Percy Overton Crawford signature

On this day in 1916 Percy Overton Crawford, a fireman, signed up in Bancroft. He was born on November 27th, 1889 in Tyendinaga, the son of John Crawford, a Mohawk, and Elizabeth (née Sager). His younger brother, Cecil Earnest Crawford, had enlisted on the previous day. When Percy signed up he gave his next of kin as his wife, Olive Elizabeth Crawford. The couple appear to have married in Manitoba in 1912: Olive’s maiden name was Colp. They couple had two sons, the eldest being born in Manitoba in 1912.

Like his brother, Percy Overton Crawford joined the 155th Battalion. His regimental number was 636596. His complexion was “slightly dark” and he had brown eyes and dark brown hair. His service record shows that he also arrived in England on October 28th, 1916 and was transferred to the 21st Battalion, with which he served in France.

In April 1917 Crawford was admitted to hospital with a fever (probably Trench fever). He subsequently suffered from acute rheumatism and from myalgia (a common after-effect of fever). His fitness was classified as ‘B2’ (able to walk five miles to and from work, see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes) in March 1918 and he spent the rest of the war at various military depots in England.

In 1921 Percy, Olive and their two sons were living in Thomas Street, Deseronto. Percy died in 1964.