Leslie Crowther (1904-1986) [4608004, Sergeant, 2/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment]

[Dave Pattern]

• born 28 June 1904
• son of Luke Baxter Crowther & Decima Smith (née Green)
• married Mary Beswick in 1927 (Saddleworth)
  • Doreen M. Crowther (b 20 Oct 1927)
  • Kenneth L. Crowther (b 10 Feb 1929)
  • Mavis Crowther (c1932)
  • Margaret Crowther (c1936)
• died September 1986

Records:

• 1939 Register (FindMyPast) – 41 Thornhill Road, Huddersfield (wife Mary)

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Huddersfield Examiner (20/Jul/1940):

NEWS OF LOCAL SOLDIERS

LONGWOOD SERGEANT

Sergeant Leslie Crowther, of the 2/7 Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, whose home is at 41, Thornhill Road, Longwood, is now officially reported missing, as from June 11.

Sergeant Crowther, who was formerly employed by the Longwood Finishing Co., is well known in the Colne Valley. He was Drum-Major for the 1/7 Duke of Wellington’s Regiment for about ten years. He had in all fifteen years’ service with the Territorials. He has a wife and four children.

Huddersfield Examiner (27/Jul/1940)

IN THE FORCES

NEWS OF OTHER MEN

Sergt. Crowther, whose home is at 41, Thornhill Road, Longwood, was formerly employed by the Longwood Finishing Company. For about ten years he was drum-major for the 1/7 Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

Huddersfield Examiner (31/Aug/1940):

NEWS OF MEN IN THE FORCES

Sergeant Leslie Crowther

Sergeant Leslie Crowther, of the 2/7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, whose home is at 41, Thornhill Road, Longwood, is now officially reported to be a prisoner of war. Sergeant Crowther, who was formerly employed by the Longwood Finishing Co., is well known in the Colne Valley. He was Drum-Major for the 1/7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment for about ten years. He had in all fifteen years’ service with the Territorials. He has a wife and four children.

Huddersfield Examiner (22/Nov/1941):

IN THE FORCES

Prisoners in Stalag IX.

Mrs. L. Crowther, of 41, Thornhill Road, Longwood. has received the following photograph from her husband, Sergeant Leslie Crowther. who is now a prisoner of war in Germany.

Sergeant Crowther, who was formerly employed by the Longwood Finishing Co., was officially reported as missing from June 11, 1940. In August of the same year he was stated to be a prisoner of war. Sergeant Crowther, who is on the right of the photograph, says in a letter to his wife that he is quite well and happy He is in charge of the prisoners’ hospital at Stalag IX., and, therefore, has plenty of freedom of movement.

The other soldier in the photograph is Thomas Haran. Haran is the only other soldier from the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment who is in Stalag IX. Perhaps some may know him. Huddersfield people may know him.

Huddersfield Examiner (21/Apr/1945):

LONGWOOD

CONCERT – A concert was given in the Longwood Mechanics’ Hall on Wednesday by the Sunnyside Concert Party, produced by Miss E. Ainley. Mrs. Senior was the compere. Mr. Linn Lowell was at the piano. Sergeant Leslie Crowther, a returned prisoner of war, spoke in aid of the Longwood Local Aid Comforts Fund. The proceeds amounted to over £5.

Huddersfield Examiner (07/Feb/1948):

FORMED A BAND IN GERMANY

Longwood Man’s Effort Remembered

While a prisoner of war in Germany Mr. Leslie Crowther, of 41, Thornhill Road, Longwood, who was a sergeant in the 2/7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, formed a band with instruments sent by the Red Cross. In a letter received recently addressed to Herr Leslie Crowther, Huddersfield, a German whom Mr. Crowther met while a prisoner said that Mr. Crowther’s band is still remembered by the local inhabitants around Stalag IX.

The letter was delivered to Mr. Lawrence Crowther, of Cedar Mount, who forwarded it to “The Huddersfield Examiner” and Sergeant Crowther was traced.

While a prisoner Mr. Crowther was in charge of the prisoners’ hospital at Stalag IX.

Before the war he served in the Territorials for fifteen years and was Drum-Major for the 1/7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

Since his demobilisation Mr. Crowther has been employed by the Longwood Finishing Co.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (10/Sep/1986):

Prison camp bandsman dies

A former Dukes’ drum major-who started his own band in the confines of a German prison camp-has died.

Mr Leslie Crowther, 81, of Benn Lane, Longwood, served in the 1/7th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment as a Territorial for 15 years. After the outbreak of World War Two, he went to France with the 2/7th as part of the British Expeditionary Force.

He was captured at St Valery in June, 1940, in the Maginot Line operation and was a prisoner-of-war until April, 1945.

Mr Crowther, an acting-sergeant, was held in Stalag IX, where he was in charge of the prison hospital. He was able to form a band with instruments sent by the British Red Cross.

A textile worker in civilian life, he was employed for 31 years at the Longwood Finishing Company, and was later manager of the rug and blanket section of C and J Hirst Ltd.

Mr Crowther, an ex-secretary of Longwood Sing, was a prominent member of the Longwood Co-op Committee. He raised funds for the Polio Fellowship and was a founder-member of the village’s all-male pantomime production team.

He was a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.

Mr Crowther, married for 59 years, leaves a widow, Mary, three daughters and a son, all married.

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