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Pte. Allan Crabtree
British Army 62nd Gen. Hosp Royal Army Medical Corps.
from:Burnley
(d.17th October 1918)
Allan Crabtree died of Broncho-Pneumonia at No.2 General Hospital in Le Havre, France on 17th October 1918, aged 25.
Burnley born Allan, was the only son of Barker and Elizabeth Ellen Crabtree, his father, a native of Todmorden was a dental mechanic who made and adapted artificial teeth. Allan followed his father into the dental profession and upon enlisting for the army he was shown as an unregistered dental mechanic.
In May 1915 Allan Crabtree married Sarah May Hayhurst, the following year a daughter, Marjorie was born and in 1916 their son, Fred arrived. Allan and May lived at 73 Oxford Road in the same house as his parents, a Baptist he was at one time connected to the Hollingreave Congregational Church. On the 24th August 1916 he was enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps, his records show that he was 5ft 4 inches, 108lbs and physically well developed.
Making use of his dental knowledge the army utilised him as a dental mechanic first in Italy and later at the military hospital in Valletta, Malta where as a specialist he was paid an extra 6d per day. he worked at the hospital between March 1917 and June 1918, he then embarked for Italy and landed at Taranto in early August before continuing to France. He spent time at home on leave in Burnley during September 1918 before returning to France on October 2nd. Two weeks later Allan Crabtree would be dead.
It was at Le Havre, France that Allan Crabtree died of Broncho-Pneumonia at No.2 General Hospital on 17th October 1918. He left a widow May and two young children behind in Burnley. The local newspaper reported that "By a host of friends and acquaintances his death will be much regretted".
His grave can be found in the Ste. Marie Cemetery at Le Havre, his parents grave in Burnley Cemetery also carries the inscription "Also of their son Pte. Allan Crabtree. R. A. M. C. Died in France, Oct 17th 1918, aged 25 years.
