The research for this post has been completed by Susan Martin, volunteering for the Queen Street project.
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Victor was born on 29 May 1894 in Wolverhampton, one of the eight children of George and Lucy Craddock. His older brother Reginald (born 1888 in Wolverhampton) was also killed in 1918. The other siblings were Percy, Richard, Albert, George Henry, Matilda and Florence. George Craddock was a boot manufacturer, in partnership with his brother Stephen. They were born in Northampton which of course was a boot and shoe making centre. In 1891 the Craddocks were at 27 Victoria Street, but by 1901 had moved to Park Road, number 14. Ten years later the 1911 shows them at Lyndale Number 45 Park Road.
Victor was a Second Lieutenant in 5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He first attested on 7/12/1915 and was mobilised on 20/12/1916. He was 5ft 5ins and wore glasses to correct astigmatism. At the time he was working in Liverpool as deputy superintendent at the Board of Trade mercantile Marine Office, and living at 27 Alvestone Road, Egremont, Cheshire. He went into the 2nd Battalion Rifles OTC D Company and on his application form said he wished to be commissioned in the South Staffordshires, Royal Warwickshires or Worcestershires. On 23/5/1917 he was recommended for the 5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He died on 11 October 1918 of wounds received in action at no 141 field ambulance. He was initially buried at Magny La Fosse British Cemetery. On 26/4/1920 his father was informed he had been re-interned at Bellicourt British cemetery. Administration of Victor’s estate of £2126 2s 9d was given to his father George Craddock. George himself died at Lyndale on 31 July 1928 leaving £45965 13s 9d. Lucy died on 9/9/1931 at Stow House, Castlecroft Gardens leaving £129 8s 4d. Victor is remembered on the Queen Street Congregational Church roll of honour. He has often been confused with Victor Joseph Edward Craddock (including by myself when I started researching the men on the Queen Street Congregational Church roll of honour).
Wolverhampton's War 