Critchley, Harry Fordham

Henry (Harry) was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1891, the son of Harold Dawson Critchley and Amy Corinne (nee Fordham) Critchley, grandson of Edward King Fordham of Redlands Grange, Ashwell.

Harold returned to England in November 1914 and enlisted in December 1914 with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry as Lieutenant and rose to Captain by 1918.  He disembarked in France on 1 July 1915.  He saw active service in the Western European Theatre of War, France and Flanders.  He survived the War.

He was awarded the 1915 Star, the British Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

On 25 March 1895 his father, Harold Dawson Critchley, was granted homestead rights in the Calgary area.  He returned briefly to England and married Amy Corinne Fordham, taking her back to Calgary where Harry Fordham Critchley was born in 1891.

Amy Corinne returned to England in 1897 with her three children, Harry and Frances and Rita, and her maid, her fourth child Edward Oswald being born in Eastbourne, Sussex.  The records for 1904 show Amy Corinne and four children as resident in England.  Amy died in Ashwell on 9 January 1944.

Harry, having worked in Northern Chile as a clerk for a few years, returned to England in November 1914 listing his permanent address as England.  He enlisted in the army in December 1914.

After the War Harry settled in Argentina, where he worked for a bank, but returned to England for frequent visits over the years.

It is thought he never married.  He died in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 1 March 1959.

Harry’s younger brother, Edward enlisted in the army in January 1915 with the Inns of Court Officer Training but only served 162 days before being discharged as ‘no longer required’.  He later emigrated to Kenya where he died on 26 June 1963.

Royston Crow 28 Nov 1890 Marriage of Miss Fordham, Amy Corinne, eldest dughter of late EK Fordham, to Harry Dawson Critchley, youngest son of Mr Walter Critchley, Solwick Hall, Lancs, now of Calgary, Alberta.