George henry Chesswas Crooke-Rogers

[Perth Digger]

I am trying to confirm whether the above pilot went to France with 70 Squadron on 21 May 1916, as information in airhistory.com claims. In his file, AIR 76/434/86, however, it is claimed that he was posted to 32 Squadron on 8 May 1916 and there is no mention of his being in 70 Squadron. Both squadrons first went to France in May 1916 (or, at least, A Flight of 70 Sqn did so).

Whichever squadron he was with, it doesn't appear that he was with them for very long.

Any suggestions where further to look and/or information gratefully received.

Thanks

Mike

[Tawhiri]

I'm wondering if he was actually a pilot, because the April 1918 RAF muster roll has him serving in the Technical Branch:

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/crooke-rogers-g.h.c

He was commissioned on 15 August 1915 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment after having been a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29258/page/7904

Then seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 18 April 1916, when then seems to be a very short period of time in which to be posted to an operational squadron the following month if he was a pilot:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29575/supplement/4646

Promoted to be a temporary Lieutenant on 1 November 1916:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29867/supplement/12312

Promotion to the rank of Lieutenant backdated to 28 December 1916:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30299/supplement/9828

Reclassified from a Flying Officer to Equipment Officer, 3rd Class on 25 September 1917:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30339/supplement/10682

Then to Equipment Officer, 2nd Class on 1 November 1917:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30426/supplement/13051

Resigns his commission in the Worcestershire Regiment on 28 June 1919:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31423/page/8172

Looks like he died on 24 August 1948, at an address in Sussex:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38400/page/4933/

No trace of him on the Casualty forms website though, which is a bit of a mystery.

 

Edited 22 May , 2022 by Tawhiri

[topgun1918]

He received Royal Aero Club Certificate number 2358 on 26 January 1916.

Graeme

 

[Perth Digger]

Thank you both. It's always especially irritating when someone with such an unusual name remains hidden.

Mike

[Airshipped]

I wonder if he was recorded in other documents under his birth name of Crooke?

He was born in 1897 to George Frederick Crooke and Lizzie Jane. However, his father died in 1899. 

His mother remarried in 1908 to an Ulsterman, Mayne Reid Rogers.

I suspect the 'Crooke-Rogers' he used was not adopted via any formal change of name by deed poll, though in the 1911 Census he's recorded under that name at King's Norton.

Interestingly his step-father's family bequeath their monies to charities rather than observing the 'charity begins at home' principle in respect of family, e.g. in 1925 Mayne Reid Rogers helps disburse a Belfast relative's wealth.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Belfast/issue/210/page/212 

In 1931 Mayne Reid Rogers appears to donate his estate to various Ulster charitable causes rather than to Lizzie Jane or George Henry.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Belfast/issue/515/page/415 

In that regard it's possible that George Henry was alienated from the stepdad and perhaps reverted to 'Crooke' from 'Crooke-Rogers' at some stage?

[Perth Digger]

Yes, I had tried that, but no good. He died as Crooke-Rogers too. Thanks for the information on his step-father, which I hadn't seen.

Mike