Peter Joseph ‘Pete’ Crombet Boelens (1890-1972)
Grandad was a jockey before WW1
| Parents | Anna Margarethe Boelens | None Officially Recorded but his ‘Guardian’ was Pierre Joseph Crombet (m. Anna Boelens) who married (1906) Eleanor ‘Nelly’ Taplin (d.1936) | Step-Father Christopher Edwin Stanley Alexander Whitlock (d.1930?) |
| Siblings | Otto Cornelias Crombet (Twins) John Mark ‘Jack‘ Crombet (m.Anne) | Thomas Peter Crombet (aka Boelens) | Elenore Henrietta ‘Ella‘ Whitlock |
| Partners | Win | ||
| Children | Peter | Eric | Rita |
Father – Pierre Joseph Crombet
This was sent, as a postcard, from Hoppegarten, near Berlin in 1913, presumably where he was a jockey at the time.
Pictured here (centre) with tow of his ‘best buddies’ both of whom died in WW1
I know little of my grandad’s life before WW1 except that he had been a jockey.
He and gran married in February 1917.
At 7b there were pictures on the wall including one with him proudly standing at the head of a race horse with the Tsar of Russia looking on. We do know he rode in various countries and spoke several languages.
His experience with horses led to him being recruited to take charge of the war horses used in WW1. He was part of the Army Service Corps that supplied the troops with food, ammunitions and etc. mostly using horse transport.
He was run over by a gun carriage and severely injured losing an eye, an open skull fracture and badly broken arm and other injuries. Given the times, it’s a wonder he survived at all. Below he is with fellow casualties well on the way to recovery – he is lying at the front.
So, he was discharged from the army at Woolwich Dockyard as ‘no longer fit for war service’ on the 19th December 1917 after serving two years and 270 days, having been recruited in Hove 28th March 1915. The description of him says: Age 27 5/12 years. Height 4’11” complexion Sallow. eyes hazel. Hair dark brown. Marks or scars : Scar scalp forehead Tattoo front right forearm P Gropade. Marie? Tattoo back right forearm Crossed Flags. Front left forearm anchor heart.
With eldest son Peter & Daughter Rita (Probably taken by Eric)
Some Memories of grandad are linked to below: