Henry Leycester Croker

Henry Leycester Croker was the son of Captain E Croker, 17th Foot. Henry Croker followed his father into the family regiment from the Militia on 28 April 1886. He was Adjutant 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (1899–1903), including active service in the South African War (1899–1902), during which he was three times mentioned in despatches. He was appointed CO 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in November 1910, but within a month had exchanged commands with the CO of the 1st Battalion. This emphasises the value that pre-war officers put on commanding the battalion in which they had begun their careers.

Croker was CO 1st Leicestershire until March 1915, as part of 16th Brigade, 6th Division, when he was promoted to brigade command as GOC 81st Brigade, 27th Division. 27th Division served on the Western Front only until November 1915. Its involvement in major operations was confined to the fighting at Second Ypres following the German gas attack on 22 April. Croker deployed to Salonika with his brigade.

He was GOC 81st Brigade until May 1916 when he was promoted GOC 28th Division. He commanded 28th Division at Salonika and on the Black Sea until November 1920. Croker was wounded while CO 1st Leicestershire and six times mentioned in despatches during the war. He was knighted in 1926.