Current Information:

Age-32

5, Chesterton Road, Plaistow

Born-Wapping

Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium

The exact circumstances of the death of William Crook who was killed on 7th April, 1915, are not known but artillery men faced many dangers and during the course of the war nearly 50,000 of them were killed. Their gun batteries were targeted by the enemy’s guns which accounted for many of their casualties. Others were sent forward to act as ‘spotters’ which meant going forward to the front line and signalling back to the guns necessary changes in target and other vital information. Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Brigade Diaries rarely shine any light on casualties sustained, unless of course they were officers and even then information is sparse. 

At the start of the war 3 Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery  were  in India and part of the 3rd (Lahore) Division. They arrived back in England in November, 1914 where they joined 28th Division which went to France in December, 1914. During the early months of 1915, 28th Division were holding the line just to the south of Ypres.