Is this the same person?

[Oakum Picker]

The 2 signatures are 8 years apart. All opinions welcome.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/w...ILLIAM%201.jpg

http://s730.photobucket.com/user/Kie...M%202.jpg.html

[kiterunner]

There are quite a few differences, like the W, the k, the m, the "re", so I don't think so. But a signature could change quite a bit over 8 years I suppose.

[Oakum Picker]

Thanks Kate, I wonder if you can find 2 William CRICKMOREs serving in the Devonshire Regiment during the Boer War, one being born in Sheffield.

I know I'm probably trying to make pieces fit that don't but there's something strange going on here.

[kiterunner]

I haven't found any Devonshire Regiment ones yet. William Crickmore joined the Suffolk Regiment medical staff corps 8 Aug 1890, age 18, born Ipswich, no 8847, next of kin mother Susan Crickmore of Ipswich. So he must be the same William Crickmore who died 4 Apr 1915, age 44, a Private in the Suffolk Regiment, no 3/7500, son of William and Susan Crickmore of Ipswich, and his info does say born Sheffield but I think this must be a mistake. Sheffield is mentioned in his records, but not as his birthplace, as far as I have read so far.

[Oakum Picker]

Thanks for looking Kate. That William is my great uncle. He is one of 5 brothers who all attested at 18. William was in the Medical Staff Corps, The Devonshires & The Suffolks but only the records of the first have survived.

On his brother Henry's papers he lists William of the Devonshires as one of his next of kin. I found medal rolls for the Devonshires in India & South Africa & William CRICKMORE 4093 seemed to fit. In 1900 his mother Susan states she has 5 sons at the front.

As CRICKMORE isn't exactly a common name I felt I'd found my man until today on Fold3 I came across details of 4093 born in Sheffield. Obviously I thought I had it wrong but as I investigated further I wasn't so sure. The reason I'd never found this record before was that he attested as William BROWN but admitted to being William CRICKMORE whilst in India.

Now William was never an upright citizen & was discharged after 3 years in the MSC for misconduct in Sheffield in May 1893. In October he was back in Ipswich in trouble with the law. It seems to me rather in character for him to join up again under an alias & for him to say he was born in the place where he was discharged.

Alright a lot of things don't fit he only ages a year in four & some of the physical description doesn't match but it depends on your definition of sallow. Interestingly they both have an anchor on their right arms. Also if you are lying about your name, other lies probably come easily.

4093 says his NoK is brother George in London. I haven't been able to find that George or William himself anywhere. My William does of course have a brother George. Admittedly staying the full course with the Devons would be a bit out of character for my William.

I welcome any thoughts. Thanks.

[kiterunner]

There is a George Crickmore age 10, born Ipswich, in the District Boys' Home in St Pancras, London, in 1891:
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/65...nSearchResults

This could be him in 1911, back in Ipswich, a dock labourer, single, age 32:
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/23...nSearchResults

"UK Soldiers Died in the Great War" has Private George Crickmore of the Suffolk Regiment, no 3/9237, born Ipswich, died 14 Jan 1915 at "Home" (i.e. in the UK) and on FreeBMD, George Crickmore's death was registered Jan-Mar 1915 London City, age 34. Presumably he is the George Crickmore buried 19 Jan 1915 at Kensington and Chelsea - various records available on Deceased Online.

[Oakum Picker]

Thanks again Kate for looking.

Yes those details all refer to my great uncle George, brother of my William but are they the same people as William 4093 & his brother George?

I can't find a William born in Sheffield nor a George living in Lambeth & only one William in the Devons!!

I'm still feeling that the 2 signatures I posted at the beginning do belong to the same man.

[kiterunner]

It does sound as though they must be the same person, although there are differences between the two signatures.