Photo by kind permission of the Crabtree family

HMHS Salta

17th General Hospital Alexandria AWM H00762

Newcastle Chronicle Wednesday 27/11/1918

Thomas Greenwell Crabtree

George Allison Crabtree was born on the 12th May 1895, at 6, Jubilee Terrace, Chester-le-Street, Durham. His parents were Thomas and Isabella (nee Greenwell), and he was one of thirteen children. He was baptised on the 12th June 1895. Two of his brothers Jonathon Curtis and Thomas Greenwell also served. [Thomas Greenwell survived the war, Photo bottom right].

Mary Louisa, Thomas Greenwell, Jonathan Curtis, Elizabeth Hunter, Alice Millicent, George Allison, Lily Isabell, Jane, Joseph Nicholas, Margaret Ann, Barbara Hannah, Sidney and Annie.By 1905 the family moved from Chester-le-Street to Low Fell in Gateshead.

George was a member of the Wesleyan Church at Low Fell.

In the 1911 Census George is 15 years old and employed as a miner, living with his family at 3a Belle Vue Bank, Low Fell, Gateshead.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Royal Naval Division was originally formed as an infantry division from Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists and volunteers who were surplus to naval requirements. Winston Churchill, who was First Lord of the Admiralty, had decided to embody two more Naval Brigades to join with the Marine Brigade to produce what would be a composite Royal Naval Division. Each Brigade consisted of four battalions and all eight of the two new brigades were named after naval commanders: Drake, Benbow, Hawke and Collingwood were in the 1st Brigade and Nelson, Howe, Hood and Anson in the 2nd Brigade. They were numbered at a later date as the 1st to the 8th. The four marine battalions were named after the towns of their depots: Chatham, Deal, Portsmouth and Plymouth. Sometimes referred to as Churchill’s little army, the Royal Naval Brigades were initially untrained and poorly equipped in contrast to the Royal Marine Brigade. Training was organised at Blandford Camp in Dorset and Crystal Palace, London, the latter often referred to as boarding HMS Crystal Palace in keeping with their naval traditions.

The Royal Naval Division was sent to Antwerp in October 1914, and in February 1915 set sail for the Dardanelles campaign (Gallipoli) with the MEF, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. A year later they were garrisoned on a number of the Aegean Islands, and also had a contingent at Salonika.

In the aftermath of Gallipoli, the Division was transferred to the control of the British Army in 1916 as the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division following heavy losses among the original naval volunteers, and the Brigades were renumbered. Two battalions of marines (now the first and second Royal Marine Light Infantry) and the Anson and Howe battalions made up the 188th Brigade, and the other four surviving navy battalions of Hood, Nelson, Drake and Hawke the 189th Brigade. Four regular army battalions made up the 190th Brigade. (Benbow and Collingwood and two battalions of marines had now ceased to exist). In May 1916 the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division arrived in Marseilles, and fought on the Western Front for the remainder of the war with the BEF and took part all major battles of the British army including Ancre, Arras, 3rd Ypres, 2nd Passchendaele, Albert, 2nd Arras, The Hindenburg Line, Cambrai and the Advance in Picardy to name only a few. After Ypres the Royal Naval Division was incorporated into the Third Army, and by the end of the war only 5 of the original 12 battalions remained. By the time it was demobilised in 1919 this unique Division had suffered casualties in excess of 47,900 men killed, wounded or missing and had fought in The Great War from beginning to end.

When George enlisted on the 15th January 1915, he was 5 feet 3 ins tall with brown hair, blue eyes and medium complexion. Employed as a miner, he gave his religion as Church of England and was a non-swimmer.

He enlisted at H.M.S. Victory VI, Crystal Palace on the 15th January 1915, then was drafted into the 1st Reserve Battalion at Blandford, on the 19th March. On the 26th April he was checked for his disc. He then was drafted from the 1st Reserve Battalion to the 1st Platoon, Anson Battalion on the 29th June 1915.

On the 24th July 1915, George joined the Anson Battalion and was sent to the Dardanelles. Just before the evacuation from Gallipoli. George was wounded on the 6th January 1916, with a Bomb wound to his left foot. [Not a GSW], he was in 'D' Company, George was taken to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station prior to be sent to the 17th General Hospital at Alexandria on the HMHS Salta on the 10th January.

The Hospital was then located at the Victoria College, Alexandria, Egypt.

In the first 10 days of the Gallipoli campaign 16.000 cases of wounded were sent to the 15th and 17th General Hospitals, this resulted in the 17th Hospital increasing its beds to 2460 beds. A third Hospital was commandeered on the 19th and further hospitals arrived soon after.

The Next of Kin were informed on the 7th February 1916. On the 16th March he was released to the Base camp at Mustapha [Mustapha was a suburb of the great Egyptian seaport of Alexandria, where many troops were disembarked. The Army commandeered the place for the concentration of the bulk of the supplies for the Army to send to the near East, close to the railway, and a good local water supply], then was discharged to duty at Sidi Bishr where a rest camp was located, on the 28th March he embarked on the HMT Ionian at Alexandria for Mudros them was posted to the R.N. Depot from the 1st April.

On the 15th of May he embarked on the HMT Minnewaska arriving at Marseilles on the 30th May 1916.

Builder,Harland & Wolff, Belfast, yard number 397 Launched November 12, 1908, delivered April 24, 1909, maiden voyage May 1, 1909; mined on November 21, 1916 Hull: length 600' 4"; beam 65' 5"; 14,317 tons; depth of hold 39' 6"; 4 masts; 4 decks and shelter deck; fitted with electric light, submarine signalling device and refrigerating machinery; water ballast. Power: twin screws; quadruple expansion engines by builder with cylinders of 30", 43", 63", and 89" diameter, stroke 60"; 1,222 n.h.p.; steam pressure 200 lbs.; 16 knots. Registered in Belfast; official number 124674; call sign MMW; code letters HNTB.

On the 27th July 1916, George was transferred into the 1st Field Company Engineers for [the] Dug Out platoon. Then he was on leave to the UK from the 6th August 1917 to the 16th August 1917.

George then re-joined the Anson Battalion on the 19th August 1917. On his return he is back into the Anson Battalion, but now under Army Control, on the 19th September. With the British Expeditionary Force in France.

On the 26th October George was wounded a second time, this time with a severe gun shot wound to the left thigh, he was taken to the 83rd Base Hospital at Boulogne, then to the UK [29th October] on the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel, before recovering at the 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Dyke Road, [which use to be Brighton Grammar School], at Brighton.

Casualties from the Western Front during the First World War were often evacuated to base hospitals on the northern coast of France for more advanced and specialist care. These temporary base hospitals frequently had more than 1,000 beds and were typically staffed by older, more senior doctors than were present nearer the front line. The 13th Stationary Hospital opened in October 1914 on the Boulogne docks and became the main specialist unit for the treatment of eye, face and jaw injuries. In May 1917 it was renamed the 83rd (Dublin) Hospital when the staff was augmented by volunteer staff from Irish hospitals. The hospital subsequently housed an innovative 'physical medicine' or rehabilitation unit. The hospital remained open for the duration of the War, moving to Langenfeld in the Ruhr following the Armistice.

George was then transferred to the 2nd Western General Hospital, at Manchester, then to a Convalescent Hospital, at Eastbourne.

He was given leave from the 20th to the 29th March. He was drafted from the 2nd Reserve Battalion at Aldershot back into the Anson Battalion. On the 27th May he joined the battalion in the field.

On the 21st October 1918, he is promoted A.B, Higher grade.

George was wounded in the throat by a gun shot wound, on the 10th November 1918, [day before the Armistice], the War Diary for this day has a summary of the operations for the 10th and 11th November 1918.

Orders were received at 08.30 on 10 November, 1918, that the Anson Battalion would attack the enemy positions that morning. The Battalion was to form up on a line W 16 a. 5.8. to W 3, d, 0. 3, ready to advance as soon a possible. It was arranged with O. C. Royal Irish Regiment and 188th M.G's that the attack should commence at 12.30.

First Objective - Main MONS - GIVRY ROAD between W 8 a. 7. 2 - Q 35 b. 8. 8.

2nd Objective - the Village of VILLERS ST CHISLAIN and to establish posts on either side.

The First London Regiment were on the right and the Royal Irish regiment were on [the] left. The Royal Marines in support. The Battalion had 4 mobile sections of Artillery attached -'A' Coy. 64 (R.N.) M.G. Battalion and two L.T.M's, of the 188th L.T.M. Battery.

The Battalion assembled in [the] sunken road in W. 8. d and it was decided to attack with 'B', and 'D' Coys, In front. 'C' Coy in support and 'A' Coy. in reserve. 'B' Coy on right and 'D' Coy on left. 'B' Coy. from W 16 5.8 to W 10 a. 0.5. 'D' Coy from 10 a 0. 5 W 3 d. 0. 3. The Battalion left the sunken road at 11.45 and were in position by 12.15. A fair amount of shelling was encountered during the approach march and heavy M.G. fire was opened on troop's assembly position. The advance commenced at 12.30 under heavy M.G. fire from post at W 10 b. 7.7 and cliffs W 5 b. 5. 8. - Q 34 d.8.2.. In spite of considerable casualties the advance continued. M.G. post at W 10. b. 7.7 retired from their position leaving one man killed. The advance was temporarily help up going down forward slopes towards railway from enemy M.G's in HARMIGNIES. 'D' Coy were help up by swamp in W 5 a.3 Q 34 d and 'C' Coy were pushed in to assist 'B' Coy at 13.00. They also encountered heavy T. M. [Trench Mortars], and M.G. fire. 'A' Coy were ordered to endeavour to outflank these points via the village. The First London Regiment had not advanced. 'A' Coy were unsuccessful but 'D' Coy, by 13.45 had forced a crossing over the lake capturing 4 prisoners. The crossing was held by a party of 'C' Coy while 'D' and 'A' Coys crossed and stormed the cliffs, 'C' Coy following 'A' Coy had advanced to the outskirts of HARMIGNIES at W 5. d. This operation was completed by 15.00, and line ran from W 5. d. 9. To Q 3b c 4. 7. Fairly heavy shelling from 5.9 AND 4.2 continued throughout the advance.

The M.G. Coy did not get into position until 17.30. and no sign of the T.M's was seen. At 17.45 the enemy attempted to re-establish his position on top of the cliffs but was driven off. One officer being killed and other casualties inflicted on the enemy. Owing to troops on right not taking HARMIGNIES the advance could not continue.

Casualties: Officers: 4 Killed 1 Wounded. O.R's 6 Killed 63 Wounded.

Signed W. Arblaster, Lieut-Comdr. RNVR T./Comdg. Anson Bn.

Source: W0 95/3111/1 National Archives War Diary

George was taken to the 30th Casualty Clearing Station [at Cambrai] but died of his wounds on the 15th November 1918.

An army Gratuity was paid of £22 on the 3rd of June 1919.

The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division were fighting till the last minute of the war. They ended the war on Armistice Day 11th November 1918 capturing their objective for that day, the Mons-Givry Road. The Division HQ opened at Harveng. The 63rd Division were to have advanced into Germany with the Army of Occupation, but this was cancelled on the 13th November 1918. Army of Occupation marched through the Division's outpost line. The Royal Naval Division were withdrawn to Valenciennes on the 26th November 1918 and King George V visited the Division there on 5 Dec 1918.

Demobilisation started in Dec 1918 with the "key-men", i.e. those having critical civilian occupations such as miners being demobbed first. The strength of the Division dwindled fast, by the end of Jan 1919 3,875 men had been demobbed, end of Feb 1919 7,047 had gone. The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division became a cadre in March 1919 and were disbanded in April 1919. Thus came the end of a brilliant fighting force, which had lost 47,953 men killed, wounded or missing 1914-18, or equivalent to three 1918 Infantry Divisions, in four years.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle Wednesday 27/11/1918 CRABTREE – Died of wounds received in action November 11th at the 30th CCS France, in his 24th year, George, beloved son of Thomas and Isabella Crabtree, 3a Belle Vue Bank, Low Fell. Once our home was bright and happy, but how sad it is today. For the one we loved so dearly has forever passed away. Deeply mourned by his father, mother, brothers, sisters, brothers and sisters in law, and friends.

Research: James Pasby

With thanks to the Crabtree Family

George Allison Crabtree is remembered at Low Fell on L61.02 L61.03 and L61.05

Images of the Anson Battalion
The Caithness Archives
The Naval Division in WW1
The CWGC entry for Able Seaman Crabtree