Thomas CRAGG

‘Westmorland Mercury and Times’ (20 February 1915)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

LOCAL WAR ITEMS

A roll of honour, containing the names of all old scholars of the Dent Church Day School is to be placed in the Schoolroom for future reference. The roll already contains the names of 23 old scholars who have joined the Forces. The list is as follows:–Robert G. Hutchinson, 1891-1895, lost in H.M.S. ‘Good Hope,’ Nov. 1st, 1914; Jas. H. Batty, 1899-1902, pupil teacher, 1902-1905, 6th Liverpool King’s Rifles; John Haygarth, 1897-1906, awarded Dent Grammar School Scholarship, 1906, 7th City of London, Dispatch Rider; Arnold Sparks, 1899-1907, awarded C.C. Teacher Scholarship, 1907, 8th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; William Dinsdale, 1903-1908, awarded C.C. Scholarship 1908, 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; George Raw, 1865-1874, Canadian Highlanders, also served in the Boer War, 1899-1902; Thomas Brunskill, 1880, also served in the Boer War; Wm. T. Burrow, Old Grammar School scholar, 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Jos. P. Burrow, 1889-1908, 2nd W.R. Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.; Chas. Burrow, 1897-1904, Royal Field Artillery; John Langstroth, 1882-1889, Royal Field Artillery; Thos. Cragg, 1884-1886, Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Leonard Mason, 1885, R.F.A.; John Hodgson, 1889-1900, R.F.A.; Wm. Bentham, 1893-1900, 3rd Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Carl Braithwaite, 1897-1907, 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Jno. B. Davidson, 1900-1905, 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Jno. Powley, 1898-1905, R.F.A.; W.H. Bowness, 1895-1901, R.F.A.; Arthur Conder, 1896-1901, R.F.A.; Parrington Dixon, 1889-1901, 16th (S) Prince of Wales’ Regt.; Edmund Gornall, 1892-1911, 16th (S) Prince of Wales’ Regt.; Ernest Parrington, 1901-1907, 6th (R) West Riding Regt.

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (22 September 1917)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

SEDBERGH – KILLED IN ACTION

PEARSON, Pte. H.H. Mrs. H.H. Pearson has been informed unofficially that her husband, Pte. H.H. Pearson, has been killed in action. Pte. T. Cragg, in a letter to Mrs. Pearson, says: “Harold was killed on the 26th August by shell fire, while we were attacking. His last words to me were of home. I have his wristlet watch and will forward it to you. I cannot write more as it is so hard to realise that we have lost him. He was my mate and as true as steel.” Pte. Pearson was in the Duke of Wellington’s and joined the army in August last year. He was employed by Messrs. John Wadeson and Son, Sedbergh. He leaves a widow and two daughters.

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (4 May 1918)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

CRAGG, Pte. T. Mrs. T. Cragg, of Sedbergh, has received intimation that her husband, Pte. T. Cragg, was killed on the 21st April. He was one of the first men to join the colours from Sedbergh.

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (1 June 1918)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

SEDBERGH

On Thursday evening there was a large congregation at Sedbergh Church, when a service was held in memory of 2nd Lieut. C.L. Chorley and Corpl. T. Cragg, recently fallen in the war. The service was taken by the vicar, the Rev. A.H. Walker. The special hymns were ‘Now the labourer’s task is o’er’ and ‘On the Resurrection morning.’ The ‘Dead March’ was played at the close of the service by the organist, Mr. A.E. Thorne.

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (21 September 1918)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

IN MEMORIAM – DENT

A special service was held in the Parish Church on Sunday evening in memory of local soldiers who have recently given their lives for their country. The six soldiers were Pte. E. Gornall (West Riding Regt.), youngest son of Mr. R. Gornall, of Helmside, who was reported missing on May 2nd, 1917, and now presumed dead. He was formerly a member of the church choir. Pte. J.M. Raw, (West Riding Regt.), son of Mr. R. Raw, of Gawthrop, who was killed in action in France on September 20th, 1917. Pte G.E. Fawcett, (West Riding Regt.), youngest son of Mr. G. Fawcett, of Cowgill, who was killed in action last month, and was previously a member of the Dent church choir. Pte. G.T. Middleton, (Australian Pioneers), youngest son of Mr. Mabel Middleton, who died in hospital. Pte. G. Mason, (A.S.C.), son of Mr. C. Mason, of Slack, who died of sunstroke in Mesopotamia, and Pte. T. Cragg, (West Riding Regt.), who was killed in action on April 18th, 1918. The service opened with the voluntary, ‘O Rest in the Lord’ Mendelssohn) and special psalms and hymns were sung. A suitable sermon was preached by the vicar.

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (19 April 1919)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

CRAGG – In loving memory of Pte. Thomas Cragg, who was killed in action April 13th, 1918.

A faithful husband, so true and kind,
No one on earth like him I’ll find;
One year has gone, and none can tell
The loss of one I loved so well.

From his loving wife and family.

Could we have clasped his dying hand,
The son and brother we loved so well;
To kiss his brow when death was nigh,
And whispered (Tom) farewell.

From his loving mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and brothers.