Roll of Honour

We regret to say that Mr & Mrs N R Croft, tailor, of 7 St Mary's Walk, Harrogate, have now received an official intimation that their son, Private Joseph Croft, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, was killed in action on September 6th. Private Croft was reported missing shortly afterwards. He was a fine boy when at 16 years of age he answered the call of his King and country, and enlisted in the Cameron Highlanders, and was later transferred to the Gordons, and subsequently went to the Western Front, where he took part in three charges, one being on the German stronghold at High Wood, where he was wounded in the right knee, but quickly recovered, and rejoined his regiment. In October letters were received by his parents from Captain C H Graham, his company officer, and from Private James Graham, a comrade, conveying unofficial news of Private Croft's death from a gun shot wound in the head, and paying a splendid tribute to his soldierly qualities and valour. The official intimation authenticates his loss, and accompanying it is a letter from Lord Derby, Secretary of State for War, conveying the true sympathy of His Majesty and the Queen to the family in their sorrow.

Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917

Wednesday Gossip

My attention has been drawn through some work done by R Ackrill to a number of beautiful portraits in oils of well-known Harrogate young men who have made the supreme sacrifice, which have been executed by Mrs Varney, [Mr and Mrs A Varney, artists, 20 Park Parade] of the Park Parade Studios, Harrogate. The soldiers include Second Lieutenant

Leonard Dawson, Second Lieutenant C E Duncan, Private Reginald Jones, Private J Croft, &c. In each case excellent likenesses have been secured, and the work does the artist infinite credit. Mrs Varney is making a speciality of this class of work, producing a high-class picture at a moderate figure.

Harrogate Herald – 8th September 1920

In proud and tender memory of Joseph Croft, 2nd Gordon Highlanders, killed in action September 6th, 1916, son of Mr and Mrs N Croft, 31 Ripon Road.