Private George Crawford

Private George Crawford, 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He was killed in action on 20th July  during the Battle of the Somme, aged 33, in the attack on High Wood from Bazentin le Petit. ( The Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Gordon also fell in this action )  He was born in Oxton in 1883 and was the son of Margaret and the late George of The Row, Oxton.  Before enlisting at thew end of 1914 he had been employed as a coal miner at Carberry Colliery, Dalkeith. He is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Somme, France. Casualties for this period of intensive combat were given for the period 14th July -21st July and were 2 Officers and 27 Other Ranks killed with 9 Officers and 174 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 50 Other Ranks were posted missing. (“Missing” usually meant dead ). The photographs show Scottish troops on the Somme and the colour image shows a peaceful Somme landscape today.