Croly, George Franklin

Born to John & Adeline Croly on August 21, 1890, Tuam, Galway, Ireland, George came to Canada with his family in 1906. Listed as a Clerk, he continued to be employed as a Clerk including working for the Golden Rule Merc. in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he met and married Fern Isabell Rochette in May of 1911. George and Fern had one daughter, Irene, before moving to Princeton, British Columbia where he was employed as an Accountant for A.E. Howse Co. Their second daughter, Dorothy, was born in Princeton on 26th September, 1914. George was  made the Financial Secretary for Princeton Lodge No.52 IOOF –  July 15, 1915.

The Croly’s moved to  Mother Lode Mine, Greenwood in 1916. Soon after George enlisted with the 68th Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery as a Gunner in November of 1916 at Greenwood, BC. His brothers, Roger and Benjamin also enlisted. Roger as a Captain with the 3rd Div. Signal Cor (receiving the Military Cross), Benjamin as a Driver with the Canadian Engineers (receiving a Military Medal). Unfortunately, George contracted measles just after his arrival in England in December of 1916. In January 1917 he was quarantined at Schorncliffe Hospital and by February was listed as “seriously ill”. He died of Pneumonia and Jaundice in March, just two and half months after arriving overseas, never having seen active duty.

Fern Croly returned to the United States with her two daughters residing in California until her death in 1984.