Pte 24448 Alexander Crawford

• Age: 19
• From: Montreal, Canada
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Alexander Crawford was born in  Montreal, Canada on the 19th June 1897, the son of John and Harriet (nee Evans) Crawford who were married on the 9th July 1895 at St Philip’s Anglican Church, Montreal by the Rev. Sweeney. He was later baptised on the 29th June 1897.  

His parents had moved to Canada from Liverpool in about 1892-95, although they cannot be found on passenger lists.   

His mother Harriet, aged 15, is possibly found on the passenger list of the Allan Line SS “Parisian” leaving Liverpool on the 8th May 1892 bound for Quebec, there does not seem to be any other family members with her. 

His father, on the marriage document, was the son of John Crawford and Caroline Dixon of Montreal, but no UK marriages have been found. 

His father died on the 14th Dec 1898 and was buried at St Mathias Anglican Church, Westmount, Montreal. 

Alexander had an older brother, John Clark Crawford, who was also born in Montreal, in about 1895. After the death of her husband Harriet returned with her two sons to Liverpool. At his brother, John's, marriage in 1918 his father's occupation was given as electrician. 

By 1901 his mother is working as a general domestic servant in the household of Charles and Clara Ing, in Rutter Street. Three-year old Alex Crawford is boarding with William and Elizabeth Meadows and their daughter Marion in Luke Street. Elizabeth appears to be a relative, perhaps the sister in law, of Harriet, as her maiden name is Crawford. (It is known John was from Montreal) 

His mother Harriet remarried in 1904 to Richard Cramp. At the time of her marriage she was 26, a widow, living at 19 Powis Street, whilst widower Richard was a 34 year old butcher of 20 Rhiwlas St. 

In 1911 Alexander is living with his mother and stepfather at 23 Northbrook Street, Princes Park, Liverpool.

Head of household is step-father, Richard Cramp, a journeyman butcher. There are step-siblings Clara, Richard, and James. Alexander is 14 and employed as a chandler’s boy; his brother John is 16 and a wool broker's clerk.

Sadly, Richard died in November 1915 aged 45, and Harriet was again left widowed with a number of young children. 

Another daughter, Alice, was born in 1916.

Alexander enlisted in Liverpool in about January 1915, when he was 17 years old, joining the 20^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, as Private 24448.  

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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. 

Alexander sailed for France with his battalion, arriving in Boulogne on 07^th November 1915.

By January 1916 the battalion has taken up position in the south of the Somme line, near Carnoy and then in May moved to Abbeville for specialist training in preparation for the ‘Big Push’. Alexander fought in the Battle of the Somme, surviving the notorious first day, when the 20^th Battalion took its objectives, suffering 100 casualties. On 30^th July 1916 the battalion was involved in the attack on Guillemont, a heavily fortified village.

It was during this attack Alexander Crawford was killed in action. He was 19 years old.

30th July 1916

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.  

His death was announced among the K.L.R. Killed in the Liverpool Echo on 21st August 1916:

"Private Alec Crawford. Joined the "Pals" when 17 years of age, and went to the front November last. His brother is wounded. Lived with his mother at 23, Northbrook Street, Prince's Park, LIverpool."

Alec's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Alexander’s effects including a War Gratuity of £6 went to his mother, Harriet Cramp, of 23 Northbrook St. Princes Park, Liverpool.

He earned his three medals.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont his family paid tribute to Alec:

“In loving memory of my dear son Alec, killed in action July 30, 1916. (Never to be forgotten by his Mother and Brother Jack, 23 Northbrook Street, also his chum Ernie.”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

Crawford, Leyland - In cherished memory of my dear chums, Alec Crawford and Freddie Leyland, killed in action, July, 1916. (Two young heroes) - Ernie."

(Pte. F. W. Leyland, 6678 Royal Berks Reg., of Arundel Street, Prince's Road, Liverpool, KIA 19/07/1916, age 19. He rests at Laventie Military Cemetery)

The Pension Ledger shows beneficiaries as his mother Harriet, and ‘child J.C. Crawford’.

Another pension card shows living soldier J.C Crawford, 30167 20th K.L.R.

His brother John Clark Crawford had enlisted in June 1915, also served as a Liverpool Pal in the 20th Battalion of the K.L.R., and was wounded in action during the first days of the Battle of the Somme, as his name was listed among the K.L.R. wounded on 14th August 1916. He was later posted to the Loyal North Lancs Regiment and suffered a shrapnel wound to the wrist in September 1917. He was transferred to the Western Command Labour Corps, and was discharged on 25th December 1917 with a Silver War Badge and a 40% disability pension, aged 21.

In 1939 his mother Harriet, 63, was still living at 23 Northbrook Street with Clara, 33, and Alice, 23.

Sadly, Harriet suffered the loss of another son when John died in 1956, aged 61. She died in 1964 aged 88.

Alec is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 11 Right

Canadian Virtual War Memorial Book of Remembrance, Page 570.

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