Lives of the First World War

known 21st September 1917

AIRMAN’S FATAL BOMB – HURDSFIELD YOUTH’S INSTANT DEATH Private John Charles Crowder, 8 Steeple St, Macclesfield, was killed on the 4th inst in France, where he was serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers. Twenty-three years of age, he was educated at St George’s branch school, London Road, and attended the Brunswick Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday school, being formerly an enthusiastic member of the Scout troop. In civil life he was employed as a dyer with Mr Mellor, the Dams. Joining the Cheshires soon after was broke out, he was drafted to France in September 1916, when he was transferred to the Fusiliers. He had been in hospital at the base with blood poisoning and returned to the firing-line a fortnight before his death. His elder brother, Pte William Crowder, was invalided home from Egypt and is now with the mechanical transport of the Army Service Corps at Bristol. He was formerly employed with Mr Barber, painter and decorator, Chestergate, and enlisted in the Territorials two years ago. Upon his return from Egypt he spent some time in hospital at Stockport. Pte W Crowder is 27 years of age and married. Letters have been received from comrades regarding the death of Pte J C Crowder. Second-Lieut Evans writes that he was killed instantly… Pte Duckworth, a Congleton man, says the deceased was killed by a bomb dropped from an aeroplane…

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