Herbert Archer Croft 1868-1915

Herbert  George Denman Croft Herbert was born 5 September 1868 to Sir Herbert George Denman Croft.  Born at Lugwardine Court, Lugwardine, Herefordshire which had been the family home since 1866 following the forced sale of Croft Castle in north Herefordshire.

Archer became Sir in 1902 when his father died. 

Herbert married twice.  First to Kathleen Hare from New Zealand.  They had 3 daughters. Dorothy, Joyce and Nancy.   He remarried in 1903 to Katharine Parr and had a son James and daughter Nellie. 

He was educated in Jersey and Westminster School. He became a Lieutenant in the KSLI but at 20 he left the army and emigrated to Australia where he engaged in extensive sheep farming. In 1896 he returned to Lugwardine Court where he devoted himself to public service.

He was active in Parish affairs.  He was the Vicar's Warden at St Peter's Lugwardine.  He was a keen cricketer and donated land at the disposal of Lugwardine cricket club.

Croft became one of the first recruits when war was declared 4 August 1914 joining on the 4 August as a Private in the 1st Battalion Herefordshire Regiment. 

Croft toured the County with Colonel Scobie encouraging men to join up visiting Kington, Leominster, Bromyard, Ledbury, Ross and Hereford. 150 men joined. 

Having had previous military experience he was promoted to Captain a position he held at his death. 

The Herefordshire Regiment were sent to Suffolk, entrenching the east coast for defence purposes. Crioft appeared to have been a popular officer. He worked hard on the welfare of the regiment supported by his wifeLady Croft.  

3 July 1915 orders were received for the 1st Battalion Herefordshire Regiment to prepare for service in the Mediterranean.  There was little doubt that they would be heading to the Dardanelles.  16 July 1915, 29 officers and 969 non-commissioned men embarked on SS Euripides at Devonport.  It was a troubled journey.  Euripides grounded on a reef at Mudros .  All on board had to transfer to SS Snaefell.  

At 07.20 on 9 August 1915 the Herefords landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. 

In the middle of July 1915, Sir Archer Croft embarked with his regiment for the Near East, landing with a British division after a circuitous course at Suvla Bay (on the Gallipoli Peninsula), and took part in the advance to the firing line when the Herefords received their baptism of fire by a most severe shelling. The Herefords were under fire from 9 August onwards, and it was during this early fighting that Sir Archer Croft was reported missing.

On Saturday 21 August 1915, the Hereford Times reported Sir Archer Croft as missing in the casualty list of the 1st Hereford Regiment: 'The news that Sir Archer is reported missing will be received throughout the county with profound regret, and the deepest sympathy with Lady Croft and the whole family is felt. The hope is universal that later news will establish beyond doubt that Sir Archer is only a prisoner of war, and so relieve the anxiety of the family. Sir Archer, who had command of B Company, was one of the most popular officers it was possible to imagine. It is no mere phrase to say that he was beloved by his men. That is a fact that the men of his company will never forget. He was always solicitous for their welfare, and took an interest in every individual man. During the greater part of the training of the Regiment in England Lady Croft was with Sir Archer, and she in a very special way watched over the comfort of the men of his company, ably seconding her husband's work in countless thoughtful ways [for example, on 19 December 1914, she appealed in the Hereford Times for the 1st Herefordshire Regiment Christmas Fund, which enabled the men of the regiment to have 'a good dinner on Christmas day', adding a little to their comfort while digging trenches for defence purposes on the East Coast]... On all sides, the hope is expressed that Sir Archer is safe and that if he is a prisoner of war in the hands of the Turks-as seems highly probable-the enemy will treat him and his fellow captives with more humanity than the Germans would do in similar circumstances. We call to mind at this time of anxiety, which is shared by all who value Sir Archer Croft's fine character, that he was the first prominent public man in Herefordshire to join the Forces when war broke out. He gave up all his public and private work at the call of King and country, joined the Herefordshire Regiment as a private, received his commission in due course, and accompanied the Battalion through all the stages of its long training before leaving England last month. Nothing could divert his whole thought and attention from his duties as a soldier. The thoroughness that marked everything he took in hand before the war was also characteristic of his work as an officer, and we may be quite sure that his splendid devotion to duty was equally apparent when he and his gallant company were called upon to face the enemy in the fighting line. The universal hope is expressed that later news will prove that Sir Archer Croft is safe and sound.'

Rev A Lee at Lugwardine church gives a powerful talk to the congregation about Croft’s death

'SYMPATHETIC REFERENCES BY VICAR OF LUGWARDINE. A WELL SPENT LIFE. Among the congregation which gathered at Lugwardine Parish Church on Sunday there was an atmosphere of gloom as if something painfully unusual had happened. It was too palpable to escape attention, and its meaning was unmistakable. The feeling which pervaded the church was a silent but eloquent tribute to the goodness of heart and sterling worth of Captain Sir Archer Croft, whose happy personality will be seen in Herefordshire no more. The loss of Sir Archer Croft was all the more closely brought home to the congregation because the baronet, as the vicar's warden, was most regular in his attendance at public worship, and always solicitous of the welfare and comfort of the parishioners. It was therefore only natural on the part of the Vicar, the Rev. A. C. Lee R.D., that he should make some allusion to Sir Archer's life and work. This he did with evident sympathy. There was no striving after fine rhetoric or effect. The references were simple and direct, uttered straight from the heart, and with a conviction on the part of his hearers that they were the fruit of friendship and understanding. As the Vicar passed from point to point one could not help the reflection that few men could have lived up to their family motto more than did Sir Archer Croft. "Esse quam videri" (to be rather than to seem) was in an especial degree applicable to Sir Archer Croft. The impressiveness of the service was added to at the close by the reading of the village Roll of Honour of the men at or near the front. But the most striking part was when the Vicar read the names of those from the parish who had been wounded or had made the great sacrifice; and in noting this it should be mentioned that the Vicar, in his address, first paid a sincere tribute to a former chorister who is now, like Sir Archer Croft, lying in a soldier's grave. This was Archie Brookes, of the Warwickshire Regiment, whose brother in the Herefords is wounded and in hospital. The Rev. A. C. Lee based his discourse on the words from II. Corinthians, xii., 9-"My grace is sufficient for thee." The hymns were evidently specially chosen, and included "O let him whose sorry," "Oh, what the joy and the glory must be," and "Jesus lives."

SPIRIT AND CHARACTER. In his opening remarks the Vicar recalled the trials through which St. Paul passed, as related in the second lesson of the day: perils by land and by sea, and sufferings of the mind. Of the thorn in the flesh of which the apostle spoke they need not, he said, particularly enquire. It was, no doubt, an affection of the eyes, because he said elsewhere: "If ye had power to pluck out your eyes, ye would give them to me." There was, the Vicar continued, an idea abroad that if they asked anything in prayer it should be granted in their own particular way; as, for instance, immediate success to our arms at the present time, and protection of soul and body, especially the body. Everything must go straight; there must be no hesitation. But here in St. Paul's case they had a striking example that God's ways were not their ways. To the ordinary mind it might surely seem a small thing for St. Paul to pray that he might be inconvenienced no longer by his affliction, so unflagging was he in his labours for the cause of his Lord and Master. But what was the reply? His request was not granted; the answer was, "My grace is sufficient for thee." But did the prayer do nothing for St. Paul? Was it unanswered because he could not have his way? No, the prayer did a great deal for him: he was the gainer in spirit. In spirit, they might say; was not that worth having? It was the spirit that made a man and differentiated between a man of mark and the average man. And they found this, that St. Paul did not complain; he was content to bear the thorn in the flesh, even pleased to have it so, assured that God's grace would be with him. And if they asked for proof of his gain, it lay in the fact that there was no greater work accomplished in Christendom than that of St. Paul. So in all their trouble and anxieties, national and personal, in all their losses, when some who did not know much about prayer told them that their prayers had been in vain, and when they mourned the loss of those whom they could ill spare, then might the same grace of God suffice for their loss and animate their spirits as it animated St. Paul. Might they all endure to the end and not fail, ever experiencing the sufficiency of God's grace.

FEAR COME TO A CERTAINTY. Our one thought and fear for the last two weeks, said the vicar, has now come to a certainty. And we trust that those words which I have just quoted -"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day"-we trust that these words are very true of our departed friend and neighbour, for the last 12 years up to this Easter the vicar's warden. Born at the Court 47 years ago, save for some ten to fifteen years he had been resident among us practically the whole of the remaining period; always ready to do what he could for others, kindly, courteous, and sympathetic. I never heard from his lips an unkind word, or an angry word. He would be grieved and vexed about evil reports of this and that; he would remonstrate in his kindly but manly way, and it is not everybody who remonstrates. He took a hopeful view of life, and a real interest in people. A faithful Churchman, there were few Sunday mornings when there was a celebration of the Holy Communion at eight o'clock , and when he was at home, but that he would be here, and this was increasingly the case as years went on. And he said good-bye to me on the 11th of July (a Sunday) at the vestry door, just after a celebration; it was a quiet service that he loved so much.

WHAT MORE COULD MAN DO? When war broke out what more could a man in his position do than he did? The representative of the oldest family in the county-from the 14th century till this century, all the days this church has been standing, some member of the family had represented the county in Parliament-directly war broke out, enlisted as an ordinary private. Afterwards offered a commission, he did all that in him lay to learn his duty; and with such manifest success and ability that his Colonel represented to him what a loss his withdrawal would be from the regiment which he had helped to raise, His Colonel persuaded him to refuse a post on the staff at home that had been offered him; and so he went in due course to the Dardanelles, and lay down his life for King and country; and for many generations to come his death will be spoken of as a glorious end.

A KIND AND GRACIOUIS SPIRIT. Now, I am thinking not so much of his family as of our plain selves. It will be many long years before we see again such a kind friend and neighbour. If only we in this parish suffered by his loss, it would not matter so much; but it is the county through that is the loser. God rest his soul, and give unto us grace to bear through him to be more kindly in our judgments of others; freer from angry tempers and from hastiness, and from provoking speech, as he would be. May we resolve to be more concerned for the sick and ailing, for the needy and distressed, and love our church as he did. We feel our loss; we prayed with him, and the same answer has come back to us as came to St. Paul-the request of our lips has been answered with "My grace is sufficient for thee." I beg each one of you by the grace of God to go forth and do better work for God and His Church than you hitherto have done. The memory of Herbert Archer Croft help us here.'

Additional Croft-related information

Recruitment meeting at Lugwardine: 

On Monday 31 August 1914, a 'very successful' meeting was held at Lugwardine Schools with a view to stimulating recruiting in the district. The Rev A C Lee presided. Those present included: Lady Croft (Sir Archer's wife), Ana Lady Croft (Sir Archer's mother), Miss Nellie Croft, Miss Joyce Croft and Miss Nancy Croft (three of Sir Archer's four daughters), Colonel Scobie, Mrs Scobie and their daughter, Miss Scobie, the Rev Canon and Mrs Rashdall, Miss Lee (from the Vicarage), Mr F Moore (Hagley), Mr H P Hamilton, Mr and Mrs C W O'Connor (The Rocklands), Miss Cresswell (Middle Court), Mr F W Barling (Bartestree Court), Mr A W Gadestan (Wilcroft), Mr Colbatch (Goodrest), Mr and Mrs H Phillips (Rock Farm), Miss West, Mr J Badham (Hagley) and Mr W H Godwin.

The following is a report on the meeting by the Hereford Times: 'AFTER THE FIGHT. The CHAIRMAN appealed for recruits, and after referring to the splendid way in which our troops had fought, he referred in grave tones to the strength of our Army. "When the fighting is done," he said, "and the bone is thrown to the dogs of war, what chance shall we have if we have not got a strong army behind us? Do you realise this, that we have only got one soldier in the field to ten Frenchman, and only one to thirteen Russians? No doubt you say it is our Navy that does it. Our Navy is strong, I agree, but it is not in the proportion to our allies' superiority in the field. We have 580 ships, France has 339, and Russia has 167. Young men should not think it will be a waste of time if they join the Army. When the war is over we shall want a strong army to enforce a settlement and proper conditions of peace" (applause). 

HEREFORDSHIRE'S DUTY. Colonel SCOBIE then delivered a stirring appeal for men. England had never had such a trying time as she was going through now, he said, for there had never been such a fight as that which was raging on the Continent at the present time. The Crimea, the South Africa War, and even Waterloo were as nothing compared with it. If England was to be kept as England they had to win, and they could not win unless the people of the country realised the true position and acted with a patriotic spirit. They were in the hands of Lord Kitchener so far as the Army was concerned, and he was the right man in the right place (hear, hear). He had asked for 500,000 men, the first 100,000 of which had already been obtained, and the second 100,000 of which were coming in rapidly. Those men were absolutely untrained, and represented the best of the manhood of the country, whose ages ranged from 19 to 35. They would not go to the front until they had been properly trained, for Lord Kitchener was not a man to send them to be murdered. He had got other men whose business it was to fight first. The British Army was trained as no other army was trained, and they saw the result in the way they had fought against the tremendous odds of three to one.

500,000 MEN. Lord Kitchener's Army would be built up from time to time until there were 500,000 men who would be trained in musketry as men had never been trained before. But how was the fighting strength to be kept up whilst those men were being trained? At the back of the Regular forces they had the Territorials, and the ranks of the Territorial Army, which a few weeks ago was 40,000 or 50,000 below strength, were now filled up. There were in England 310,000 Territorials, and when thinking of that force their minds naturally turned to the Herefordshire Regiment (hear, hear). And they could not forget the example that came from Lugwardine. Sir Archer Croft did not wait for a commission, but went straight into the ranks as a private, and anyone could have seen him walking about the streets in the uniform of a "Tommy" (applause). But that was not for long, and now they were all proud that he had got his commission and was in a certain place with the regiment. "I nearly let out where the regiment is," Colonel Scobie continued and there was a general laugh. "You all think they are at Oswestry, don't you?" he asked with a smile, "but they are not." This was a bit of news for most of those present, for they did not know that the regiment had been moved.

THE HEREFORDSHIRE REGIMENT. Eighty-two per cent. of the Herefordshire Regiment, the speaker continued, had volunteered for foreign service, which did not necessarily mean that they would go to the front. They might be sent to Malta, Gibraltar, Egypt, South Africa, or even India. That 82 per cent. had to be recruited up to 100 per cent, and the men of the county were responding very well. As soon as that was completed, attention would be paid to the 18 per cent. of the regiment who had signed on for home service. The number would have to be recruited to 100 per cent., and he had no doubt that they would get 800 or 1,000 men in the county in a short time. The effect of all that would be that instead of having 308,000 Territorials, they would have 616,000, half on foreign service and the remainder at home. The men for Lord Kitchener's army were all for foreign service and for strenuous training. They would all have to make sacrifices at this time. He had heard that some ladies were against their boys joining, but that was only because they did not realise the position. The men's dependants would be well looked after, and Lady Croft, who took an active part in the relief work after the South African War, knew how well the work was done. Canon RASHDALL followed with a speech which is reported in another column, and then Mr. BARLING proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers. He appealed to all young men to join the Army, and said he was proud that he had a son and daughter who were doing their duty. Mr. GADESTAN seconded, and the meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem.'

Belgian refugees: 

On 24 August 1914, Captain Clive MP (South Herefordshire) asked Mayor of Hereford, G B Greenland: ‘Could you arrange to have and feed one hundred, or at any rate, fifty Belgian civilians, refugees, for at least a week?’ The Mayor agreed and Hereford became the first city to offer hospitality to Belgian refugees who had suffered immensely from the distress and privation caused by the German invasion. On 10 September, a small party of distinguished Belgians arrived. On 23 September, 30 Belgian peasants arrived at Barr’s Court Station. Three days later, 25 largely males came to Hereford, and on 30 September, a mixed party of 28 arrived in the city from Belgium. Groups of Belgian refugees were received regularly in the county until Christmas. Herefordians were generous. Belgians were housed voluntarily across the county. Lady Croft (Sir Archer's wife) housed Mrs Agust Pelomakers and her two children, and Lucie De Kremer (Aerschodt) at Lugwardine Court. A relief fund to assist Belgian refugees reached a total of £950 during the war. Collections for the fund were taken at Lugwardine Parish Church events (such as Organ Recitals). Lugwardine women gifted clothing to the refugees. On 30 December 1914, Mayoress Greenland (later awarded the Medaille de la Reine Elisabeth for her work in aid of the Belgian refugees) held a Christmas party for Belgians in Herefordshire. The Dowager Lady Croft (Sir Archer's mother) contributed to a fund for the party. 350 attended the Shirehall, described as ‘fairy land with its magnificent Christmas tree, loaded with gifts and sparkling with electric lights.’ A Belgian priest said at the party: ‘You have made us so welcome, and treated us with such consideration that we have almost forgotten that we are exiled in a foreign country.’ A letter to the London Depot of Belgian Refugees stated: ‘We consider Hereford a paradise.  English hospitality has been a veritable revelation to us.’  All Belgian refugees left Herefordshire by March 1919.