Theodore Crescens Bason was born in Oswestry in 1890; he seems to have been known by most as Crescens. His father Charles Henry Bason (born Wolverhampton) married Harriet Venables (born Kerry, Montgomeryshire) in Newtown, Montgomeryshire in 1888. Crescens was the eldest of Charles and Harriet’s seven children. His father was a grocer and provisions dealer with a shop at 10 Willow Street, Oswestry. In 1891 they were living above the shop but as the family grew they moved to a larger house at 20 Ferrers Road, Oswestry. Crescens had three brothers Leonard, Chelmie and Cyril and three sisters Agnes, Olive and Florence.

Crescens followed his father into the grocery business. It is probable he served an apprenticeship with his father and then, by 1911 began work as a grocer’s assistant. He left Oswestry and went to Llandudno where he boarded with and was employed by Mr TE Hooson  at 96 Mostyn Street  in the town’s main shopping centre. (Hooson was a business man who had a chain of provisions stores in North Wales.) Crescens would soon move to Great Wyrley near Walsall where he opened his own grocery shop.

Crescens enlisted as a Private, rose through the ranks to become a sergeant, and then progressed to officer training and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (Temporary) in January/February 1918. What remains of his military record is confusing as to the regiments he served in. Also, details in his obituaries raise confusion. His Medal records has him as a Private & NCO enlisting in the Gloucestershire Regiment and commissioned to the Worcestershire Regiment: CWGC and WW1 casualty lists has him as 2/Lt in Manchester regiment commissioned to the Worcestershire Regiment: his obituary has him in Staffordshire Regiment commissioned to the Lincolnshire’s.

Another anomaly is when he first went over to France. His obituary gives him as enlisting in September 1914. He was awarded only the British War Medal and Victory Medal and so did not serve overseas until 1916. The Medal card also gives him as going over to France on 11 April 1918. However, his obituary also records him as having been wounded during 1917. It is possible he had been wounded or injured on home service, although his military promotions suggest some combat experience. It is thought that the date on the Medal Index is when he went to France as an officer –  for the 17 April 1918 battalion War Diary records a draft of 14 officers joining from the Manchester Regiment.

Putting this together the following chronology fits the details. He had enlisted in September 1914 joining the Gloucestershire Regiment and then served in the UK before going over to France in 1916. He was wounded in 1917 and after recovery had been selected for officer training, then commissioned to Manchester Regiment in Jan/Feb 1918, and returned to France in April 1918, and was attached to 1 Bn Worcestershire, joining them on 17 April 1918. At that time the battalion was in billets at Querrieu about 10kms NE of Amiens.

Another event in 1917 also fits this timeline – in August 1917 he married Keziah Green at Great Wyrley. They spent their honeymoon at Rhyl – possibly chosen by Crescens after his time at Llandudno and the North Wales coastal resorts. At this time Crescens was a Sergeant and was just prior to him going to officer training. They would set up home in Great Wyrley living at Ivy Cottages, (Westbourne) on Walsall Road.

Crescens died of wounds at 47 Casualty Clearing Station at Crouy on 29 April 1918. His battalion had been heavily engaged defending the village of Villers Bretonneux near to Amiens during Operation Georgette, Kaiser Offensive. It is probable he was one of six officers wounded between 24-26 April 1918 and evacuated to Crouy where he died of his wounds. He is buried in Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy sur Somme. He is also recorded on Great Wyrley Gates War Memorial.

Acknowledgements. Additional information from  Great Wyrley War Memorial who have more information research on Crescens and his family

References and Sources

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