Name
Charles Jesse Crawley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/06/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/11905
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring, Not on the Aldbury memorials
Pre War
Charles Jesse Crawley was born in1889 in Aldbury, to Joseph Crawley, farm labourer, and Sabina (nee Thorn). His parents married 20 Apr 1872 at St Mary the Virgin, Edlesborough, Bucks. Joseph died 1891 (one of two men murdered by poachers in Stocks Woodland and was buried 16 Dec at St John the Baptist, Aldbury, Herts; Sabina died 1901 and was buried 23 Feb, also at St John the Baptist, Aldbury.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Lilian, (born 1882), Ada (born 1884). Kate (born1886), Charles and Harold, (born 1890) were living at Slated Row, Aldbury.
In 1900 he attended King Edwards School, Witley, Surrey.
Charles enlisted in Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment) on 19 Sep 1907 as Private L/11905 for 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in Reserve., joining at Mill Hill on 26 Sep 1907. He was posted to 2nd Battalion on 4 Oct 1907 and to 1st Battalion on 20 Jan 1909. Charles served in India at Allahbad and Cawnpore before returning to UK on 31 Dec 1913.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War Charles was still serving and went France on 16 Aug 1914 to join 1st Battalion which became part of 19 Brigade.
He was wounded with a bayonet wound to his hand on 29 Oct 1914 and returned to UK on 1 Nov 1914 before transferring to 5th (Reserve) Battalion at Mill Hill on 1 Dec 1914.
On 1 Apr 1915 he was posted 2nd Battalion in 8th Division in the BEF and was killed in action on 2 Jun 1915 during a period between major engagements. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £9 6s 2d was shared by his sisters. Brother Harold Robin Crawley served with 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade and was killed in action on 15 Sep 1916.
Extracts from a letter from the Archivist of King Edward’s School, Witley, Godalming:
“Thank you for your letter regarding Charles Jesse Crawley and your request for information about his time at King Edward’s School, Witley. As you might be aware when Charles was admitted to Bridewell Royal Hospital, King Edward’s School, Witley in 1900 the school was very different from the school today. All boys were fatherless or orphans and either their school or church would have made a Petition to Bridewell Royal Hospital for them to enter King Edward’s as a deserving case. The boys were given a good Christian education, an ‘occupation’ to teach them skills to fit them for life and plenty of drill and exercise. The boys wore a naval uniform and slept in hammocks. Charles and Harold were both eligible to come to School given the tragic circumstances of their father’s death and the early death of their mother . . . .Charles was born in 1888, one of 7 children. Their father, a gamekeeper, was killed in 1891 by poachers and so when old enough he and his brother Harold were sent to KES. He came in 1900 from his home in Aldbury. He was described as a very good tailor. Sadly his mother died in 1901 and when he left in 1903 he went to work in the household of the President, Sir George Faudel-Phillips. He did not stay there long and returned to Aldbury to be a butcher. In 1907 he joined the Middlesex Regiment."
Charles was killed in action and has no known grave. In 1907 when he joined up he was described as ‘honest, clean, intelligent and trustworthy’. He was part of the British Expeditionary Force and saw action almost immediately. He was killed during day to day trench warfare in the Ypres area. His younger brother was killed in 1916, both men were 26 years old when they died.”
From the Bucks Herald, 3rd July 1915: “We have another name to add to our lengthening Roll of Honour − Charles Crawley, Private in 1st Middlesex Regiment, who at the beginning of the war, was called up to re-join the Colours, and has, from the first, been with our expeditionary Force in France. In the Spring he was slightly wounded, but made a good recovery, alas! very shortly afterwards to meet his death. The following letter tells us how he died:
3rd June 1915.
It is with many regrets that I have to inform you that my dearest friend, your brother, Charles Crawley, was killed in action at 5.10 p.m. yesterday, the 2nd June. The enemy was bombarding the trenches, and a highly explosive shell burst through the roof of the dug-out he was in, burying him in the debris. When the rescue party were able to get him out , I am given to understand that he merely murmured ‘Oh, mother, Oh! mother,’ expiring immediately. He was not wounded; so apparently it was shock shock which caused his death. I feel the loss acutely."
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
