Pte 16119 Hugh Crawford

• Age: 24
• From: Kirkdale, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 2nd July 1916
• Commemorated at: La Neuville Brit Cem Corbie
  Panel Ref: I.A.12

16119 Private Hugh Crawford, 17^th Battalion KLR.

Hugh Crawford was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool on 13th August 1891, the son of John and Charlotte Crawford (nee Hendry) who at the time of the war lived at 22 Wyresdale Road, Aintree, Liverpool. John and Charlotte had married in 1889 at West Derby Registry Office.

The 1901 Census shows Hugh aged 9 living with his mother and three siblings at 14 Mandeville Street, Walton, Liverpool. His father was a master mariner and was presumably away at sea at the time the Census was taken. His mother is 39 years of age, married and was born in Liverpool. His three siblings are shown as; Elizabeth aged 8, Catherine aged 6 and John aged 1. 

By 1911 the family are living at 22 Wyresdale Road, Walton. Hugh is now 19 years of age and is living with his mother and two siblings. His father is once again, presumably, away at sea. His mother advises that they have been married for 21 years and three of her four children have survived. Hugh's siblings are listed as: Catherine aged 16 and John aged 11. 

Hugh enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on the 04th September 1914, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16119. He gave his age as 23 years and 22 days and his occupation as an articled clerk in the offices of Messrs. Brighouse, Jones and Co, solicitors, Ormskirk. He was described as being 5" 11" tall, weight 132lbs of fresh complexion with grey eyes and brown hair. His religion is noted as Presbyterian.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Prior to leaving Liverpool for further training, Hugh married Nellie Owen on 17th March 1915 in Breeze Hill Presbyterian Church, Liverpool.

He sailed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

During the attack on the 01^st July 1916 Hugh was wounded in the chest, in his right side and in his thigh. He was initially treated at 96 Field Ambulance but transferred to 21 Casualty Clearing Station (Corbie) where he died on 02^nd July of his wounds (Gunshot wound to thorax, right thigh and right side Adm). (abdomen?).

The 17^th Battalion Diary describes the day during which Hugh was fatally wounded:

3.30 am the Battalion in position in assembly trenches -Battalion frontage from Maricourt – Briqueterie Rd to 100 yards west of Maricourt – Montauban Rd – 1^st wave, 2 platoons of A Company on the right and 2 platoons of B company on the left. 2^nd wave remaining platoons of these companies. 3^rd wave C Company and 4^th wave D Company in parallel trenches at about 100 yards distance. 3^rd Battalion 153^rd French Infantry on our right and 20 KLR on our left. The Battalion’s objective was Dublin Trench from Dublin Redoubt exclusive to a point 400 yards west.

7.30 am – “Zero Hour”. The assault commenced, some shelling but very slight infantry resistance and little machine gun fire encountered, the work of our artillery having been very effective on the German trenches.

8.30 am – the objective was taken at 08.30 am the French on our right gaining their’s at the same hour. Lieutenant-Colonel B C Fairfax and Commandant Le Petit commanding 3^rd Battalion 153^rd Regiment arrived together in Dublin Trench. A and B Companies dug in almost 100 yards south of Dublin Trench which the Germans shelled intermittently all day hardly touching the new trench. Casualties up to 12 noon, Captain E C Torrey commanding C Company, Lt D H Scott commanding A Company and 2^nd Lieutenant P L Wright wounded 100 other ranks. Later in the day the 90^th Brigade took Montauban and the 20^th KLR captured the Briqueterie. Lt Scott died of wounds in a French hospital at Cerisy where Captain Mirascou commanding the left Company of the French also lay wounded. Perfect liaison existed between the French and ourselves the above two officers commanding respectively our right Company and the French left Company being in constant touch. Shortly after the attack commenced the Battalion Headquarters moved to a German dugout in Favieres Support under Briqueterie Road where Commandant Le Petit also established his H.Q. During the remainder of the day there was intermittent bombardment of Dublin and Casement and  Favieres Support trenches. Rations were brought up safely at night. Disposition of the Battalion – 2 Companies in Dublin and 2 in Casement.

Hugh now rests at La Neuville British Cemetery, France.

In April 1916, No.21 Casualty Clearing Station came to La Neuville and remained there throughout the 1916 Battles of the Somme, until March 1917. La Neuville British Cemetery was opened early in July 1916. Most of the burials date from this period, but a few graves were added during the fighting on the Somme in 1918. Neuville British Cemetery contains 866 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 27 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He is also commemorated in teh Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 9 Left

on the family headstone which reads:-

also HUGH CRAWFORD 17th Kings L'Pool Reg't PALS

Husband of Nellie

Son of John and Charlotte Crawford

Who Died of Wounds in France

2nd July 1916 Aged 25 Years

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post of 19th July 1916:

"Private Hugh Crawford, 25 years of age, husband of Nellie Crawford, Dunluce-street, Walton, and elder son of Mr.and Mrs.J.Crawford, Wyresdale-road, Aintree, died of wounds".  

Liverpool Echo 20th July 1916

CRAWFORD - July 2, Private Hugh Crawford, from wounds in action, in his 25th year, Private Hugh Crawford (of the "Pals"), the dearly-loved husband of Nellie Crawford (nee Owen), 37 Dunluce Street, Walton.

CRAWFORD - July 2, Private Hugh Crawford, from wounds in action, in his 25th year, Private Hugh Crawford (of the "Pals"), the dearly-loved elder son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Crawford, 22 Wyresdale-road, Aintree.

He was also reported as having died of wounds in the Liverpool Daily Post on 02nd August 1916.

His widow, Nellie, received a war pension of 10/ a week. She also received £210 from her husbands Will. Nellie died 24 Mar 1985 at West Kirby, Wirral (family tree on Ancestry).

The following personal items of Hugh's were returned: - pkt of letters and photos, steel mirror, cigarette case, parade service book, scissors, pipe, pouch, testament, 2 knives, note book, farthing.

His father died in 1935 aged 74 and his mother died in 1947 aged 85.

We currently have no further information on Hugh Crawford, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.