William Crutcher

Story:
William Crutcher was born at Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 14th March 1888 and baptised at Sixpenny Handley on 6th May 1888, the son of William Crutcher and Mary Anne Crutcher (née Witherington).  He lived all his civilian life in and around Sixpenny Handley.  William enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was mobilized on 22nd May 1916 when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 82122). He served in France & Flanders.  He was transferred to the No. 1 (RGA) Sussex Company (Service No. 374578) and then to the 368th Forestry Company, Royal Engineers 2 Aug 1918 as a Pioneer (Service No. 327932).  He was finally discharged on 20th October 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living at Deanland, Sixpenny Handley, living with his, by then, widowed father working as a Woodman and Hurdle Maker on his own account. He married Margaret Ellen Lane at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 31st October 1921.  There are no records of children.   By the 1939 Register he was still living at Deanland, with the same occupation.  His death is recorded on 17th August 1968 and he was buried at Sixpenny Handley on 20 Aug 1968.