Biography of Lieutenant John Francis Cragg 1888-1916

On 25th September 1015 Lieutenant John Francis Cragg was wounded at the Battle of Loos.

On 22nd September 1882 [his father] Captain Wilfred Alfred Cragg (age 22) and [his mother] Adelaide Alexandra Gilliat (age 18) were married in Westfield, Sussex.

On 21st June 1888 Lieutenant John Francis Cragg was born to Captain Wilfred Alfred Cragg (age 28) and Adelaide Alexandra Gilliat (age 24).

After 1916. Memorial to brothers [his brother] Lieutenant Noel Henry Cragg and Lieutenant John Francis Cragg (age 27); both killed in action. St Peters Church, Threekingham [Map].

In March 1916 Lieutenant John Francis Cragg (age 27) was wounded whilst serving in the trenches.

On 1st July 1916 Lieutenant John Francis Cragg (age 28) was killed in action at the Battle of Fricourt.

Grantham Journal 1916 Oct 22. [his father] Captain And Mrs. W. A. Cragg, of Threekingham House, have suffered another heavy blow by the death of their third son, Lieut. John Francis Cragg, of the Lincolns, and the deepest sympathy is exended to them. The following letter has been received from the Officer Commanding:- "Dear Captain Cragg, – I am very sorry to inform you that your son went into action with us on July 1st and was killed. His Company was the leading one of his Battalion to go over, and all his officers were hit. He was very keen, and I much regret his loss. Lieut. Cragg was wounded in the leg in the Battle of Loos, on September 25th, 1915, but he made a good recovery, and afterwards came home on leave. In January, he was blown out of a trench, and suffered from shell shock. Captain and Mrs. Cragg had four officer sons in the Army, and this is the second to fall, the other being Lieut. Noel Henry Cragg, killed in action at Nieuport on September 15th, 1915. This gallant young officer was mentioned in a despatch from Field Marshal Sir John Frencin for gallantry and distinguished service in the field, and Captian Cragg subsequently received a communication in which the folling passage occurred: "I beg to express to you the King's high appreciation of your son's services, and to add that his Majsty trusts their public acknowledgment may be some consolation in your bereavement."

Yorkshire Post and Intelligencer 1916 Jul 14. Lieut. John Francis Cragg, Lincolnshire Regiment, was killed on July 1. The son of Capt. W. A. Cragg, of Threekingham, Lincolnshire, he was 24 years of age. His elder brother, Capt. N. H. Cragg, R.N., had previously died of wounds received in battle.