Name
Herbert Thomas Crawley
20 April 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/05/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Worcestershire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CINQ RUES BRITISH CEMETERY, HAZEBROUCK
C. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
THERE IS A LINK DEATH CANNOT SEVER LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LAST FOR EVER
UK & Other Memorials
GB Kent & Sons (Kent Brushes) Memorial, Apsley,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Henry Thomas Crawley was born in Bethnal Green on 20 April 1883, the eldest child of Henry and Maria Crawley. He was one of seven children, although his brother Robert died in infancy.
He attended Globe Road School, Bethnal Green and on the 1891 Census the family were living at 20 Hartley Street, Bethnal Green where his father was a chair maker. They remained in Hartley Street, in 1901 but by 1911 Henry had moved out of the family home and was a boarder at the home of Walter and Annie Howell in Ivy Cottage, Durrants Hill Road, Hemel Hempstead, and was employed as a Bone Cutter in the toothbrush trade (G B Kent & Sons (Kent's Brushes), Apsley.
Wartime Service
Soon after the outbreak of war, Henry enlisted in Hackney and joined the Hampshire Regiment. He was sent to Winchester for basic training and was then posted to the 11th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers),
He was sent to France in December 1915 and saw serious action the following year at the Battle of Guillemont and Battle of Cinchy, both part of the Somme Offensive. He quickly rose through the ranks, being promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on 5 July 1916.
He applied for a commission and was successful, returning to England in late December 1916. On 7 February 1917 he transferred to the 10th Officer Cadet Battalion and went to Gailes Camp, near Troon, Ayrshire, to begin officer training. After four months there he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and posted to the 6th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment at Harwich Garrison for a short time before being sent to France, joining the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment in July 1917. He saw action in the Battle of Langemarck in August, but was wounded on 9 October, being hit in the thigh by shrapnel during the Battle of Broodseinde. He was admitted to the 10th Red Cross Hospital at Le Treport, France and wrote to colleagues at G B Kents describing his experience, a letter which was reported in the local newspaper. He wrote that he didn't know whether he would get to England or not, but hoped he would as "it would be a change again to see something of home". It is likely that he was sent to England to for convalescence as his return to the regiment was reported in the battalion war diary on 26 April 1918.
Sadly, just ten days after his return, Henry was wounded when he was hit by enemy machine gun fire. He was taken out of the line for treatment but died of his wounds at the 89th Field Ambulance on 6 May 1918, aged 35. He is buried at Cinq Rues British Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France which was used mainly by Field Ambulances.
Additional Information
His father, Henry Thomas Crawley, 20 Hartley Street, Boner Street, Bethnal Green, ordered his headstone inscription: "THERE IS A LINK DEATH CANNOT SEVER LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LAST FOR EVER".
His father received a war gratuity of £22 10s and pay owing of £81 2s.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
