THE VILLAGERS OF COLLINGHAM AND LINTON WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO
COLLINGHAMANDDISTRICTWARARCHIVE.INFO
CONTACT
Rank
Service Army
Battalion
Regiment Royal Artillery
Buried Thorp Arch
- Listed on an illustrated list of Linton Parishoners who served
Biography
The name Bernard Crosby is on the annotated list of the villagers of Linton who served in the Second World War, annotated to say that he served in the Royal Artillery.
Family background
Bernard Crosby was born on the 17th September 1916, the son of Robert Harold Crosby and his wife Tilly (nee Haley) [this name is sometimes transcribed on records in different ways eg Jilly]. When Bernard was about 5, at the time of the 1921 census, he was living with his parents at Bengarth, Gledhow Wood Road in Leeds. Robert was described as an oil and grease distiller and merchant. Bernard's sister, Florence Dorothy Crosby (aged 7 years 9 months) was also at home, and the family were looked after by a servant, Flora Annie Ireland.
We have not found any other records of Bernard before the war started in 1939, and Bernard does not appear on the National Registration Lists - probably because he was already serving.
Service record
It is likely that Bernard Crosby joined the services in 1939 and the annotated photo roll of Linton men who served lists him as being in the Royal Artillery. However we have not found a record for any Bernard Crosby in the Royal Artillery Tracer card records and so are still uncertain of Bernard's war service.
On the 20th January 1940, Bernard married Moyra Maude Flaxington. Local newspapers reported the wedding:
The marriage tok place at St. Edmund's Church, Lidgett Park Road, Roundhay, Leeds, to-day of Mr. Bernard Crosby, of Gledhow Lane, Roundhay, only son of Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Crosby, and Miss Moyra Maude Flaxington, Woodclose, Well House Road, Roundhay, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Maude Flaxington.
The Rev. A.C. Vodden officiated.
Mr. Flaxington gave away his daughter who wore a classic dress of cream satin embossed with flowers in gold thread.
A bandeau of tulle and gold thread entwiined with gilded orange blossom buds held the bride's cream tulle veil, and she carried a cream and gold backed prayer book.
Miss Barbara Flaxington, sister of the bride, Mrs Bernard Toft, sister of the groom, and a tiny trainbearer, Miss Valerie Walkington, attended the bride. Mr. Bernard Toft was best man.
After the war
After the war, Bernard returned to civilian life in the Wetherby area. In 1946 and 1947 Bernard and Moyra are on the electoral rolls for Collingham and Linton living at Granary Cottage, Linton, then from 1950 until 1961, they are listed at Garth End, Linton.
Bernard's wife, Moyra, died in 1954 and she was buried at Thorp Arch. Bernard died on the 7th December 1976 in Huddersfield, but he is buried with Moyra in Thorp Arch.
Biography last updated 26 January 2024 12:17:28.
If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info