Biography of Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster 1871-1904

Paternal Family Tree: Wood aka Craster

Before 1861 [his father] John Craster of Craster Tower (age 37) and [his mother] Charlotte Pulleine Roddam were married.

On 26 May 1871 Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster was born to John Craster of Craster Tower (age 47) and Charlotte Pulleine Roddam. He was baptised at Church of the Holy Trinity Embleton [Map] on 16 Jul 1871.

On 09 Jan 1892 Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (age 20) was promoted to Second Lieutenant.

On 31 Mar 1893 Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (age 21) was posted to India. The St George's Gazette reports: "On the 3rd, instant, we sent out another draft to India under Lieut. Bland. It consisted of 2nd Lieut. J.C.P. Craster, Sergts. Thorpe and Frazer and 90 rank and file. They were very lucky to get excellent accommodation (for a "trooper") on H.M.S. Malabar. They were housed on the upper troop deck and for those who have been stowed away on the lower deck, will appreciate the advantages of these quarters." "The 'Malabar' was one of five purpose-built troopships paid for by the Government of India and launched in 1866. Although built in different yards, the 'Malabar' and her sister-ships, the 'Crocodile', 'Euphrates', 'Jumna' and 'Serapis', were all of the same design, tonnage and dimensions. The five vessels were each distinguished by a different coloured riband around the hull, which, in the case of the 'Malabar' was black, and all carried the 'Star of India' on their bows. Each ship could transport a full battalion of infantry with their families, or about 1,200 people. The 'Malabar' initially ran from the Isthmus of Suez in north-eastern Egypt to Bombay but, when the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, she undertook the round trip from Portsmouth to Bombay and back again in 70 days. She remained in service longer than any of her sisters and was only finally withdrawn in 1897 when she became a base ship at Bermuda. Renamed 'Terror' in 1901, she was placed on the disposal list in 1914 and sold in 1918."

1895. Photograph taken at Benares [Map] on the occasion of a General's Inspection. Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (age 23) is on the left. The photo was from an album compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel A.J.B. Percival D.S.O. It is now in the Collection of the Northumberland Fusiler Museum at Alnwick Castle. Sourced from Source.

On 27 Oct 1897 Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (age 26) was promoted to Lieutenant.

On 04 Oct 1901 Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (age 30) was promoted to Captain.

On 28 Jun 1904 Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (age 33) was killed in action during the Thibetan Expedition during the Storming of Gyantse Dzong [Map].

India and Tibet by Francis Younghusband Chapter XIV The Storming of Gyantse Jong. General Macdonald had now to break up the Tibetan force investing Gyantse. On the 28th he attacked a strong position on a ridge on which were the Tse-chen monastery and several fortified towers and sangars. The process of clearing the villages in the plain below lasted most of the day. At 5.30 the position itself was stormed by the 8th Gurkhas and the 40th Pathans, supported by the mountain battery. The fight was severe, for the hillside was very steep. Captain Craster (age 33) 46th Pathans, was killed whilst gallantly leading his company, and Captains Bliss and Humphreys slightly wounded. The capture of this position much disheartened the Tibetans; communications between Gyantse Jong and Shigatse were cut off, and the jong was now surrounded on three sides.

With Mounted Infantry in Tibet by W J Ottley Chapter 9. Almost the whole place was in the hands of the 40th when Captain Craster (age 33), of that regiment, was shot dead. His day's work was finished, and done well, and it was a sad fatality that claimed him at its close.

After 28 Jun 1904 the siblings of Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (deceased) invested the proceeds of the sale of his estate in the development of Craster harbour.

After 28 Jun 1904. Church of the Holy Trinity Embleton [Map]. Memorials to Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (deceased), [his brother] Thomas William Craster of Craster Tower (age 43) and Hilda Osborn (age 36).

Thomas William Craster of Craster Tower: Around 1861 he was born to John Craster of Craster Tower and Charlotte Pulleine Roddam. On 19 Jan 1897 Thomas William Craster of Craster Tower and Hilda Osborn were married. On 15 Aug 1938 Thomas William Craster of Craster Tower died.

Hilda Osborn: On 12 Jul 1867 she was born to Montagu Francis Finch Osborn. On 06 Jan 1957 Hilda Osborn died.

On 30 Jul 1904 the St George's Gazette published an obituary of Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster (deceased):

The FIFTH have once more to mourn the loss of a comrade Captain J.C.P. Craster - who was killed in the fighting at the village and monastery on the left bank of the River Gyangtse, in Thibet on the 28th of last month. He was not very long in the FIFTH, but, during the short time he was, he earned the love and respect of all ranks of the Regiment; he was appointed second Lieutenant on the 9th of January, 1892, and promoted Lieutenant on the 27th. of October, 1899; had he remained in the FIFTH he would now have been fourth on the list of Captains.

The late officer was the, fourth son of the late [his father] John Craster, Esq., J.P. and D.L. of Craster Tower, Northumberland, at one time a, High Sheriff of the County; his mother was Charlotte Pulleine, daughter of the late Mr. William Roddam, of Roddam, Northumberland; he was educated at Aysgarth School, Yorks, and Westwood Ho! In 1895 he was transferred from the FIFTH to the Indian Staff Corps, and was promoted Captain in 1901. He took part in the operations on the Samana Range [Map] on the North-West Frontier of India in 1898-99, and was present at the capture of the Sanpagha and Arhanga Passes, at the reconnaissance of the Saran Sar, and the action of the 9th of November, 1898; he also took part in the operations in the Waran Valley at Divatol and in the Bara Valley; lastly, he volunteered for service with the Thibet Expedition, joining the 40th Pathans at two days' notice.

In his death his brother officers, and the Service' generally, have lost a promising young officer. The 5th Fusiliers offer their sympathy to all his family in the loss they have sustained.

In 1906 a plaque was placed on Craster, Northumberland [Map] Harbour recognising the contribution made in its construction by Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster.

With Mounted Infantry in Tibet by W J Ottley Chapter 9. Considering the number of good rifles and ammunition captured at Tsechen, and the strength of the garrison and place itself, our losses were ridiculously small. Captain Craster, of the 40th, was killed, Captains Bliss and Humphreys, of the 8th, wounded (slight), and seven rank-and-file wounded.

Ancestors of Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster 1871-1904

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Wood of Beadnell

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Wood of Beadnell in Northumberland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Craster

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Craster

Great x 2 Grandmother: Ann Craster

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Ayton

GrandFather: Thomas Wood aka Craster

Great x 4 Grandfather: Daniel Craster of Alnwick Abbey

Great x 3 Grandfather: Daniel Craster of Embleton and Craster

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fenwick

Great x 2 Grandfather: Daniel Craster of Craster

Great x 1 Grandmother: Ann Craster

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Coulter of Newcastle

Great x 2 Grandmother: Ann Coulter

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Carr of Prestwich

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ann Carr

Father: John Craster of Craster Tower

Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster

GrandFather: William Roddam

Mother: Charlotte Pulleine Roddam