William Joseph Crawshaw (1861 - 1938)

Born 1861 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Husband of Amelia Elizabeth (Crone) Crawshaw — married 1890 in New Zealand

Died 14 Feb 1938 at about age 77 in Caterham, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

William was born in 1861. He was the son of Ashworth Crawshaw. He came to NZ with his parents, as an infant. He married Amelia Elizabeth Crone in 1890 ^[1]W.J. Crawshaw played first-class cricket for Canterbury, Otago, Taranaki and Wellington between 1877 and 1898. He moved around New Zealand in his work for the Bank of New Zealand. An opening batsman, Crawshaw scored 106, his only first-class century, in March 1897, when Taranaki beat Hawke's Bay by an innings and 42 runs. It was also Taranaki's only individual first-class century, in Taranaki's only first-class victory. In January 1898, in a non-first-class match for Taranaki against a team from Wanganui, he carried his bat for 174 not out in a team total of 363 in five hours. It was part of a sequence of four innings in which he made 54 not out, 115 not out, 174 not out, and 71: 414 runs for once out. Crawshaw retired in 1920 and went to live in England. ^[2]

BANKER AND SPORTSMAN. Mr W, J. Crawshaw, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, retires from the service of the Bank to-day on superannuation after an uninterrupted and exemplary record of forty-three years. He is a native of Melbourne. He joined the institution in Dunedin, where he finished his education at the Otago Boys’ High School, and was soon recognised by his superiors as a trustworthy official, and saw a good deal of Otago townships in the course of relieving duties. As a responsible officer on two occasions, he was in charge of bullion which in those days travelled under police escort from Central Otago to Dunedin. Later he was at Balclutha, Milton. Invercargill, Queenstown, and Dunedin North. Then he was transferred successively to Canterbury Wellington, Marlborough, and Taranaki. He opened a branch of the Bank at Eltham in 1900 and at Kaponga in the same year, and succeeded to Stratford in 1901, where he has resided ever since. Now at the age of retiring he intends seeking a change, proceeding to England to join his son Mr Vernon Crawshaw, who resides in Brighton. Mr Crawshaw has a rather remarkable record in athletics. He has always been an ardent cricketer. It may be further mentioned that he has represented five provinces in big matches, namely Otago (six times), Canterbury, Wellington, Marlborough and Taranaki playing his last game against Warner’s team at Hawera. As a footballer, he was no slouch back in the ,’80’s. In his possession to-day is a funny old photograph of the Otago team, which defeated the New, South Welshmen in 1882, when the match was played at Mosgiel, in the Taieri. The visitors never crossed their line. There were some giants in the game of those days—names to conjure with—for in the foreground of the picture, holding the hall, may be seen Jimmy Allen (now Sir James) who was a dinkum forward, always hard on the ball—a player with determination, a trait that grew in him with the years, as witness the bull-dog grip he secured of affairs while in charge of the Dominion’s Defence Department. Old footballers will know the Maori, Taiaroa, whose scoring capabilities were a thorn in the side of the opponents of Otago. Galbraith, who later represented Southland, was in the famous fifteen and there were others whose , names cannot he recalled. “Billy” Crawshaw was the diminutive member of that team from a physical standard, but as three-quarter he was a big. nippy, clever, and reliable back. In those days “shorts” were unknown, and the players were attired in jersey, knickers, and long stockings Taiaroa and another player were the only clean-shaved members of the team, moustaches being the fashion. Do the boys to-day play better Rugby ? Ask Billy Crawshaw! In all manner of sport Mr Crawshaw was keenly interested, and h was very successful. Here is his record as published in the Register of the Otago Boys’ High School: “Dux of Modern Side, Fives Cup Gymnastics medal ; captain cricket eleven ; Otago football representative 1882; won Ladies’ Challenge Cup for fives three times in succession, thus winning it as his absolute property." Wherever he has been settled. Mr Crawshaw took the same keen interest in sport. In Stratford, he was great on tennis, when they played at the top end of Regan Street; he held the championship of the Club for three years. As a golf player, he was one of the first members of the local Club, and the Carbery Cup is now in his possession, having been won three times. In the late war, Mr Crawshaw did splendid work in connection with the patriotic committee, being treasurer for three or four years, and has just resigned, For some time Mr Crawshaw was secretary of the Stratford Club, in the old premises in Broadway and also in the present site in Juliet Street. Of the Holy Trinity Church Mr Crawshaw has been a good member, having been a Vestryman diming his residence here. In the Bank, he has seen many changes in business, and has watched the progress of the town in various directions. Mr Crawshaw will be missed from bank circles, in which he has for so many years been a prominent figure —one who has earned the reputation with the public of Stratford of being an upright and conscientious citizen.^[3]

Mr and Mrs W. J. Crawshaw and Miss Crawshaw left Stratford this morning after a residence of sixteen years in the Bank of New Zealand. A large gathering of friends were on the station to bid them good-bye, and many sincere wishes were expressed for their future health and happiness. Some time will be spent visiting relatives and friends in other parts of the Dominion, and they will leave for England in February next. ^[4]

MR W. J. CRAWSHAW Advice has been received from England of the death of Mr W. J Crawshaw at Caterham, Surrey. Mr Crawshaw, who died on February 14. will be remembered for his distinguished record in provincial cricket in New Zealand during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Mr Crawshaw gained early prominence as a sound fieldsman and a consistent batsman. He represented Otago from 1878 to 1882, and Canterbury from 1885 to 1888. His performances with the bat, partnered by Hugh McNeill, were the highlight of the years when cricketing talent in Otago was scarce. He was transferred by his firm, the Bank of New Zealand, and was next in provincial cricket as one of the Wellington team from 1889 to 1892. He played for Marlborough in the 1894-95 season, and for Taranaki during the next two years. Though he won prominence more as a consistent than as a high scorer, he made 106 against Hawke's Bay, and 174 not out against Wanganui as a representative of Taranaki. He retired in 1916, and left the Dominion for England. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Marriage registration 1890/948
2. ↑ Wikipedia [1]
3. ↑ VALEDICTORY. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 18, 30 November 1920
4. ↑ PERSONAL. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 22, 4 December 1920
5. ↑ OBITUARY The Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22341, 3 March 1938