CRAWFORD Arthur William

Arthur William Crawford was born at Bromsgrove in 1895 the son of Arthur and Ellen Crawford nee Liddal.
Arthur was a farm labourer and the couple had at 8 children including:-
Beatrice May Crawford born 1892.
Alice Hannah Crawford born 1894.
Arthur William Crawford born 1895.
Enoch Crawford born 1896.
Harold Crawford born 1905.
Ellen Crawford born 1907.
Frank Crawford born 1908.
The family resided at Fleetwood, Staple Hill, Bromsgrove.

Arthur junior was a farm labourer who subsequently worked at the Austin Motor Company.  He enlisted at Birmingham in September 1914 and went to France on 28th July 1915.

Taken from the Bromsgrove Droitwich and Redditch Messenger dated 1st June 1918:
Mr A Crawford, Fleetwood, Staple Hill, received a telegram last week stating that his son, 12320, Private A Crawford, North Staffs Regiment, died on May 21st in hospital in Rouen.  It had previously been reported that deceased was suffering from gas poisoning.  Deceased was aged 24, and unmarried.  Before the war he was employed at the Motor Works at Longbridge and joined up in September 1914.  He had been on active service since the autumn of that year, and until he was gassed, had come through the campaign without mishap.  The report includes a photograph of Arthur Crawford.

His brother, Enoch Crawford, 32328, 8th battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, was killed in action on 25th August 1918.

The following information has been researched by Andrew Bate:
1901 census
The Platform, North Bromsgrove
Levi Liddle, head, widower, aged 67, Gardener domestic
Arthur Crawford, son in law, aged 37, Carter on farm
Ellen Crawford, daughter, aged 38
Albert Crawford, grandson, aged 13
May Crawford, granddaughter, aged 10
Alice Crawford, granddaughter, aged 7
Arthur Crawford, grandson, aged 6
Enoch Crawford, grandson, aged 5
William Liddle, grandson, aged 25, Agricultural labourer

1911 Census
Fleet Wood, Staple Hill, Bromsgrove
Arthur Crawford, head, aged 44, Farm Labourer
Ellen Crawford, wife, aged 45, married 22 years, 8 children, 7 still living 1 died
Albert Crawford, son, aged 23, Waggoner on Farm
Beatrice May Crawford, daughter, aged 19, Glass Blower
Alice Hannah Crawford, daughter, aged 17
Arthur William Crawford, son, aged 16, Farm Labourer
Enoch Crawford, son, aged 14, Gardeners Labourer
Harold Crawford, son, aged 6
Ellen Crawford, daughter, aged 3
Hanah Crawford, daughter, aged 2