only 8 survived, 7 sons and 3 daughters. His father John Thomas Crooks born 1855 and mother Sarah Wade 1857 both natives of Felling, they were married there in 1877. John Thomas was employed as a joiner, in 1891 they were living at Heworth Lane, later moving to Havelock Street, Heworth. When Ernest was only 12 years old in 1906 his father aged 52 years died. His mother moved to 9 Elmfield Terrace, Pelaw, living with her was her widowed son John Thomas Jnr (29) a signal man with the N.E. Railways, Joseph (27) a ship builder’s carpenter, Edward (24) a plumber, Ernest (17) and Robert (15) both employed at the colliery as putters and William (10) a scholar.
Ernest Francis Crooks married, May 9th 1914 at Heworth, district of Gateshead, Susannah Slaser also of Heworth born 1888. He enlisted at Felling December 9th 1914, declaring he was a coal miner living at Hill Street, Hebburn Colliery. Whilst he was held in reserve, his wife gave birth to their son Ernest Francis Jnr born February 1st 1915.
March 21st 1918 after a shattering bombardment of gas, high explosives and shrapnel shells, the German Army attacked on the Somme front. The 2nd Battalion DLI was the only DLI battalion in the front line that day and within 36 hours, it had been overwhelmed with only 60 men escaping death, wounding, or capture. The battalion had to be rebuilt, May 1st 1918 Ernest Francis was re-examined and assigned as Private 95331 to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a regular Army unit, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and drafted to join his regiment June 1918. Rebuilt the 2 DLI was again involved in hard fighting in September and October 1918, as the German Army was finally forced back by the Allied armies. On 11 November, when the Armistice ending the First World War came into effect, the battalion was resting at Busigny.
Private 95331 Ernest Francis Crooks was killed in action 3 weeks prior to the Armistice, October 20th 1918 and buried by his comrades on the battlefield in the surrounding area of La Cateau. After Armistice, his body along with that of 9 others was exhumed by the 117th Labour Corp, map ref. 57. R15. a. 3. 9, his identity confirmed by a wooden cross placed on his grave and his clothing. Brought into Highland Cemetery, La Cateau, Nord, France, he was reburied with all honour and reverence, grave VIII. B. 8. At the time of his demise he was 24 years old.
His widow Susannah received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their son along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Susannah remarried in the district of South Shields in 1920 to Robert William (Willie) Holmes born 29th March 1899 at Hebburn, he died aged 81 years at Birtley, County Durham in 1980.
Ernest Francis Jnr married in 1936 to Winifred Reay born April 15th 1916 at Gateshead, she gave birth to a daughter June in 1937. Winifred Crooks nee Reay died aged 61 years, October 4th 1977, Ernest Francis Crooks Jnr aged 80 years, January 16th 1996, their daughter June Rodgers nee Crooks in 2008, aged 71 years, all registered in the district of Gateshead. Details as regards the demise of Susannah Holmes-Crooks nee Slaser unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Ernest Francis Crooks is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
