Personalities of Philately: Capt. L.W. Crouch

I was fortunate enough to purchase a copy of William Joliffe's The History of New Zealand Stamps (1913) from a book shop in London. When I opened the book I found the below page, and then in the back of the book I found the classic old library checkout page and the rules for lending. I had to learn more and I found the below text on Wikipedia.

"Lionel William Crouch (20 August 1886 – 21 July 1916) was a British solicitor who was killed during the First World War in the Battle of the Somme.

Early life

Lionel William Crouch was born on 20 August 1886 to William Crouch, a Clerk of the Peace to Buckinghamshire County Council, and Helen Marian Crouch née Sissons. He had a younger brother, Guy R. Crouch, who became a captain in the 1st Bucks Battalion of the British Army and was awarded the Military Cross; and a sister Doris. The family home was Friarscroft in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.[1]: 11 

Crouch was educated at Marlborough College from 1900 to 1904 and went on to qualify as a solicitor in 1909. He worked for Horwood and James in Aylesbury. He was also a deputy Clerk of the Peace for Buckinghamshire. His brother was also a solicitor, with Parrott and Coales.

A keen philatelist, Crouch was vice-president of the Junior Philatelic Society.[4]

Military career

Crouch was an officer in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, part of the Territorial Force, before the start of the First World War. On the outbreak of the war, in July 1914, the Territorials were mobilised and Crouch left Aylesbury on 4 August while his brother Guy and the bulk of the men left the town by rail the following day.[1]: 19–20  They arrived in Cosham for training with not a man missing which was a source of pride to Crouch.[1]: 22 . His battalion left Chelmsford for the front on 30 March 1915.

Death and legacy

Crouch died on 21 July 1916[5] during the Battle of the Somme.[1]: 9  He is buried at Pozières British Cemetery, Ovillers-la Boisselle, Somme, France, and remembered on the war memorial, in Market Square, and on a plaque at St Mary the Virgin church, Aylesbury. In 1917, his father William privately published Lionel's letters from the front to him as Duty and Service with the proceeds donated to war charities. I have read this book now. It is quite substantial and being an ex Army Officer myself I found it incredibly absorbing. He mentions stamps a few times and seems he was still collecting while on duty overseas."

As can be seen by the images above he was the vice President of the Junior Philatelic Society, before it became the National Philatelic Society. The National Philatelic Society is one of two national philatelic societies in Great Britain. The other of course is the Royal Philatelic Society London. As the National is still active I am somewhat surprised that I was able to purchase this book - I hope there has been no skullduggery! Anyway, below some history of the National also from Wikipedia.

History of The National Philatelic Society

The National, as it is known, was formed in 1899 by Fred Melville and the first meeting is believed to have been at a shop in Clapham, South London. Melville had applied for membership of the Philatelic Society, London, now The Royal Philatelic Society London, but was rejected as he was under 18 years of age. This led to him forming The Junior Philatelic Society (now The National Philatelic Society) that same year.

The society was a huge success, capitalising on pent-up demand for a philatelic society that anyone could join and the new society soon had to seek a larger meeting place. In 1906 Melville formed a Manchester branch of the society. Branches were also formed at Brighton and Liverpool.

The success of the J.P.S. in its early years has been attributed to the partnership between Melville as propagandist and writer, and Herbert "Johnny" Johnson as businessman and organiser.

Aims

The Constitution of the society (1997) states:

The cover of Stamp Lover, the society's magazine.

"The Aims of the Society shall be:

1. To promote, encourage and contribute to the advancement of the practice of philately in all its branches.

2. To encourage and undertake the preparation and publication of books, catalogues, guides, journals and papers bearing on philately.

3. To provide facilities for the practice of philately and to assist and encourage young encourage the detection and prevention of philatelic fakes, forgeries and spurious material and to give assistance in the prosecution of offenders.

4. To establish and maintain a permanent centre for philately."