John Crofts

Story:
John Crofts was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th January 1898 and baptised at St. James' Church on 23rd January 1898, the son of George Arthur Crofts and Lavinia Crofts (née Parsons).  Apart from Military Service, John spent the whole of his life in the St. James area of Shaftesbury.   He enlisted on 22nd May 1916 and joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 2368).   He served some of his time in France and Flanders and on discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  By the time of the 1921 Census he was living with his widowed father (his mother having died in on 19 Jul 1919) in a cottage near the Manor House, St. James Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Groom.  He married Ellen Jane Rose at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd January 1932.  They went on to have two children.  The 1939 Register indicates that he had moved to 12 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset, employed as a Builder's Labourer.  His death was registered in 1966 at the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 17 Sep 1966.