A Victorian silver-gilt mounted cameo glass claret jug, the Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd., London, 1884

The so-called maker’s mark struck on the mounts of this claret jug is that of Frederick Bradford McCrea, who was born on 4 December 1833 at Fatehpur, West Bengal, India. Formerly a major in the 8^th,, ‘The King’s’ Regiment, he was the first managing director of The Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd., which was incorporated in London on 15 September 1871. The aim of the company was ‘the supply of articles of domestic consumption and general use to its members at the lowest remunerative rates.’ The members of the Society consisted of two classes, Shareholders and Annual Subscribers. As set out in the Prospectus, the former ‘will be limited to officers, non-commissioned officers, and petty officers serving or who have served in the Army, Navy, Militia, or Yeomanry, the widows of officers, the Secretaries or other recognised officers of the Military and Naval Clubs, and representatives of Regimental and Naval Messes and Canteens.’¹

The venture proved a resounding success, expanding from its original store in London’s Victoria Street to others at home and in the Colonies.² The same could not be said for Major McCrea who, at the London Bankruptcy Court on 11 August 1905, applied for an order of discharge. Described as formerly managing director of the Army and Navy Co-operative Society and of 42 Lowndes Street, London, S.W., it was stated that his liabilities amounted to £12,085 and his assents so far realised as £1,512. ‘Debtor had acted as a director of various companies, and attributed his failure, among other causes, to losses on bills accepted for the accommodation of other person and heavy interest on borrowed money.’ His application for discharge was accepted, ‘upon the debtor consenting to a judgment for £1,260, to be satisfied by payment of £150 a year.’³

‘MAJOR F.B. McCREA.

‘Major Frederick Bradford McCrea, late of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, founder of the Army and Navy Stores, died on Thursday night [12 February 1914] at his flat in Army and Navy Mansions, Victoria-street, aged 80 years.

‘The stores, which were started with a capital of £15,000 over 40 years ago, were looked upon as a highly speculative enterprise, but have brought very large profits to those who ventured to put their money in at the start, and who now receive a dividend of 300 per cent. on the original shares. Major McCrea, however, did not himself make much money. He was well known to the employees, by whom his death is greatly regretted.’⁴

McCrea was predeceased by his wife, Frederica Charlotte (1842-1894), daughter of John Francis Wetherall (1805-1842), and survived by their three sons and one daughter.

Notes

1. The Echo, London, Thursday, 12 October 1871, p. 8d

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_%26_Navy_Stores_(United_Kingdom), accessed 20 September 2023

3. Lincolnshire Echo, Saturday, 12 August 1905, p. 3b

4. The Mail, London, Monday, 16 February 1914, p. 8d