Name
Harold Robin Crawley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
S/10732
Rifle Brigade
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 16 B and 16 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials, Not on the Watford memorials, Not on the Aldbury memorials
Pre War
Son of the late Joseph and Sabina (nee THORN) CRAWLEY.
His parents married 20 April 1872 at St Mary the Virgin, Edlesborough, Bucks. Joseph died 1891 and was buried 16 December at St John the Baptist, Aldbury, Herts; Sabina died 1901 and was buried 23 February, also at St John the Baptist, Aldbury.
Harold was born 1890 in Aldbury or Tring, Herts, and baptised 6 April 1890 at St John the Baptist, Aldbury. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, aged 1 he lived in Aldbury, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1901 Census, a scholar aged 11, he was a pupil at King Edward’s School, Witley, Surrey. On the 1911 Census, a boot repairer aged 21, he was a boarder in Watford.
Recorded as born in Tring and was living in Watford when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
He was attested for Short Service (Duration of the War) in the Rifle Brigade, 17 May 1915 in Watford: a bootmaker aged 24, unmarried, of Watford; he joined the Battalion in Thetford 15 October 1915.
He was wounded in the right hand and legs 16 March 1916 and was sent to no. 42 Field Ambulance, then to no. 14 Dressing Station 17 March 1916, and finally to 48 Casualty Clearing Station 22 March 1916; he rejoined his Battalion 1 April 1916.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 7 October 1915; the medals to be sent to his sister, Mrs Frances J COOK of Watford; and was missing presumed killed in action.
Biography
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
