Name
Herbert Harry Crawley
15/02/1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/12/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
31480
Machine Gun Corps
164th Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VLAMERTINGHE MILITARY CEMETERY
V. A. 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
Langleybury Village Memorial, Not on the Kings Langley memorials
Pre War
Herbert Harry Crawley was born on 15th February 1897, in Kings Langley, Herts, son of Walter (Wallace) Crawley (B 1864) a Railway Platelayer and Agnes Crawley (1866 – 1902) (nee Seabrook). He was one of six children, Wallace E. (B 1887), Rose E. (B 1889), Albert E (B 1891), Charles (B 1893), and Harold F. (B 1901).
He was Baptised on 4th April 1897, in the Parish Church, Kings Langley.
1901 Census records Herbert aged 4, living with his parents, and five siblings, in Railway Cottages, Langleybury, Herts. His grandmother Sarah Seabrook and his cousin Charles Seabrook were also living with them.
In 1902 his mother Agnes Died aged 36. His father Walter remarried in March 1910, at St Paul’s Langleybury, Herts, to widow Marie Josephine (formerly) Bainier (nee Spaetig). They had one child George Walter Crawley in 1911.
No 1911 Census record were found for any members of the family.
Wartime Service
Herbert enlisted in Watford, Herts, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 23184. Later transferred to the 164th Company, Machine Gun Corps, (Infantry) with the new service number 31480.
Serving on the Western Front; he was Killed in Action on 20th December 1916. He is buried in the CWGC Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Grave Ref; V. A. 10.
Additional Information
He has a family inscription on his headstone. “GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN”. His stepmother Maria was awarded a Dependents Pension of 5/- a week from 7th August 1917. The value of his effects was £5-11s-9d, Pay Owing and £4, War Gratuity which also went to his Stepmother Marie. His half-brother George Walter Crawley was killed in WW11. Flight Sergeant 1189146 George Walter Crawley, Royal Air force (VR), No.1 Base Signal Radar Unit (B.S.R.U.) was aboard the Tank Landing Ship HMS LST-420 when it struck a mine outside Ostend Harbour, Belgium, on 7th November 1944, with the loss of 320 lives, only 31 survived.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
