220234 Pte. Archibald Craig British Army 16th (1st Bradford Pals) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment from:Stornoway, Isle of Lewis (d.3rd May 1917) Archibald Craig first enlisted with Rosshire Mountain Battery RGA age 15 as a trumpeter.
He was discharged as medically unfit in 1914 for unknown reasons. He was the youngest child of Sgt Major F.W.Craig and we think because his was a military family, the fact that he was discharged as unfit in Scotland did not deter him from re signing up in 1915.
The information we have gleaned is that he enlisted in The 16th (1st Bradford Pals) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment about 1915. He died on the 3rd of May 1917 and we have visited and found his name inscribed on the Arras Memorial.
Other info we have collected shows that he was in Egypt and took part in the defence of the Suez Canal. He was hospitalised in Malta.
He went to France in 1916 and took part in the Battle of the Somme being involved in the attack on the village of Serre. He was taking part in the 3rd battle of Scrape 3 to 4th May 1917 which was part of the Arras offensive towards Fresnoy.
My Grandfather Sgt.Major John Jeffrey Craig was the only sibling of Sgt. Major F.W.Craig.
Their father was Sgt.Major William Craig, a musician in the Royal Artillery whose military record we cannot find as we don`t have his service no. All we do know is that he retired to Stornoway where he taught music and drill. Sadly he died at age 45 and is buried in Stornoway. This may have been a result of military activity during his engagement in the Royal Artillery and if he was gassed? though in 1876 we assume this may be ruled out.
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