Herbert William Crouch was killed in action on 7 October 1944 in the vicinity of St Anthonis. He was aged 38 at the time. He was a Lance Sergeant in the Royal Armoured Corps, Inns of Court Regiment (Service No. 7930069). He was initially buried just east of St Anthonis at the premises of M. Jansen at Boxmeerseweg A 62 St Anthonis, Oploo and re-interred on 21 May 1947 in grave II. D. 12. in the Overloon CWG Cemetery. The inscription on his grave reads: “A life so nobly given has gone but is not forgotten.”

Family background

Herbert William Crouch (who was known to family and friends as Bob), was the son of Herbert Crouch and Emily White who had married in Brentford district, Middlesex in 1906. Herbert had been born on 25 June 1878 in Hanwell and Emily on 29 May 1876 in Southall Green. They had seven children, all in Hanwell as follows: Mabel Emily 1906, Herbert William 10 June 1907, Mary Louisa Minnie 1909, Sidney James 1910, Ethel M 1912, Percy O 1914 and Leonard A 7 July 1917.  However, Ethel died in 1913.
 
In 1911 Herbert and Emily were living at 59 St Dunstan’s Road, Hanwell with their first four children which included Bob. Herbert was a labourer who was building horses’ stables. Also present was Herbert’s widowed mother, Mary Elizabeth Crouch, who had been born in Oxford in 1842.
 
In 1921, the family were at the same address with their six surviving children. Herbert was now working as a temporary hand for the Superintendent of Central London District Schools. Their eldest daughter, Mabel, was working as a General Domestic Servant. Also present was Mary Pratt, a 73 year old boarder.
 
Bob married Mabel Florence Bloomfield in October 1931 in Hanwell Union Church. The West Middlesex Gazette described their wedding as follows:
“Crouch – Bloomfield
In Hanwell Union Church on Saturday the Rev JT Stevens officiated at the wedding of Mr Herbert William Crouch, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Crouch, of 59 St Dunstan’s Road, Hanwell and Miss Mabel Florence Bloomfield, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Bloomfield, of 25 Lawn Gardens, Hanwell. Mr Southcombe played appropriate organ pieces for the ceremony.
 
The bride in white crepe de chine with lace coatee and necklet of pearls held a shower bouquet of red roses. She was given away by her father, Mr Sidney Crouch brother of the bridegroom performing the duties of best man.
 
Miss Gwen Bloomfield (sister) and Miss Ivy Hickey acting as bridesmaids, wore green crepe de chine and lace, and crystal necklets, the gifts of the bridegroom, holding bouquets of cream roses. Blue silk, with hat to match and navy crepe de chine, trimmed with beige, with a navy hat, were worn by the bridegroom’s and the bride’s mothers respectively.
 
A reception was held in Hanwell Library, and a happy couple left to spend the honeymoon at West Malling, Kent, after which they will live at 106 Beresford Avenue, Hanwell”.
 
Mabel was the daughter of William Chapman Bloomfield and Charlotte Florence Birkin who had married in 1905 in the Lewisham district of London. William was born on 9 December 1880 in Lee in Kent while Charlotte was born on 22 June 1879 in Kensington, London. They had three children as follows, all in Hanwell: Ernest Walter 1 February 1906, Mabel Florence 1 March 1907 and Gwendoline Emma 1908.
 
In 1911 William and Charlotte were living at 25 Lawn Gardens, Hanwell with Mabel and Gwendoline. William was working at a Licenced Conductor for a tram company. Their son, Ernest, was living with his grandparents, Chapman James and Emma Mary Bloomfield at 134 Fernbrook Road, Lewisham and his aunt, Carrie Emma Bloomfield. Chapman was a Greengrocer born in 1849 in Lee, Kent, Emma was born in 1851 in London and Carrie was born in 1879 in Lee and was an assistant in a fancy shop. In 1921, William and Charlotte were still living at 25 Lawn Gardens with all three of their children. William was still working as Tram Conductor for London United Tramways Co.
 
On 20 April 1938 Mabel’s sister Gwen, still of 25 Lawn Gardens, aged 30 and working as a nurse travelled from Liverpool to St John’s Newfoundland, Canada
 
In September 1939, Bob and Mabel were living at 65 Daryngton Drive, Ealing. Bob was working as a Printer. They seem to have been living with Lewis G and Moira E Ashby who had both been born in 1906. Lewis was a Storekeeper. There too were Mary E Ashby aged 7 and David F Ashby aged 3. Another unnamed child was present – but it is not thought that Mabel and Bob had any children.
 
At this time, Bob’s parents were still living in St Dunstan’s Road, but only their son Leonard was with them. Herbert was retired but available for work while Leonard was working as a Joiner Woodworker.
 
Mabel’s parents were living on their own, still at 25 Lawn Gardens and William was now working as a Trolley Bus Conductor.
 
An article in the Middlesex County Times of 28 October 1944 after Bob’s death gives more information about his life before the war:
“Lived to Help Others
Official notification has been received by Mrs H.W. Crouch of 17 Briarbank Road, Ealing, of the death of her husband – killed in action in Holland.
 
Sergt. Herbert W. Crouch was 38 years of age and the eldest son of Mrs Crouch and the late Mr H. Crouch, of 59 St Dunstan’s Road, Hanwell. ‘Bob’ Crouch, for as such he was known to all his friends, was educated at St. Mark’s School, Hanwell. At 12 years of age he became a member of the 16th Thames Valley Company Boys’ Brigade, which was attached to Union Church, Hanwell. This proved to be the beginning of a life lived chiefly for helping others, for he served the ‘16th’ for 10 years, with a keenness and loyalty that has seldom been equalled in the history of the company, and when, having held every non-commissioned rank, he finally accepted a commission, he filled his new position with dignity and great usefulness for several years.
 
At the time of his ‘call up’ for military service, nearly four years ago, he was showing great promise as outdoor representative from Messrs. Farmer and Sons Ltd of 295 Edgware Road, W2, a firm of printers and stationers with whom he had been apprenticed upon leaving school.
 
Ever a firm advocate of physical fitness, he was himself a first class athlete, and gained special prowess at gymnastics, football, high jump, etc. He was a ‘good sportsman’ in the truest sense.
 
He interested himself in associations of mutual benefit and was for several years a delegate to the London and Provincial Yearly Dividing Friendly Society, West London District, Jersey Lodge 42
 
Previous to the outbreak of war, he was a keen supporter of the movement for ‘worldwide moral re-armament’. He was for 20 years a member of the Union Church, Hanwell and held during that period several responsible positions i.e. assistant Sunday School Superintendent, Bible Class Leader, steward. Football Club secretary etc.
 
‘Sincerity’ was the keyword of all his service and his gay and buoyant spirit provided him with a capacity for helping and encouraging all those whose lives he touched.
 
Mrs Crouch wishes to express her very deep appreciation of the many tokens of sympathy she has received.
 
A memorial service will be held at the Union. Church at 6:30 PM tomorrow.”

Military career

It seems that Bob had enlisted in the autumn of 1940.
 
Between the wars, the Inns of Court Regiment consisted of one squadron of cavalry and two companies of infantry. The two infantry companies were converted to light tank cavalry squadrons in 1937 and two years later formed the Royal Armoured Corps Wing, Sandhurst. In 1939, the mounted squadron joined a cavalry training regiment in Edinburgh, but this was disbanded in 1940. From 23 January 1941 until 15 January 1943, the regiment was part of the 9th Armoured Division in Great Britain. From 1943, it was under the direct command of I Corps, the assault formation of 21 Army Group and later led the advance of 11th Armoured Division.
 
During the campaign in Northwest Europe of 1944–45, the Inns of Court, organised as an armoured car regiment, was the reconnaissance asset of I Corps. It was organised in four squadrons. Of these, C Squadron
landed on Juno Beach with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division with the aim of advancing inland at speed to destroy the main crossings from Thury-Harcourt to a point five kilometres south of Caen and preparing four crossings on the Odon River for demolition. The other three squadrons did not arrive at Juno Beach until 30 June.
 
The Regiment played its part in the Battle for Normandy, involved in reconnaissance and other activities. On 28 August they crossed the Seine and ended the month around Amiens. Then began the advance up through northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The individual squadrons had different roles. Given what each was doing at the time of Herbert’s death, it is likely that he was in B Squadron.
 
Generally, the action in the first week of September was a push towards Antwerp. They then moved eastward, carrying out recces on various parts of the Albert Canal and patrolling it to prevent enemy movement to the south of it. By 19 September, D Squadron had moved into the Netherlands with the others following in the next few days. The move northwards continued between Eindhoven and Asten and Someren and then on to Helmond.
 
By the last few days of the month, the regiment had moved over to the west bank of the River Maas between Cuijk and Vierlingsbeek. Here they carried out patrols, often encountering enemy. However, by early October A and C Squadrons were back further south, taking it in turns to patrol between Deurne, Meijel and Liessel or to be in reserve. B Squadron continued to patrol the west bank of the Maas between Beugen, Boxmeer and Sambeek and D Squadron were in this same area but were in reserve on 7 October when Herbert was killed. It is therefore most likely that Herbert was in B Squadron.
 
By day Armoured Car patrols were maintained in each village with observation posts in church towers, windmills and convents. By night these patrols were withdrawn behind the railway line about 1,000 yards back from the river and the villages became “No Man’s Land” in which both sides patrolled, the Germans coming over the river by boat to steal food or, as stated in the War Diary, “ to renew amorous connections”.  Spasmodic shelling of the villages was carried out by the Germans, but the Regiment retaliated using their superiority in artillery.  These were the circumstances on the day Herbert was killed, probably somewhere near Boxmeer. This fits with where he was buried, slightly further back towards St Anthonis.

Aftermath

It seems that Bob’s father was spared hearing of his son’s death as he himself died on 30 July 1944, as announced in the Middlesex County Times of 5 August 1944:
“Crouch – On July 30, 1944, at 59, St Dunstan’s Road, Hanwell, W.7., Herbert, beloved husband of Emily Crouch, passed peacefully away in his 66th year.”
 
A major obituary to Bob immediately following his death has already been shown. However, a significant number of family members paid tributes to him in the Middlesex County Times of 6 October 1945 as follows:
 
“Crouch – In everlasting memory of ‘Bob,’ H.W. Crouch (Sergt. R.A.C.) Who was killed in action on October 7, 1944, liberating the people of Antwerp.
He is one of many who have given their all, that we may have another chance to build a new world. O valiant heart.
His loving wife, Mabel.
 
Crouch – In proud and loving memory of my dear son and brother, Sergt. H.W. (Bob) Crouch, killed in action in Holland, October 7, 1944.
His smiling face and loving ways
Are pleasant to recall.
He always had a cheerful smile
And died beloved by all
From mum, brothers and sisters and Auntie Min.
 
Crouch – In loving memory of our dear brother, Sergt. Herbert (Bob) Crouch, killed in action in Holland, October 7, 1944.
Beautiful memories are all we have left.
We loved him too dearly e’er to forget
From Sid, Win and Janet.
 
Crouch – In loving memory of our dear brother, Sergt.  H.W. (Bob) Crouch, killed in action in Holland, October 7, 1944.
A loving brother, true and kind
He was to all in heart and mind
From Louie and Bill.
 
Crouch – In proud and loving memory of Bob, killed in action, Holland, October 7th, 1944.
All the joy you found in life, in such great measure you shared with those around you. Where you went was love, happiness, friendly speech and the laughter of little children.
Mum and Dad Bloomfield and Gwen.”
 
Bob’s mother, Emily Crouch, died in 1964 in Ealing and his wife, Mabel F Crouch, died in 1996 in Watford.

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records; British Newspaper Archive
Wikipedia – Inns of Court Regiment
War Diary for Inns of Court Regiment from Traces of War
West Middlesex Gazette 3 October 1931
Middlesex County Times 5 August 1944
Middlesex County Times 28 October 1944
Middlesex County Times 6 October 1945

Research Elaine Gathercole, Tracey van Oeffelen