Samuel's Story.
Son of Samuel and Sarah Jane Crawford, The Chapel House, Minshull Vernon, Crewe.
Samuel was a regular soldier when war broke out having served for the past 5 years. He entered the theatre of war on 18th December 1914.
He was killed by a sniper on 25th January 1915 aged 22 years and is buried in
R.E. Farm Cemetery, Wytschaete, Belgium.
On 13th February 1915 the Crewe Chronicle printed the following article:
“CREWE MEN KILLED”
……Sergeant S Crawford of Minshull who was attached to the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment. His mother has received notice from the War Office that he was shot through the head in one of the recent battles.
In a letter to his mother the Captain of his Regiment says: Will you allow me to say how sorry I am to report the loss which you have sustained by the loss of your son who fell in action. He was in my company sometime before the war and I have reason to know of his sterling work, both as a soldier in times of peace as well as on active service. Just previous to his being shot himself he had accounted for a few of the enemy, That is to say he was firing not more than 150 yards from them and from what I know of his ability with a rifle I cannot think he would have missed much. He was always cool and collected and I am sure he died as he would have wished and all brave Englishmen do. It may be some consolation to you to know that his death was instantaneous and a cross has been erected over the place where he fell and was buried.
Sergeant Major T K McCreary, also of the Cheshires writing of the deceased’s death states “I am sorry to say that Sergeant Crawford and our officer Lieutenant Hand were both shot through the head. Sergeant Crawford said to me before he went to his trench, “I haven’t seen a German yet, and when I do see one I shall see him off”. I am afraid he got excited at seeing one on top of a trench and exposed himself too much. He immediately fired and dropped the German, but being over anxious to see the results he got up and a sniper on the look-out spied him and shot him dead. We buried them side by side in the dead of night. He died a soldier”
Samuel Crawford is buried in R E Farm Cemetery in Wytschaete. Belgium. A small and intimate cemetery set at the side of a small road to the side of a modest farm. Beside him lies Lieutenant Hand.