A First War Medal Pair to Private Crawford who was Wounded at St.Julien & Tortured as a POW

British War Medal (17209 PTE. J. CRAWFORD. 7-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (17209 PTE. J. CRAWFORD. 7-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, original ribbon and scattered surface wear on the VM, pitting on the BWM, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Pay Records, Discharge Certificates and assorted research papers. Footnote: John Crawford was born on September 10, 1882 in Anfield Plains, County Durham, England. He immigrated to Canada in 1910 and on the 1911 Census, was listed as residing as a "lodger" in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He enlisted as a Private (17209) with the 7th Infantry Battalion "1st British Columbia Regiment", on September 2, 1914 at Kamloops, British Columbia, before travelling east and departing for service in Europe. Crawford signed his Attestation Paper, on September 23, 1914 at Camp Valcartier, at the age of 32, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Joseph Crawford of Medomsley, Durham, England, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single and that his trade was that of Coal Miner. The Battalion was raised in British Columbia and mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914, sailing on October 3, 1914 with a strength of 47 officers and 1,176 other ranks, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. Hart-McHarg, arriving in England ten days later. The following month, on November 20th, he was charged with "Overstaying Pass", and punished with stoppage of eighteen days' pay and forced to forfeit nine days' pay. Private Crawford, 7th Infantry Battalion, entered the French theatre on February 2, 1915. Eleven weeks later, he was wounded and gassed during the Battle of St. Julien, part of the Second Battle of Ypres. He was initially reported missing on April 24, 1915, then officially reported as a Prisoner of War at Giessen three weeks later, on May 15th. He was treated for a bullet wound to the head, as well as for the gassing, transferred to Langen-Moor Camp, followed by his internment at Soltau, on September 8, 1916. After over three and a half years as a Prisoner of War, upon the ceasing of hostilities, Crawford was repatriated and arrived in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England on December 27, 1918. However, his treatment as a Prisoner of War at Soltau was anything but humane. He was interviewed by British authorities after his release from captivity, the interviewer filing a stunning report on his behalf: "Brutal treatment of the most deliberate description fell to the lot of Private Crawford, a British Columbian at Langen-Moor Camp in March, 1916. On one occasion he was flung into a cell without excuse and attacked by a German "Feldwebel" (Sergeant), who used his fists and the butt of a rifle on his helpless victims. Crawford also describes the brutal attitude of the authorities at the same camp to Petty Officer Grovet who was bayoneted, struck with rifles and ultimately died at Soltau. This Canadian makes no complaint regarding his early treatment. Brutality began for him at Langen. An aggravating plan of Crawford's case is that he was sent to this camp having been adjudged unfit to work by a Belgian doctor at Lichtenborst. The specific treatment of ill-treatment that Crawford describes took place a few days after a general disturbance caused by the refusal of the Britishers to do the heavy work asked of them. It is noted that these men, all certified "Unfit" had been given the inquiries that they were being despatched to a convalescent camp. Crawford reported sick the following day. He had an injured ankle which had swollen in alarming manner as a result of the work he had been forced to do. About noon, a German Feldwebel accompanied by two sentries, dragged the Canadian from his billet, swore at him, thrust him in a small narrow cell and deprived him of all his clothing but pants and undervest. This despite Crawford's plea and efforts to show his attacker the state of is injured part. Thus he was left all night. Next morning, the Feldwebel and his men returned and greeted him as "English swine". Crawford stood up and was immediately knocked to the floor of the cell by the Feldwebel, who then secured a rifle and stuck his victim three times on the face with the butt, knocking two teeth out and breaking the little finger of Crawford's right hand. This brute went away, locked the door of the cell and returned within a few minutes to spit upon Crawford and again revile him as "English swine". Crawford was kept in this cell for ten days. The first two days he had no food. During the rest of the time he received a daily portion of black bread and water. This punishment was the sole work of the Feldwebel whom Crawford describes as a heavily-built man, weighing 180 pounds; height, 5 ft. 11 inches; age about 38; fair complexion; heavy red moustache. This man was at Langen-Moor from March to June, 1916, to Crawford's knowledge." In addition, the interviewer described what Crawford had witnessed in regards to the treatment of a fellow inmate: "Regarding the late Petty Officer Garrett of the Maori (or Crusader, taken captive during the evacuation at Dunkirk), Crawford states that he was beaten many times with rifles, and bayoneted from behind by sentries. He died a few days later at Soltau. The attack on the prisoner, nationality not stated nor suggested, took place immediately after a scene on parade in which British prisoners and an armed German guard of 25 bayonets took part. The Britishers, all convalescents, were ordered to do heavy work and refused. The sentries were called out and attempted to drive them by rush tactics. Apparently, Garrett, who was serious, was considered the ring-leader of a conspiracy." Crawford was subsequently posted to the British Columbia Regimental Depot, then taken on strength of the 1st Canadian Reserve Battalion at Seaford, Sussex on February 28, 1919. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated March 27, 1919 at Seaford, he was diagnosed with a small "Umbilical Hernia", the origin traced to January 1916, while he was in Germany and was "probably the result of a bad cough which he had (for) a time". The doctor noted that the hernia, although small, "at times it gets larger and is painful especially on bending over". While a Prisoner of War, he "was given a bandage to put on". However, on the plus side, there were no symptoms of gas present in his chest wall. It was determined by the Medical Board that the disability was permanent unless an operation was performed. He was declared Unfit for General Service (Category A) and designated for return to Canada, struck off strength to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park for return to Canada on April 5th, embarking for home on the 12th. Crawford was discharged upon demobilization on April 26, 1919, at Dispersal Station "T", Military District No. 11, in Vancouver, British Columbia, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge Class "A", number 174178. He applied for a War Service Gratuity and stated that he intended to reside at the Newcastle Hotel in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He died on May 5, 1951, at the age of 68. (C:55)