Corporal George Crozier
George Crozier was born on 31 December 1887 at Knocknashane, Lurgan, County Armagh, the ninth of ten children of damask weaver William Crozier and his wife Catherine (nee Watson). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Gilford Road, Lurgan, with his father, two siblings and a nephew, and working as a postman. On 29 October 1913 he married Lily Hopps at the Church of Ireland Parish Church, Lurgan. The couple had two children over the next five years.
Crozier enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 23 February and 28 March 1912 (No.693). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
In June 1916 C Squadron combined with F Squadron and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until September 1917, when the regiment was disbanded and its men transferred to the infantry. Like most, Crozier joined the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – on 20 September. He was issued regimental number 41384 and posted to B Company. It is likely that he saw action with the battalion in the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Crozier was one of the many posted as missing following the battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin to near Amiens from 21 to 28 March 1918. It was later learned that he had been captured, unwounded, on 27 March at Erches, near Roye.
Crozier remained a prisoner until the end of the war, held at camps in Giessen, Meschede, Stargard and Altdamm. He was released in the months following the Armistice and returned to the UK. He was discharged on 25 March 1919. He claimed a pension due to 'debility' caused by his military service, which was granted from 17 September 1919.
Crozier lived at 26 Wellington Street, Lurgan, for the rest of his life. He died at the Lurgan and Portadown Hospital on 14 August 1954 and was buried in the New Cemetery, Lurgan.