Croskery, John

Petty Officer Stoker

No. K/10685, HMS Arbutus, Royal Navy

Killed in action on Saturday 15 December 1917 (aged 24)

Lost at sea; no known grave

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, England (Panel 26)

BIOGRAPHY

In some records his surname is spelt Croskerry and in others Crosgery.

John Croskery was born on 28 January 1892 in Portaferry and he was a son of William and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Croskery (nee Beattie, sometimes Beatty) who were married on 27 May 1883 in Portaferry Roman Catholic Church.  William Croskery from Portaferry was a son of William Croskery, a labourer.  Lizzie Beattie from Portaferry was a daughter of Thomas Beattie, a tradesman.

The Croskery family lived in Liberty Street and Church Street, Portaferry.

William Croskery worked as a general labourer and he and Elizabeth had at least eight children:

William (born 10 June 1884 in Portaferry)

Thomas (born 28 July 1886 in Portaferry)

Ellen Jane (Nellie, born 9 May 1889 in Portaferry)

John (born 28 January 1892 in Portaferry)

Hugh (born 1 June 1895 in Portaferry)

Sarah (Sally, born 15 December 1897 in Portaferry)

Elizabeth (born 10 June 1901 in Portaferry)

Joseph (born 8 October 1902 in Portaferry)

All of the children were baptised in Portaferry Roman Catholic Church.

John Croskery joined the Royal Navy and he served aboard HMS Arbutus.  Built in 1917 this special service vessel was torpedoed by the German submarine UB-65 during very rough weather on 15 December 1917 in St George’s Channel and nine men, including the Captain, perished.  It was reported that, if the weather had not been so bad, the ship might have been saved.

Petty Officer Stoker John Croskery (No. K/10685) was 24 when he died, and he has no known grave.  He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial in Hampshire, England