William Harry Critchlow (1900-1969)

Born in Bucknall, Staffordshire to Enoch Critchlow (1867-1912), cratemaker for the potteries, and Louisa Holmes (1866-1944), William was 12 years old when his father died. At 15 years old, he volunteered for the Staffordshires on the 11^th November 1915, listing his mother as next-of-kin but with a false address of 170 High Street Bucknall to avoid her hearing that he had enlisted. He reasoned that if he were killed in France then his mother would receive a war pension.

He was shipped out to France arriving at the Somme on 1^st July 1916. He was subsequently shot in the leg and wounded so was therefore one of the lucky ones to survive WW1. When he was demobbed, the War Office noted that he was ”under age” when he enlisted.

Bill’s career with Esso was as follows. In 1920, he joined Pratt’s Oil Depot in Stoke. “Mr Critchlow joined the Company as a Junior Clerk at Cliff Vale, Stoke on Trent in 1920. He was appointed Circuit Manager, Liverpool Division in 1922” “[He] transferred to Southampton Division as Assistant Sales Manager in 1933, and in 1937 became Divisional Sales Manager, Manchester. In 1939 he was appointed Divisional Manager, Northern Division. During the war he was Regional Manager, Petroleum Board, North Eastern Region and was awarded the MBE In 1942 for his work in this connection. Mr Critchlow became Divisional Manager, Midland Division in 1946 and in 1948 visited the United States on behalf of the Company. Last year [1950] he was appointed Divisional Manager, London Division.” “He became Assistant Sales Manager in 1951, which position he has held until his present appointment as General Sales Manager [in 1953]. When his limited spare time permits, he likes a game of golf and is a great “potterer” in his garden.” [Esso Employee News, No. 30 July 1951 and No. 56 November 1953]

Addresses where William Harry Critchlow lived:

• 1900-1915: 4 Baker Street, Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire;
• 1919? 5 Trafalgar Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire;
• 1933-37: Critchells Farm House, Cooks Lane, Lockerley, Romsey, SO51 0JD;
• 1939-45 30 Kent Road, Harrogate HG1 2LH, Yorkshire;
• Jul 1947– 45 Lambert Avenue, Leeds LS81NG (built by Lambert who WHC knew);
• -Nov 1950: 75 Birmingham Road, Maney, Sutton Coldfield B72 1QR;
• Nov 1950-Oct 1963: 35 Hook Hill, Sanderstead, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 0LB;
• Oct 1963-1969: Foxwell, Lewes Road, Westmeston, Hassocks, East Sussex BN6 8RH