Sidney Edward and Thomas Charles Croft
Brothers Sidney Edward and Thomas Charles Croft
Able Seaman Sidney Edward Croft - Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.S. Black Prince
Family Background and Early Life
 |
| Sidney Edward Croft |
 |
| John Croft and Lilly Edwards marriage certificate St. Mary's Church, Swansea |
Sidney Edward Croft was born in 1895 in Swansea, and Thomas Charles Croft was born in 1897 in Swansea, they sons of John Croft and Lilly Edwards, who were married in 1890 at St Mary’s Church, Swansea.
 |
| 1901 Census |
At the time of the 1901 Census, the Croft family were living at 5 Major Street, Swansea. John Croft, aged 32 and born in London, was employed as a carter at the docks, while his wife Lilly, aged 31 and born in Cornwall, managed the household. Their children were Eveline (10), William John (8), Sidney Edward (6), Thomas Charles (2), and Ada May (9 months).
 |
| 1911 Census |
By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 11 Major Street, Swansea. John Croft, now 41, was working as a general haulier, and Lilly, also 41, remained at home. Their children at this time were William John (18), employed as a warehouseman; Sidney Edward (16), a cold roller; Thomas Charles (12); Ada (10); Stanley (4); and Ronald (2).
Tragically, John and Lilly Croft were to lose two sons
during the First World War.
Naval Service and Death
 |
| H.M.S. Black Prince |
H.M.S. Black Prince at the Battle of Jutland
H.M.S. Black Prince participated in the Battle of
Jutland as part of the British fleet, but her fate remained unclear for many
years after the action. During the night phase of the battle, Black Prince
became separated from the main British force.
German accounts later revealed that at approximately 11:35
pm, Black Prince briefly engaged the German battleship SMS Rheinland,
scoring two hits with her 6-inch guns. Shortly afterwards, she
inadvertently approached the German battle line. Although she attempted to turn
away, she was suddenly illuminated by the searchlights of the German battleship
SMS Thüringen.
Black Prince was then subjected to overwhelming fire.
In addition to Thüringen, other German battleships—including SMS Nassau,
SMS Ostfriesland, and SMS Friedrich der Grosse—joined
the engagement. Struck by at least twelve heavy-calibre shells and
numerous smaller hits, Black Prince exploded and sank within 15
minutes, with the loss of all 857 officers and men aboard. There
were no survivors.
 |
| Sidney Edward Croft Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth credit - findagrave |
Signalman Thomas Charles Croft - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Q36
Naval Service and Death
The Crofts’ second son to fall was Thomas Charles Croft,
who served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Signalman
aboard H.M.S. Q36. He lost his life on 30th March
1917.
H.M.S. Q36 was in fact the Q-ship Peveril,
a disguised decoy vessel operated by the Royal Navy to lure German submarines
into surfacing so they could be attacked. Peveril was built in 1904
by the Grangemouth & Greenock Dockyard Company, Grangemouth, and
displaced 1,459 tons.
On 30th March 1917, Peveril was
attacked by the German submarine UC-65, commanded by Otto Steinbrinck,
and was hit by shellfire. Although she was not sunk during this
engagement, the action resulted in the deaths of nine members of the
crew, including Signalman Thomas Charles Croft.
Peveril continued in service after this attack, but
her hazardous role as a Q-ship remained perilous. On 6th November
1917, while operating west of Gibraltar, she was attacked by the
German submarine U-63, commanded by Otto Schultze, and was torpedoed
and sunk, with the loss of one further crewman.
To conceal her true purpose, Peveril operated under several
different names, including SS Peveril, H.M.S. Q36,
SS Polyanthus, and SS Puma—a deliberate deception
intended to confuse enemy submarines.
Commemoration
 |
| Thomas Charles Croft Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth credit - findagrave |
Comments
Post a Comment