CRAWFORD A. B.
Alexander Basil Crawford
Captain
17th Bn., West Yorkshire Regt. (Prince of Wales's Own)
Alexander Basil Crawford died on Wednesday 10 May 1916, Age 24, and was buried in ST. VAAST POST MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE, Pas de Calais, France.
The Captain's Battalion, formed in Leeds as a Bantam Battalion, sailed with the 35th Division for France in January, 1916 and in May were in the Neuve Chapelle-Ferme du Bois Sector. On 10th May 1916 the Divisional History recorded "A few quiet days followed, during which Captain A. B. Crawford and Captain G. S. de Williams were unfortunately killed in the line by shell burst."
He was born c1892 at Coleshill, Warwickshire, to Dr. Alexander & Mrs Etty Crawford. Dr Alexander Crawford was the doctor at Healswood, Skegby, for a time around 1912, and was well loved by his local patients.
At the time of the 1901 census, the family were living in Coleshill, Warwickshire, and Alexander's birthplace was given as Coleshill. (although the www.cwgc.org gives his birthplace as Skegby, Notts. I have found no evidence of the family in Skegby before 1912) Dr. Alexander Crawford was recorded as a native of Scotland and described as a Surgeon.
Captain Crawford played first class Cricket before the war, and details of his career can be found at Wisden Cric-info.
At the time of his death his parents were residing at Little Coxwell, Faringdon, Berks.
From ‘Officers who died in the Great War 1914-19’
Alexander Basil CRAWFORD, Cpt (TP), 17th Bn. Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire
Regiment). Killed in Action, 10th May 1916
Research by Heather Faulkes and Brian Thurman
Photograph kindly supplied by Brian Thurman
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