Lieutenant Cedric Hugh CROWLEY
4th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment attached to 15 Platoon, D Company, 1st Battalion

Date of birth: 24th September 1891
Date of death: 25th April 1915

Killed in action aged 23
Commemorated on the Menin Gate Panel 57
He was born at St George’s Vicarage, Portsea in Hampshire on the 24th of September 1891 the eldest son of the Reverend Cedric Edwin Crowley, Vicar of Chilbolton, and Evaline (nee Golland) of Chilbolton Rectory, Stockbridge in Hampshire.

He was educated at the Junior King’s School from May 1903 and at the King’s School Canterbury to July 1909 where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps for a year. He went on to Keble College Oxford from October 1910 where he graduated with a BA in July 1913 and where he served as a Private in the Oxford University Officer Training Corps for three years. In September 1913 he accepted a position as an assistant master at a preparatory school at Bexhill-on-Sea.

Following the outbreak of war he applied to join the Territorial Army on the 13th of August 1914 but felt unable to commit to four years of service and so applied for a commission in the 4th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 25th of September 1914. He underwent a medical examination at Winchester on the 7th of September at which it was recorded that he was five feet six inches tall and that he weighed 140lbs. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Battalion on the 8th of October 1914.

He was attached to the 1st Battalion of his regiment in February 1915 and he embarked for France on the 18th February 1915 where he joined his battalion in the field at La Creche on the 25th of February. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 9th of April 1915.

On the morning of the 22nd of April 1915 the Germans released the fist gas in the history of warfare against French and Canadian troops outside Ypres. This led to a large gap in the Allied lines which they were desperate to fill. At 4pm on the 24th of April 1915 the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment received orders to advance and they moved forward via Vlamertinghe, halting outside Ypres from between 8pm and midnight during which time it started to rain and there was heavy shelling of Ypres which caused a number of fires to break out in the town. They left for Vielve at midnight where orders were received to play their part in attacking and recapturing the village of St Julien as well as to re-take Kitchener's Wood.

The Brigade attacked at 4.30am with the battalion attacking a wood on the left of the line with the 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in support. Due to insufficient preparatory shelling coupled with the heavy rifle and machine gun fire from the enemy trenches, and of the failure of the supporting units to move forward, the battalion was forced to retire to trenches at a farm near St Julien at around 7am. Cedric Crowley lead his men to the farmhouse, which was supposed to have been occupied by the Canadians but was instead found to be occupied by German troops. With no cover he attacked and continued to lead his men forward over open ground until he was killed close to the German positions. The battalion remained in action until they were relieved on the 30th of April.

His father received the following telegram dated the 28th of April 1915: -

"Deeply regret to inform you that Lieut. C.H. Crowley Warwickshire Regt. was killed in action 25th April - no further details- Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."

His Commanding Officer wrote:-

"Your son died gallantly leading his men close up to a German trench. He will be greatly missed among his brother officers with whom he was so popular."

His Captain wrote:-

"We were in reserve until the 24th, but that evening we were moved up to Ypres. We were told to occupy a farmhouse at St Julien which we were told was held by Canadians. We were advancing in open order---my company in front---and when quite close to the farm found it full of Germans and came under a terrific rifle and machine gun fire. Where your son's platoon was there was no dead ground or cover anywhere, and so he took his men on and was killed close up to the German trench. On that day the regiment lost six hundred and twelve men and sixteen officers."

In order to determine what had happened to him a number of statements were taken from a number of eyewitnesses.

Statement of Private Whitehouse 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment taken at the Australian Hospital Wimereaux on the 3rd of May 1915: -

"Killed east of Ypres at St Julien. Killed in an instant. "A week ago Saturday (ie 24th April sic) when we charged a German trench."

Statement of Corporal 1098 Hodder D Company, 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment taken at Hillcrest VAD Hospital, Radford Road, Coventry on the 15th of July 1915: -

"This officer was of medium height, very fair, thin, clean shaven about 23. Father a Major in the Warwicks (sic). British were making an attack on the German trenches, and informant saw Lieut. Crowley shot through the head, he died at once, at dawn April 25th., about 150 yards from the German trenches, the British fell back after the attack. Informant was wounded himself 2 or 3 minutes after. This took place when attacking St Julien."

Statement of Private 9199 Aston taken at No. 8 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne on the 23rd of July 1915: -

"I know this officer, he used to belong to the 4th battalion. He was shot through the head with an explosive bullet round Ypres way. I was told he had been a curate before the war. A chum of mine named Nash of D Coy was one of the burying party. He would furnish details of burial."

Statement of Sergeant 717 Franklin 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment taken at Theydon Towers Red Cross Hospital on the 26th of July 1915: -

"Informant states that Lt. Crowley was hit by machine gun fire about midday and carried in dead on a stretcher into a farm N.E. of Ypres. he was attended by M.O. Seaforths 2nd Batt."

His father applied for his medals on the 3rd of January 1919.

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Keble College Oxford.

Back