Alexander Basil Crawford, born on 24th May 1891, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1900 but transferred to Coleshill Grammar School in September 1901. He was the son of Dr. Alexander and Etty Crawford of ‘Waltham House’, Coleshill. No record of why he left KES survives, but the daily commute to Birmingham from Coleshill could arguably have been a reason.
There is no trace of Alexander in the KES Chronicle, but this is no surprise given his young age and his short stay at school. The 1911 Census reveals that he was an Articled Solicitor’s Clerk
Alexander played first class cricket before the war, and Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack reports: “In 1907 and 1908 [AB Crawford] was in the Oundle Eleven, and in 1911 appeared a few times for Warwickshire, making 140 runs in seven innings and taking thirteen wickets for 23.84 runs each. Against the West Indians he made 24 not out and took six wickets for 36 runs. Subsequently he appeared for Nottinghamshire, and in the match with the Australians in 1912 played an innings of 51.”
Alexander enlisted as a Captain with the Prince of Wales’ Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), and sailed for France in January 1916. By May he was at Neuve Chapelle and the Divisional History records: “a few quiet days followed, during which Captain A. B. Crawford and Captain G. S. de Williams were unfortunately killed in the line by shell burst.” He died on 10th May 1916, aged twenty-four, and is buried at St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.