Poppy In memoriam Poppy

Private Arthur Sydney Crawford

 

 

Arthur Sidney Crawford was born on 28 March 1894 in Mount Merrion, Booterstown, County Dublin, the last of at least six children of Scottish-born land steward Hugh Crawford and his Welsh-born wife Jane (née Morris). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Mount Merrion with his father and step-mother (his mother having died a year earlier), and working as an apprentice cabinet-maker.

Crawford enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast between 5 and 16 November 1914 (No.1345). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve base before embarking for France on 17 November 1915 with F Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 33rd Division.

In June 1916 F Squadron combined with C Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps.

In August-September 1917 the 2nd (NIH) Regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Crawford, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Crawford was issued regimental number 41485 and posted to A Company.

He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.

Crawford was one of the many posted as missing following the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918 during the German spring offensive. His death was later presumed to have occurred at this time.

Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Panel 77. His name is also included on the roll of honour in the St Philip and St James Church, Blackrock, Dublin (see image below).

It is possible that his body is one of two unidentified North Irish Horsemen who lie in the Grand Seraucourt British Cemetery.

 

One of Crawford's brothers, Ernest John, also served in the war in the 48th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was wounded three times while serving in France.

 

 

 

Roll of Honour, St Philip and St James Church, Blackrock, Dublin

 


Images 1 and 2 Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. Image 3 sourced from the Irish War Memorials site.

 

This page last updated 19 March 2024.