1893 Apr 19 Born Northumberland
1901 census living with parents at 60, Stanton Street, Westgate, Newcastle on Tyne. His father was a Boot Warehouseman
1911 census living with parents at 57 Stanton Street , Newcastle on Tyne. He is an Insurance Agents Clerk.
1914 Jul/Sep marries Guinevere Sykes in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
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1914 Sep 3. Enlists in Hampshire Regt as a Private
1914 Aug 6. Marries Guinevere Xavier Sykes in Newcastle upon Tyne
1915 Jul 27 Lands in France with 1st Hampshires
1917 Jun 12. Leaves Franc, returns UK
1917 Nov 27 Commissioned
1918 Apr 20. 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regt War Diary. Training. ... 11 off reinforcements... 2/Lt Francis William CRAKE
1918 Dec 2. Gazetted MC "T./2nd Lt. Francis William Crake, 6th Bn., Bedf. R., attd. Ist Bn., Hert. R. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. When the other officers became casualties and the company had suffered heavy losses, he reorganised several scattered bodies of men and continued to lead them forward to the objective in a most determined manner. By his courage and example he assisted materially in the capture of a hostile battery.
1919 May 28. Bedf: and Herts. R. Temp. 2nd Lt. , F. W..,Crake, M.C., to be temp. Lt
1919 Sep 22. Class GG Special Appointment. Temp. Lt. F. W. Crake, M.C., Serv. Bn., Bedf. & Herts. R.
1919 Nov 9. Posted to 387 Prisoner of War Company
1920 Feb 21. Bedf. & Herts. Regt. Temp. Lt. F. W. Crake, M.C., relinquishes his commission on completion of service, Feb. 1920, and retains the rank of Lt.
Home address: 22 Westgate Road, Newcastle on Tyne. Buried at Elswick, Newcastle on Tyne.
1920 Oct 3. Joined ADRIC with service no 205, C Coy Macroom. RIC no 72473. District Insp 3rd class
1920 Nov 28. Died in Kilmichael Ambush
By 15 March 1921 the Irish Independent quoted £4000 paid to his wife, and £2000 each to his mother and sister.
Buried Elswick Cemetery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Info from Richard Willcocks