Name
Ultimius George Crawley (MM)
22 Feb1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9829
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
6th Bn.
'D' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 96 to 98.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring, St. Lawrence's Church Memorial, Cholesbury, Buckinghamshire
Pre War
Ultimus George Crawley was born in Wigginton on 12 Feb 1893 to Samuel Crawley, farm labourer, and Sarah Margaret (nee Constable). Sarah died in 1894.
On the 1901 Census the widowed father, with George and brother Horace (born 1895) were lodging with the widow Ann Gomm at Chorlesbury Bottom, Tring.
George enlisted in the Royal Navy on 27 Apr 1910 as Seaman L/ 1856 and on the 1911 Census he is listed as an Officer’s steward at the Chatham Barracks. He was discharged on 25 Oct 1912. He lived at sometime at Cherrytree Cottages, Cholesbury Common (on the extreme edge of the Tring Parish)
Wartime Service
George enlisted in the Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry as Private, service number 9829, probably in Jan Feb 1913 (9838 joined on 3rd Feb 1913). No Service Record was found for George. It is known that he served on both the 5th & 6th (Service) Battalions as part of 14 th (Light) and 20th (Light) Divisions.
During 1917 both Divisions were present at the Battles of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) particularly Langemarck (16 – 18 Aug), Menin Road Ridge ( 20 -25 Sep). George was awarded the Military Med for Bravery in Aug 1917, probably for his actions at Langemarck when we know he was serving with 6th Battalion. George was the 6th when he was killed in action on 20 Sep 1917 at Menin Road Ridge.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £18 and arrears of £9 13s 8d was paid to half sister Mary Norwood. Brother Horace served as Driver M/322158 in the Army Service Corps from 16 May 1917 to 15 Nov 1918.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
