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31/12/1897 - 13/10/1918

Place of birth: Bromley, Kent
Last known address in Bromley: 25 Waldo Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Battalion/Ship: HMS Caesar Royal Marine Band
Rank: Musician
Number: RMB/2136

Family information

Parents: James William & Mary Ann Crafter (nee Relf)
Parents' occupation: General labourer
Siblings: Annie Elizabeth (d), Grace Kezia, Susan Emma, Ellen Florence, Rose Gertrude, Mary Sophia, William Henry, Zebulon David, Elsie May, Ada Bessie, Evelyn Esther
Relatives on War Memorial: CRAFTER, W.H., MOCKRIDGE, R.E., RELF, Z.

Census information

1901
Address: 25 Waldo Road
1911
Address: 25 Waldo Road

Extra details

The Crafter family lost their three sons during the war. Zebulon was only 14 when he fell down a hatch aboard HMS Warspite at Greenhithe on 21st October 1914, he died before reaching hospital. He is not recorded on CWGC or the Bromley memorial.
Daughter Grace lost her husband Robert Edward Mockridge. Mary Ann's nephew Zebulon Relf also died.

Francis was the 8th of James William and Mary Ann Crafter's 12 children. He was baptised on 6th March 1898 at St Luke's Church. He attended Raglan Road School and Bickley & Widmore Schools. On leaving school he entered the Royal Navy on 24th July 1913 and was aboard HMS Warspite with Zebulon when he died. He was then sent to the West Indies. After winning a prize for bugle playing he was advised to take up an instrument in the Royal Marine Band. He chose the euphonium.

He died in the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta from pneumonia following a bout of influenza.