Name
Philip Townsend Crowther
22 Nov 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/05/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Engineers
211th Field Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALBUERA CEMETERY, BAILLEUL-SIRE-BERTHOULT
North A. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
NOW IN THY SPLENDOUR GO BEFORE US SPIRIT OF ENGLAND
UK & Other Memorials
Aldenham School Memorial, Aldenham
Pre War
Born in Fixby, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Only son of John Herbert and Hannah Elizabeth Crowther, of The Wood, Fixby, Huddersfield.
Wartime Service
Killed in action.
Biography
Philip Townsend Crowther left Aldenham in1901 and spent 3 years in Mechanical Engineering afterward entering Leeds University gaining a BSc in Civil Engineering and also Institution of Civil Engineering examinations. He then went to Canada in spring 1912 where he was employed as a Civil Engineer for Canadian Northern Railway & Intercolonial Railway. At the outbreak of war in Aug 14 he enlisted in Canadian Engineers but was rejected after one month due to poor eyesight. He returned to England in Dec 14 and joined Leeds University Officer Training Corps and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Feb 1915. and Lieutenant in Aug 1915. He served in Egypt Dec 1915 to Mar 1916 and France & Flanders from March 1916 until Nov 1916.
After Home Leave He transferred to Royal Engineers and trained in Newark, Notts. He was gazetted to Royal Engineers Feb 1917. He returned to France 10 Mar 1917. Where He joined 211 Field Company RE and was killed in action North East of Arras 5 May 1917.
His Colonel wrote: ’ A party of infantry were to take part of a German trench and your son had the duty of setting out a communication trench into it as soon as it was captured. He did his job with his usual care and thoroughness in spite of very heavy shellfire. He had just finished when he was killed by a %.9 shell being hit in the shoulder and heart……. The loss to us is very great and we are all upset. He was always so cheery and good tempered. It is men like him we cannot afford to lose.’
His former Colonel (KOYLI) said ‘your son was extremely popular with everyone – officers and men. He was a fine character, and always a most conscientious and courageous officer. He did his work thoroughly no matter what it was……He finished his work, indeed, and we are all proud that he was one with us.’
Additional Information
His headstone's inscription was ordered by Mrs H E Crowther of Rose Cottage, Woodhouse, Huddersfield. "NOW IN THY SPLENDOUR GO BEFORE US SPIRIT OF ENGLAND"
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
