Arthur Cragie - Watchmaker and Jeweller

Early background as provided by his son, John Cragie

"Arthur was originally expected to follow his father's profession (Fisherman), but his mother was dead against it, and he was apprenticed as a Draper to Henry Moss* (the shop where Collen and Clare is now), in 1909, for three years. After this he went to work in a Drapers shop (Smiths) in Ipswich as a Draper's assistant. He was not enamoured of this and, when the Great War came along, he volunteered and joined the 6th Suffolks, rising to the rank of Sergeant Instructor. As this was a territorial battallion they were restricted to home defence. This grew rather frustrating for him and, in 1917, he transferred to the Royal Naval Division, and was soon on the Western Front. His war finished at the battle of Passchendael where he was quite badly wounded and hospitalised, until discharged from the services."

* For details about the Henry Moss business, see No 25 Market Place