Date of birth:

January 18th, 1914 (Espanola/Ontario, Canada)

Date of death:

April 6th, 1945 (Rha, The Netherlands)

Buried on:

Holten Canadian War Cemetery
Plot: 11. Row: F. Grave: 14.

Service number:

B/117602

Nationality:

Canadian

Thomas (Ted) was born on January 18 1914 in Espanola Ontario, the son of Thomas Aloysius Crawford and Nellie Crawford nee Dwyer of Hearst Ontario. They were married on August 15 1911 in Espanola. He was married on July 27 1936 in Kapuskasing Ontario with Marie Edmee Crawford nee Richard of Kapuskasing and their children were Joan (1938) and Robert (Bobby) Crawford (1941). Mary remarried later as Mrs. Gilbertson. His brothers were J.L. (also overseas in the army), Am J. and Leo A. Crawford. His sisters were Mrs. Francis Haraité, Mrs. Alice Stenahaugh, Mrs. Thrisa Conway, Mrs. Evelyn McMeeting and Agatha Crawford and their sister Helen Crawford was already deceased in 1912.

He was a sulphite tester at a paper mill and member of the Roman Catholic Church. He spoke English and French and his sports were hockey and baseball and his hobby was hunting and playing saxophone in a band of Kapuskasing.

He enlisted on October 5 1943 in Toronto and he went on November 28 1944 thereafter overseas to the UK and he embarked on January 28 1945 the UK for NW Europe.

Thomas was killed in action on Friday April 6 1945 age 31 during the liberation of the hamlet of Rha. He was temporarily buried then there before being reburied on April 1 1946 in Holten.

On his headstone: ONE OF THE BEST THIS WORLD CONTAINED. EVER REMEMBERED BY EDMEE, JOAN AND BOBBY

His grave was adopted after the war by Mr. A. de Boer of Enschede.

He is mentioned together with 16 other fallen Canadian soldiers at a memorial in Rha.

He served with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

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• Photo 1: Wouter van Dijken - Findagrave
• - Edwin van der Wolf

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