Born: 1897, Idle
Died:
Buried:
Address:Tomlinson Buildings, Idle
Parents: Tom & Martha Eliza
Spouse:
Siblings: William, John, Grace
Occupation: Doffer in spinning room (1911)
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Able Seaman
Medals/awards: Military Medal, Croix de Guerre
Rolls of Honour:
Children:
Regiment: Royal Marines
Fred Crabtree
Fred Crabtree was the youngest of
four children of quarryman Tom
Crabtree and his wife Martha Eliza.
Tom died sometime between the
1901 and 1911 census returns and
by the latter Fred was listed as a
doffer in a spinning room.
Given the medals he was awarded
we have very little detail of Fred’s
war and one gets the impression a
mixture of paper shortages and war
fatigue meant newspapers were
giving less coverage of individual
stories.
The first mention is in the Shipley
Times & Express on 18 January
1918:
“Driver Willie Crabtree, R.F.A.,
and his brother A.B. Fred Crabtree,
of Greenfield Lane, were home on
leave last week.
“The former has been in France
about three years whilst Fred has
had 14 months’ active service. Both
have taken part in the most
important operations.”
The following week the newspaper
reported:
“Fred Crabtree of Greenfield Lane,
who is in the Royal Marines, has
been awarded the Military Medal.
“He has been in the forces for over
two years and has served on the
Continent for about 16 months.
“Before enlisting he was employed
by Messrs J & P Obank, Idle. He is
brother to Driver Willie Crabtree.”
On the 8 March the paper published
another story about Fred:
“A.B. Fred Crabtree, Royal
Marines, of 8 Tomlinson Buildings,
Idle, was awarded the Military
Medal towards the end of January
and has now won the Belgian Croix
de Guerre for bravery in action.
“Aged 22, he enlisted three years
ago and went to the front a year
later. He worked for a building
firm.”
