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
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials, Not on the Watford memorials, Not on the Aldbury memorials
Pre War
Harold Robin Crawley was born in 1890 in Aldbury, Herts, (baptised 6 Apr 1890 at St John the Baptist, 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 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.
On the 1891 Census the family consisting of parents,, Lilian (born1882), Ada (born 1884). Kate (born1886), Charles (born 1889) and Harold, were still living at Slated Row, Aldbury.
On the 1901 Census, a scholar aged 11, Harold was a pupil at King Edward’s School, Witley, Surrey.
On the 1911 Census, a boot repairer aged 21, he was a boarder at 89, Eastcourt Road, Watford with the Shatton family.
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; (52 Yarmouth Road, sister Frances’s home). He joined at Winchester on 20 May 1915.
Harold went to France on 6 Oct 1915 and he joined the 9th (Service) Battalion in the field on 15 Oct 1915. He was wounded in the right hand and legs 16 Mar 1916 and was sent to no. 42 Field Ambulance, then to no. 14 Dressing Station 17 Mar 1916, and finally to 48 Casualty Clearing Station 22 March 1916; he re-joined his Battalion 1 Apr 1916.
His Battalion were part of 14 Light Division and took part in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 particularly Delville Wood (15 Jul-3 Sep) and Flers-Courcelette 15-22 Sep). In this last action Harold was reported missing and his death was recorded as killed in action on 15 Sep 1916, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered in the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Biography
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £10 7s 6d was shared by his sisters. Brother Charles Jesse Crawley served as Private l/11905 in 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and was lilled in action on 2 Jun 1915.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
