This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
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Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.
Gunner. Canadian Artillery. 1st Canadian Trench Mortar Battery. Service number 158560.
David Alma Craven
Early life:
David was born in Keighley and his birth was registered there in the last quarter of 1882.
His parents were Joseph Craven from Bingley and Elizabeth Craven from Rycroft.
The family were living at 114, Devonshire Street in Keighley in the 1891 census when David was a eight year old scholar. Father Joseph was 60 and a brewery yeast improver, Elizabeth was 52. Their other children were Phebe J., a 22 year old dressmaker; Mary A.E., an 18 year old (confectionery) shop woman; William H., a 15 year old brewery assistant to his father and Lilly A., an 11 year old scholar.
By 1901 the family was living at 4, Sladen Street in Keighley. Joseph and William were yeast dealers on their own account. Elizabeth was 61 years old and looking after the home. Lily A., aged 21 was now married to 21 year old Alfred B. Harper who was a designer of fancy dress stuff. They had a baby Mary A.E., who was under one month old.
David was not recorded in the 1901 census at the family home in Keighley, because he was serving abroad in the Boer War.
Boer War service:
He gave his address as 22, Sladen Street in Keighley when he joined the 3rd Battalion West Riding Regiment at Bradford, with the service number 6082. He took the oath to Queen Victoria on 27th February 1900. His medical described him as a fitter, employed by wool comb makers Hoyle & Preston of Victoria Foundry at Greengate in Keighley. He was 18 years and one month old and his physical details were: five feet 6 inches tall and 112 lbs weight with a 32 inch chest. He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair and his religion was Wesleyan Methodist.
David was embodied on 17th April and went on to serve in South Africa, earning the Queen's South Africa Medal and clasps for Belmont and Cape Colony. He was not entitled to the King's South Africa medal. On 11th June 1901 he was tried by district court martial and convicted of misconduct, resulting in a 9 month prison sentence. He was disembodied on 1st August 1901 but not discharged until 31st October 1902. His conviction did not prevent him being paid a South African war gratuity, which he received on 25th February 1902.
Return home and emigration:
David returned home to Keighley for a short while and was employed by Clapham Brothers, they were ironfounders who made castings for condensers, valves, washers and purifiers.
His father Joseph died in September 1903 aged about 71 and Elizabeth was now a widow aged about 63, although all of their children were grown up and some had already left the family home.
David emigrated to Canada via Boston, U.S.A. on 7th January 1904, leaving Liverpool on SS Cymric. He was aged 21 and single. He was accompanied by his sister Lilly aged 24 and her two children Mary Annie aged 2 and Ellen aged 1. David said he was from Keighley, gave his occupation as 'yeast importer,' and that he was able to read and write. He was in possession of £15 and they were all to be met by David's brother-in-law Alf Harper (Lilly's husband.)
Great War service:
It's possible that David was living in St Catharine's on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, when he attested for the Canadian Army.
On enlistment, David joined the 19th Regiment on 4th September 1915, service number 158560. On the 1st October he was transferred to the 81st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Medium Trench Mortar Battalion. He was single and working as a labourer. He gave his birth address as Leith, Scotland, and that his birth date was 20th September 1883 (neither of which matches our records.) He named his sister Lilly Harper as his next of kin, Her address was Post Office, Pensfield, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
David's details were: Apparent age 32; Height: 5 feet 8 inches; Chest 35 inches plus 2 inches. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair and he gave his religion as Church of England. He was declared fit for overseas service on 4th September 1915 at St. Catharines, recuriting depot in Ontario and this was signed by the Officer Commanding 81st Battalion, CEF on 1st Dec 1915.
On the 4th to 24th October 1915, he was taken on on strength of 44th Regiment Lincoln & Welland Canal Force at 81st Battery o/s Det. Barracks.
In early 1916, he was confined to barracks on three separate occasions for drunkenness.
Embarked Halifax (Canada) 1st May 1916 on SS Olympic. Disembarked at Liverpool 6th May 1916
Transferred to Reserve Brigade Canadian Field Artillery 30th May 1916.
David wrote his will on 8th June 1916, leaving everything to his sister Phoebe who had married William Bailey and was living at 5, Mount Street in Keighley. This clashed with his sister Lilly being his designated next of kin.
Drafted to France to I. Med. T.M.B. from Shorncliffe 10th June 1916
11th June 1916 to Canadian Base depot. Transferred to 1st Canadian Trench Mortars
Serving as a gunner with 1st Ammunition Column, Canadian Trench Mortar Battalion when he was admitted to Casualty Clearing Station with syphilis on 6th July 1916. Transferred to hospital in Boulogne on 8th, then to 39 General hospital at Le Havre on 10th July.
1st September 1916 Taken on strength at 'A' Canadian Base Depot.
9th September 1916 forfeited 14 days pay for drunkenness
22nd October 1916 Attached 1st Div. Train In the field
18th November 1916 Rejoined. In the field
22nd November 1916 attached 1st Div Train as brakeman. In the field.
17th November 1916 Sentenced to 28 days FP no.1 for whilst on active service: 'drunkenness.'
7th December 1916 Ceases to be attached to 1st Div. Train.
2nd October 1917 Transferred to 1st Canadian Division Trench Mortar Battalion.
27th October 1917 Proceeded on leave to England. 17th November 1917 Rejoined from leave.
14th November 1917:
Sentenced to 21 days field punishment no. 1 for 'when on active service, absent without leave from about 4:00 pm 7th November 1917 until about 4:00 pm 10th November 1917. Forfeits four days pay by R.W.
2nd February 1918: Dangerously wounded. Admitted to 7 Casualty Cearing Station, which was located at the small village of Bracquemont (South of Nouex Les Mines) between 23rd April 1917 and 23rd March 1918.
War Diary:
1st Canadian Divisional Trench Mortar Group, from 1st February to 28th February, 1918.
Volume 18 - 2. Diary Text. 14 pages.
The trenches and positions occupied mentioned in the war diary were just over two kilometres to the East of Loos and are visible on a trench map.
Trench map showing where they were near Loos.
Trench Mortar Batteries X1/c, Y1/c, Z1/c, V1/c.
1st February 1918:
Our 6 inch trench mortars fired 35 rounds on a hostile mortar and a support trench. Visibility was too poor for observation. Hostile artillery was quiet. There were scattered pineapples on our left front and a few shells from 77 mm batteries.
2nd February 1918:
Our 6 inch trench mortars fired 149 rounds engaging fire hostile mortars and inflicting damage on a trench junction and machine gun emplacement. 9.45 inch trench mortars fired 23 rounds on three hostile mortars, a support trench and mine tower behind the German lines. Enemy planes were active througout the day. Our planes crossed the lines and dropped bundles of material, some of which fell inside our lines.
Casualty report on 158560 Gunner David Alma Craven:
"Died of Wounds"
About 7 o'clock on the evening of February 2nd 1918, he was hit by a piece of a high explosive shell, which shattered his thigh. He was carried to a dressing station and immediately evacuated about 8 miles to the West, to No. 7 Casualty Clearing Station at Bracquemont, where he succumbed to his wounds two days later.
On 4th February 1918: David died of his wounds and he was buried at Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetery Extension, just a mile to the South.
Keighley News 16th February 1918, page 3:
KEIGHLEY.
Gunner D. A. Craven, Canadian Field Artillery, formerly of Keighley, has died of wounds received by the bursting of a shell. He had served in the Boer war, emigrating to Canada about two years after being demobilised, before which he was employed by Clapham Bros., ironfounders, Keighley.
Post War:
Pay assigned to Mrs. W. Bailey, 7, Lustre Street, Keighley, Yorkshire.
the sum of $15 paid in full to 28th February 1918.
David's medals and decorations went to his sister Phoebe Bayley of 7, Lustre Street, Keighley.
P & S (brother) Wm. Craven, 54, The Gables, Keighley.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
WO-96 - Militia Service Records 1806-1915, South Africa-Second Boer War
Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949, South Africa 1899-1902
Graces Guide website.
The London Gazette
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960
British & Irish Roots Collection passenger lists 1890-1957
Canadian Army service records. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2116 - 44
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library
War Diary for the 1st Canadian Divisional Trench Mortar Group, from 1st to 28th February, 1918. Volume 18 - 2.
National Library of Scotland mapping service - Great War trench maps
01 - Circumstances of death registers – Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: CRABB TO CROSSLAND Microform Sequence 24; Volume Number 31829_B016733. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 168. Page 285 of 788.
1921 census.
