Background
Basil Crockett was born on in 1877 into a military family, the son of Edwin Arthur Brassey Crockett (1834–1915).
Basil Crockett was born on in 1877 into a military family, the son of Edwin Arthur Brassey Crockett (1834–1915).
Wellington College.
Educated at Wellington, and Sandhurst, he commissioned into the 17th Lancers before attending Staff College in Poona, India. He served on the Northwest Frontier. Following the war he was commissioned a second lieutenant in a regular battalion of the Gordon Highlanders on 23 April 1902.
After a spell with the Leicestershire Regiment, a transfer Crockett made so he could concentrate on his passion of fox hunting, but subsequently regretted.
He left the army in 1914, only to immediately rejoin on the outbreak of the First World War, whereupon he was given command of the 11th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment at Farnham. A command Crockett, as essentially a cavalry officer, initially resented.
Far from being a "hands-off" commander, Crockett lived with his men on the front line for much of the war, commanding the section of frontline at Loos. He was mentioned in despatches no less than eight times for gallant conduct, the final time being on 8 November 1918, just three days before the end of the war.
They lived at Longdown Cottage, Lower Bourne, Farnham.
He died in 1939, somewhat impecunious, having invested his family"s money in an ill-advised motor industry venture with an American partner whom subsequently disappeared.