George William Crawford
Date of birth: 1919
Date of death: 20.1.1943
Area: Knottingley
Regiment: Royal Navy
Family information: Son of George Reuben Crawford and Alice Crawford nee Rhodes
Rank: Stoker
Service number: C/KX107328
War Service
Stoker 1st Class George William Crawford RN was on HMS Stronghold when it was bombed and sank off Java on 3rd March 1942. Fifty men were rescued by the captured Dutch ship SS Sigli and transferred to the Japanese Navy cruiser Maya. His parents, living at 7, West View, Womersley Road were notified in September 1943 that he had died in a Prisoner of War camp at Fukuoka. He had in fact died, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on 20th January 1943. He was buried in the Yokohama War Cemetery and a memorial was later unveiled on the site of the prisoner of war camp.
Pontefract & Castleford Express 26 March 1943 p5
“AFTER TWELVE MONTHS
Mr & Mrs Crawford of 7 West View, Womersley Road, Knottingley, have received news from the Admiralty, that their only son, G W Crawford, is a prisoner of war in the Fukuoka Camp, Japan. Just over twelve months ago he was reported missing when the destroyer on which he was serving as a Stoker was sunk in the battle of Java Seas and his parents had given up hope of his survival. He joined the Navy in May 1940 and went overseas in January 1942. Formerly he worked as a sorter for Messrs Bagley & Co.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 10 September 1943 p7
“DIED IN JAP PRISON
Mr and Mrs Crawford of 7 West View, Womersley Road, Knottingley, have received official notification that their son Stoker G W Crawford, has died in the Japanese prison camp at Fukuoka. He joined the Royal Navy in 1940 as a stoker and went to the Far East in 1941. After the battle of the Java Seas he was reported missing, and there was no further news of him until the report of his death. Stoker Crawford was formerly a member of St Botolph’s Church Lads Brigade and was employed at Bagley’s Works. He had a cheerful personality and will be missed by many people in Knottingley.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 17 September 1943 p6 (with photo)
“ DIED IN JAPANESE PRISON
Mr and Mrs Crawford of 7 West View, Womersley Road, Knottingley, have received official notification that their son Stoker G W Crawford, has died in the Japanese prison camp at Fukuoka.
Family Life
George William Crawford was born in the fourth quarter of 1919 and his birth was registered at Pontefract. He was the son of George Reuben Crawford and Alice nee Rhodes who married on 18th February 1922 at St Luke’s Church, Darrington.
Yokohama War Cemetery
