Captain William Henry Aubin Croker, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

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William Henry Aubin Croker (1852 – 17 June 1935)
Captain (Honourably Major), 4th Battalion City of Dublin Militia
Royal Dublin Fusiliers

William Henry was born Beaufield, Moyacomb, Co.Wexford 1852. He was the oldest son of Henry Braddell Croker, a Captain of 57th Regiment (West Middlesex). The Croker’s are an Anglo-Irish landed gentry family. The best known branch of them was centred at Ballynagarde in County Limerick. Another branch provided Rt Hon John Wilson Croker sometime MP and secretary to the Admiralty. The name Croker is a variation of Crokker, Crocker or Crock and derives from the old English for potter. There were Crocks and Crockers in Ireland in medieval times.



William was probably sent over to England in early age. Most likely he was educated there in some boarding schools in Worcester area. After his school years he was commissioned as Gentlemen to be Second Lieutenant in the Worcester Militia 3rd and 4th battalion. This was announced on the London Gazette 14th September 1877. Also 1878 Army list records him active in the same area Militia.

Following year was important for him because William Henry married at Holy Trinity Church, Paddington on 25th June 1879 with Frances Augustine Pinon du Clos de Valmer. She was eldest daughter of the Viscomte Pinon du Clos de Valmer.

His military career went smoothly and already 13th September 1879 he was promoted to the rank Lieutenant. Next promotion followed 27 June 1883, when he received a rank Captain. At this time he served with the 4th Battalion Worcester Militia.

Some moment he moved back with his family to Ireland and settled in County Wexford.

His name appears in many Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers over period of 1881 – 1896 and also 1903. Most of these cases were related to the property and usage of the Beaufield land, where Croker’s family resided. As an example, in one instance he sued a man who took four dead rabbits from his land.

Also William must be into the horses and horse racing because August 1890 an Irish Times lists his name and his horse “Umrigar” as a participant in the competition.
When the war in South Africa broke out, William Henry commissioned again. This time he started his service with the 4th battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, to where he was assigned as a Captain, announcement was published in the 22nd May 1900 in London Gazette.

During his service in South Africa, he contracted some kind of disease and 5th July 1902 Irish Times shows his name on the dangerously ill officer’s list. 2 weeks later his name appears again but in this time there is a note about his condition and it says “improving”.

After his service Captain Croker was entitled a Queen’s South Africa medal with the clasps “South Africa 1901”, “South Africa 1902”, Transvaal , Orange Free State , Cape Colony . Medal roll confirms that during his service in the war, he was attached to the Remount Depot. The Remount Department was set up in order to ensure the uniformity and suitability of the animals purchased for the army, and their training. During the Boer War 326,000 horses and 51,000 mules were lost, mainly through disease, so the animal establishment was increased after that.



On the 21 December 1907 Captain William Henry Aubin Croker retired. Therefore he was granted a rank Honorary Major with the permission to wear the prescribed uniform.

In the 1911 Irish census shows him and his wife living in Beaufield, Moyacomb, co.Wexford. They had two domestic servants. No children are showen.

On the 8th June 1912 unfortunately William’s wife passed away.
During the Great War William didn’t serve. In the 1916 an Irish Times has an advertisement with his name and it’s confirmed his address on Beaufield Mansion again.

William Henry Aubin Croker died in his home 17th June 1935. His death was announced in Irish Times 19th June and he was buried on the 20th June next to his wife.