Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Crawford, born 3rd May 1856 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Jane Crawford (nee Kestin, married on the 14th April 1885 in the parish church, Twyford, Leicestershire), born 10th February 1861 in Twyford, Leicestershire. Sidney Kestin was born on the 4th June 1885 in Ashby Folville, Leicestershire. In April 1891 Sidney was absent from the family home at The Cottage Farm, Melton Road, Queniborough, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a farmer, his mother and siblings, Frances Gertrude, born 11th June 1886 and Elsie May, born 28th August 1888, the latter two siblings were both born in Ashby Folville, Mary Morris, born 1889 in Keyham, Leicestershire and George Max, born 1890, in Queniborough, Sidney was residing at The Grocer’s Shop, High Street, Syston, Leicestershire, this being the family home of Walter Samuel Drinkwater, a grocer, born 1858 in Ley, Somerset and his wife and Sidney’s Paternal Aunt, Sarah Drinkwater (nee Crawford, married in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1863 in Loughborough. In March 1901 Sidney was absent from the family home at Manor Farm, Main Street, Queniborough, residing there was his divorced father, a farmer and his siblings, Frances (Cissie), Elsie, Mary, George and Roy Argyle, born 1892 in Queniborough, Sidney was employed in a merchants office and was residing at The Laurels, Queniborough, this being the family home of his Uncle, Walter, a grocer and wine agent and his wife.
In April 1911 Sidney was employed working on the family farm at The Manor Farm, Queniborough, together with his father, a farmer, his stepmother, Selina Cart, (nee Adcock, married on the 28th October1909 in the parish church, Queniborough) born 1869 in Syston, and his sibling, Elsie, a school teacher. Sidney’s younger brother George fell in action in June 1917.
Sidney attested into the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 6th December 1915 in Winnepeg. He gave his present address as 332, Tenth Street, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, his date and place of birth as 4th June 1885 in Ashby Folville, Leicestershire, England, he gave his trade or calling as grocer and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, Mr. G. Crawford of Queniborough, Leicestershire, England as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded his apparent age as 30 years and 4 months and that he was 5 foot 8¾ inches in height, weighed 170 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 36½ and 38½ inches. His complexion was described as medium, he had grey eyes and brown hair, his physical development was described as good, he gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 3rd November 1915 in Winnepeg. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Fort Garry Horse as a Private, service number -551213 on the 6/12/15. Embarked from Canada on the 7/2/16. Disembarked in England on the 14/2/16. Taken on the strength of the Canadian Cavalry Depot at Shorncliffe on the 15/2/16. Admitted to Moore Barracks Canadian Hospital, Shorncliffe, suffering from German measles on the 12/4/16. Discharged from hospital on the 28/4/16. Transferred to and taken on the strength of the Fort Garry Horse Reserve Regiment on the 12/6/16. Proceeded overseas to C.C.C.R. Otterpool on the 10/8/16. Taken on the strength of the Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment as Reinforcement, in the field on the 12/8/16. Left Canadian Brigade Depot to join 34th Fort Garry Horse on the 14/8/16. Joined 34th Fort Garry Horse, in the field on the 16/8/16. Attached to 1st Canadian Divisional A.P.M for traffic control on the 19/9/16. Ceases to be attached to 1st Canadian Divisional A.P.M. on the 18/10/16. Admitted to the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station seriously ill with nephritis on the 19/2/17. Died in the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station on the 21/2/17. Sidney was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
On Friday March 16th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “QUENIBOROUGH” – DEATH OF TROOPER S. CRAWFORD.- General sympathy is felt for Mr George Crawford, of the Manor Farm, Queniborough, on the loss sustained by the death of his eldest son, Sidney, of the Fort Garry (Canadian) Horse, in France. Deceased left Queniborough for the Dominion some six years ago, but soon after the outbreak of war enlisted and came with his regiment to England early in 1916. He spent a short leave at his old home in May last before crossing to France. The terrible winter conditions of trench warfare seem to have told upon his strength, and admitted to hospital of February 16th he succumbed to nephritis at the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station on the 21st. Mr Geo. Crawford’s three sons were all in France, and to add to the suspense and keenness of the bereavement the first account of the sad event did not indicate the name of the son who had died. Trooper Crawford was of a kind and lovable disposition, and was well known and greatly liked throughout the Queniborough and Syston district previous to his emigration to Canada.
On Friday September 27th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “QUENIBOROUGH.” – MEMORIAL SERVICE. – A memorial service was held in the Parish Church on Thursday evening for Captain C. H. Woodhouse and 15 others from the parish who have fallen in the war, viz. Lieut. Brooks, Lieut. T. Fox, Edward Lowe, Alfred Lowe, William Glover, Sydney Crawford, Max Crawford, Percy Ogden, Charles Stiff, Harold Mansfield, Richard Mansfield, Isaac Bursnell, William Cook.