CROZIER, Walter Henry

Walter and William Crozier*

Sergeant, 5th Royal Irish Rifles.

Interred in Bangor Cemetery.

Walter Henry Crozier was born on the 15 October 1881 in Carrickblacker, Co Armagh.

He was the son of William James Crozier, a coachman, and his wife Henrietta Crozier (nee Neill) and the third of their six children.

The family moved to Bangor in the late 1890s after the birth of the youngest child Elizabeth (known as May) who was born 1895 and where living in 72 Castle Street at the time of the 1901 census. Walter at this time is recorded as being a coach carpenter.

In 1902 Walter, now living in Bellevue Street, Belfast, married Annie Nelson in St Anne's Parish Church, Belfast.

They moved back to the Bangor area and it was here they had six children – William James (1903, Bangor); Hugh Nelson (1905, Groomsport); Walter Henry (1907, Groomsport); Archibald (1909, Bangor); Frederick (1912, Bangor. Walter now working as a Van Man); and Samuel, (1914, Bangor.)

Their second child, Hugh, died at only 8 months old.

When war broke out Walter and his brother William enlisted. Walter quickly progressed and was recorded as Pioneer Sergeant with the 5th Royal Irish Rifles stationed at Victoria Barracks, Belfast when their son Samuel was born.

Sadly Walter's wife Annie died on 11 December 1914 in Newtownards Workhouse. The cause of death was recorded as "general debility following childbirth – 1 month – pleurisy and cardiac failure 1 day certified." It has been stated that Samuel was later adopted.

While family lore said Walter stayed on Home Service training troops at Clandeboye, the Medal Roll for the Victory Medal shows that while Walter did spend most of his service with the 5th Reserve Battalion he may have enlisted with the 7th Reserve in Belfast before transferring to the 5th and also did brief stints with other battalions overseas.

Entry for Walter on the Roll for the Victory Medal.

Walter later married Mary Finlay on 11 February 1919 in St. Anne's Parish Church, Belfast.

William, Walter's younger brother, enlisted in the Royal Irish Rifles, and served with the 13th Battalion. He was killed in May 1917 at Kemmel Hill.

Walter's later life was beset with problems as some of his sons became involved in a life which brought them in constant contact with the courts.

In 1933 Walter's son Archibald married Alice Rice.

With the onset of the Second World War Walter's four sons – William, Walter, Archibald and Frederick – enlisted in the Army: William is reported as having been drowned in the Nile while on R&R; Walter in the RASC with the 8th Army; and Archibald is reported as being at Dunkirk and suffering later as a result.

Archibald died at the family home in Hazelbrooke Avenue in 1941.

Walter passed away there 10 years later on the 9th May 1951.

CROZIER – May 9, 1951, at his residence, 11 Hazelbrooke Avenue, Bangor, Walter, dearly-loved husband of Mary Crozier. House and funeral private. – Deeply regretted by the Family Circle.

Belfast Telegraph, 9 May 1951.

* This image is belived to be of Walter and William Crozier  although it is not confirmed or known who is who.