Pair: Private A. Crawford, Gordon Highlanders, who was killed in action on the Western...

Pair: Private A. Crawford, Gordon Highlanders, who was killed in action on the Western Front in April 1918, one of three young Scots brothers to die in the Great War British War and Victory Medals (6096 Pte. A. Crawford. Gordons.) patches of staining to VM, good very fine (2) £70-£90 --- Alexander Crawford was born in the Parish of Eastwood, Renfrewshire, around 1896, the son of printfield labourer John Crawford and his wife Elizabeth. Widowed at a young age, Elizabeth set about raising alone four sons and two daughters at 11 Main Street Back, Thorliebank, Glasgow. Posted to the Western Front with the 4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, Alexander soon heard the news of the death of his brother Richard (S/40918 Private, Gordon Highlanders), who was killed in action on 9 April 1917. A few months later, news would have filtered through of the death of his brother John (278571 Private, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), who died on 15 July 1917. Remaining in the trenches, Alexander Crawford was killed in action during the opening attacks of Operation Georgette sometime between 9 and 13 April 1918, as fast-moving German infantry attempted to overrun the Portuguese-held front line and force the British back towards the Channel ports. Aged 22 years, he has no known grave and is commemorated upon the Loos Memorial. A letter from Elizabeth contained in the Army Service Record of Richard Crawford details her feelings: ‘I lost 3 sons in this cruel war, all I had...’