Bertie was born on 4 February 1898 to Julia Elizabeth Moore in Saxlingham Nethergate. He was christened in Saxlingham on 5 June 1898 as Alexander Ethlebert Crawley Moore. His father was Charles Crawley a hotel clerk in London. At the time of his birth Julia was not married. Julia came from the village where her parents had run the Carrier’s Arms Public House.
It is presumed that she married Charles after Bertie’s birth.
Bertie had a sister Ivy Margaret Crawley who was born on 28 October 1900. Julia died on 24 November 1900 at 135 Great Titchfield St. London and was buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s Church, Saxlingham Nethergate on 30 November 1900. Ivy was christened in Saxlingham on 2 December 1900 and both her parents are recorded in the register.
In 1901 Bertie and his sister were living with their maternal grandparents and their uncle and aunt in Pitts Hill, Saxlingham. Both of their grandparents were aged 70 years old and his granddad was working as a woodman.
By 1911 both of his grandparents had died. Bertie was still at school and he and Ivy were living with their uncle Arthur Moore, who was aged 53 and a timber feller. Their aunt Jessie Plummer and their cousin were also at the same address.
Bertie enlisted on 5 October 1915. He is recorded as being 5 feet 11 inches tall with a 34 inch chest. His hair was dark brown and he had blue eyes. He worked before enlisting as a draper’s apprentice. He was in the Royal Army Medical Corps and his service number was 2644.
When he enlisted he gave his age as 19 years old and his next of kin as Ivy Mills (mother), of Pitts Hill, Saxlingham Nethergate. This was not true as he was only 17 years old and Ivy was 15 years old. Later in the records his mother is given as Julia and his father as Charles. He seems to have lied in order to enlist.
When he enlisted his address was given as Gordon Lodge, 1 Theatre Street, Norwich. He was discharged from the army on 25 October 1916 as being physically unfit. He was diagnosed as having a problem with the mitral valve of his heart. It was said that he had had problems since 1909 and they were not caused by his service in the army. He gave his home address as Pitts Hill, Saxlingham Nethergate.
In 1917 he married Aileen Norine Annesley who was born in Ireland on 25 December 1886. She worked as a clerk for a drapery. They were married in Tonbridge, Kent. They had three sons.
Eric A Crawley-Moore was born 13 May 1918 in Reading, Berkshire.
Stanley A Crawley- Moore was born 21 January 1920 in Henstead, Norfolk
Anthony A Crawley-Moore was born in Henstead in 1924
In 1939 the family were living at 132 Addison Gardens, Hammersmith, London. Bertie was working as a draper’s salesman.
In 1948 they lived at Holland Road, Kensington, London and in 1952 in Hereford Road, Paddington, London.
Bertie died in Dover, Kent in 1971.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriages, death index 1837-2005
British Army Medal Roll Index cards 1914-1920
1939 Register – www.findmypast.co.uk
UK Census collection
Norfolk Electoral Rolls, Absent Voters List, Saxlingham Nethergate
1918-1920
London Electoral Rolls
Norfolk, Church of England Diocesan Baptismal Records, Burial Records, Saxlingham Nethergate
British Army Service Records
If anyone has any photographs or information about this person, please contact me. Email jan@janmfox.co.uk