Arthur Crooks

Private 29952. 3rd Battalion. Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment.

Born 1892.

Son of George and Alice.

Brother of Albert, Willie, Fred, Norman, John, Harold and Ernest.

Address: 25 Clay Well, Golcar.

Enlisted on 2nd December 1916.

Died 23rd December 1917. Aged 25.

Buried at Golcar Baptist Chapelyard. SE, N,16.

Arthur was awaiting discharge from the army, being unfit for active service. On Saturday night a roll call was made and he was found to be missing. His body was found on Sunday morning on the rocks on the shore at Tynemouth. He had previously been under treatment at the hospital.

A Coroner's report stated that Arthur died as a result of falling off a cliff whilst attempting to commit suicide by cutting his throat, while being of unsound mind. Doctor Wilkinson said that Arthur had cut his throat from ear to ear with a safety razor, but the cut was not deep enough to cause death. The fall over the cliffs on to the sands had caused the fatal injury.

His name appears on the Roll of Honour in Golcar Baptist Chapel and St. John's Church, Golcar.