Sidney Kestin Crawford
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Sidney was the son of George, a farmer, and Mary Jane Crawford, (née Kestin ) of The Grange, Queniborough, Leicester. They had the following children , Sidney Kestin, Francis Gertrude, Elsie May, Mary Morris George Max and Roy Argyle. In 1895 George and Mary Jane were divorced and in 1901 George was living at Manor farm with his children apart from Sidney Kestin who was living with his uncle Walter Drinkwater and his wife at 'The Laurels' Queniborough. By 1911 Sidney was living with his father at Manor Farm. George had been married to Selina (née Cart) for nine years. In 1911 Sidney emigrated to Canada. Roy Argyle served with the Leicestershire Yeomanry and then with the Machine Gun Corps and survived the war. George Max died 12/6/1917 serving with the Leicestershire Yeomanry. Sidney's probate record was proven on 27th October 1937 in London. His effects of £118 15 shillings and six pence were left to his father.
Sidney enlisted in Winnepeg Canada on 6th December 1915. The certificate of medical examination which took place on the 3rd November 1915 in Winnepeg, shows that he was 5 foot 8 ¾ inches in height, had a chest measurement of 36 ½ to 38 ½ inches. His complexion was described as medium, with grey eyes and brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. He served with the Fort Garry Horse in the Canadian Cavalry and went to France in 1916 , but following the terrible conditions in the trenches during the winter of 1916 was admitted to the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station with nephritis on 16th February from which he died on 21st February 1917 at Bethune Hospital. He is buried in Lapugnoy Military cemetery Pas de Calais, Grave Reference II B 9 He is commemorated on the roll of honour in St Mary's church in Queniborough, where the family graves are also to be found.
On Friday March 16th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article: - 'QUENIBOROUGH' – DEATH OF TROOPER S. CRAWFORD. General sympathy is felt for Mr George Crawford, of the Manor Farm, Queniborough, on the loss sustained by the death of his eldest son, Sidney, of the Fort Garry (Canadian) Horse, in France. Deceased left Queniborough for the Dominion some six years ago, but soon after the outbreak of war enlisted and came with his regiment to England early in 1916. He spent a short leave at his old home in May last before crossing to France. The terrible winter conditions of trench warfare seem to have told upon his strength, and admitted to hospital of February 16th he succumbed to nephritis at the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station on the 21st. Mr Geo. Crawford’s three sons were all in France, and to add to the suspense and keenness of the bereavement the first account of the sad event did not indicate the name of the son who had died. Trooper Crawford was of a kind and lovable disposition, and was well known and greatly liked throughout the Queniborough and Syston district previous to his emigration to Canada.'
