Goole Territorials: Captain Edmund Ralph Creyke of Rawcliffe Hall

Goole History > Goole People & Families > Captain Creyke

 

From the Goole Times, 14th July 1916:

 

CAPTAIN CREYKE KILLED

We regret to announce that Captain Edmund Ralph Creyke, of Rawcliffe Hall, has been killed in action in France. Captain Creyke was the second son of the late Mr Ralph Creyke, D.L., J.P., and of Mrs Creyke, of Rawcliffe Hall. He was born in October 1886 and was thus in his 30th year.

He was educated at Rottingdean and took his degree at Cambridge University. He also spent two years at Cirencester Agricultural College, it being his intention to take up agriculture as an occupation.

He took a commission in the Territorial Force in 1909 and served with the 5th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, being attached to the Goole Company, of which he had command for some time prior to the war. He was exceedingly popular with the men and their attachment to him was strengthened by the closer association which followed mobilisation when the war broke out. After training at various centres in England, Lieut. Creyke (as he then was) went out with the battalion to France in April 1915, and with the exception of a short leave, had been at the Front for 15 months.

He was given the rank of captain last year. His leadership of his men was all that could be desired, and extracts from their letters which we have seen showed that they almost idolised him. The battalion was often under fire at different points on the British front and for his gallantry in action, Capt. Creyke was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's last despatches issued about three weeks ago. His loss will be keenly felt and much lamented by all the officers and men in the battalion, and by none more than the Goole Territorials.

Capt. Creyke lived all his life at Rawcliffe with the exception of time spent at college and travelling abroad. He was greatly interested in art and music. He spent several winters in Switzerland for the benefit of his health, which was at one time only indifferent, but he had completely recovered and kept very fit while in France. He had also travelled largely in Italy and France at different times.

He was a keen sportsman and usually spent a portion of each summer at Rhuban Lodge, Mallaig, Inverness, a small sporting estate leased by Mrs Creyke for salmon fishing. Every winter, when the Rawcliffe covers were shot, he assisted to no small degree to make up the bag. On these and other occasions he could be seen chatting freely with the tenant farmers of the estate, some of whom invariably took part in the shooting as invited guests.

As one of the privileges of the Creykes' estates, the tenants also had their own special day's shooting, and Capt. Creyke was generally present. In the village of Rawcliffe he was well-known and much respected, and all who came into contact with him were charmed by his geniality.

Capt. Creyke's elder brother, Capt. Ralph Creyke, J.P., is an officer in the Scots Guards, and Commandant of the Grenade School attached to the London District. He was some nine months in France on the Headquarters Staff.

With Mrs Creyke and the family, sincere and deep sympathy is expressed in their bereavement.

The Rawcliffe tenant farmers are to attend service at Rawcliffe on Sunday next, when special reference will be made to the losses sustained in the village by the war.