Death of 2nd Lieut. Crabtree and other War News from Tring on 13th February 1915

Extracts from the Bucks Herald of 13th February, 1915

Edited from British Newspaper Archive
Previous week ~~~~ Tring News Index

The only "local" military casualty connected to Tring this week was the death of 2nd Lieutenant William Crabtree of the Lincolnshire Regiment in an accident on a sharp bend between Startops and Tringford Reservoirs at Tring Ford. A taxi taking two officers an an unidentified lady from London to their unit in Leighton Buzzard crashed. The detailed report of the inquest ends with the coroner, Lovel Smeathman of Hemel Hempstead, recommending "The turn in the road was a dangerous point, and a notice warning drivers should be placed there." The corner is still dangerous, with no sign, and now car are going much faster than 10 mph! Some of the early press accounts of the paper incorrectly reported that he died in a motor cycle accident. The paper also reported in detail a route march by the Northumberland Fusiliers from Tring towards Watford as far as Hunton Bridge; Major Henry Page Croft had been put in charge of the Hertfordshire Regiment, while the architect, Mr. Skipper, was involved in the building of military hospitals, including the one at Tring. George Loosley, a stationer and post card seller from Berkhamsted reported that money had been raised for charity from the sale of a card carrying the poem "The Lads of Halton Park." The war also affected local activities. The Tring Horticultural Society cancelled in plans for an annual shown in 1915. The Rev. George Crossland, Wesleyan officiating clergyman, 21st Division, preached at the High Street Church while the Right Rev. Bishop Taylor-Smith. Chaplain-General to the Forces was due to preach in the parish church. There was also discussion at the Council meeting about the location of extra military hospital buildings while the newly formed Tring Division of the St John Ambulance made plans for its first practice evening. It was reported that in 1914 there had been 6 cases of infectious disease among the soldiers posted in the town, while 4 of the Belgium Refugees had had diptheria. On more routine matters the Council discussed the budget for repairing roads including the question of providing curbing on Wingrave Road and the issue of nonpayment by a frontager on Longfield Road. Two cottages in Frogmore Street were deemed unfit for habitation. The council decided to increase the wages of some of their workmen, and the vacancy on the council following the death of Dr Brown (see19 December).  The Marchioness of Crewe visited Lord & Lady Rothschild at Tring Park while church bells were rung for Walter Rothschild's birthday. The Church of England Men's Society discussed the formation of a Diocesan Union, which had been opposed by the West Herts Federation. Surnames mentioned this week: Asquith, Ayres, Baker, Baldwin, Barnett, Batchelor, Bell, Bennett, Bishop, Briant, Brown, Bushell, Cowes, Crabtree, Crewe, Crocker, Croft, Crowe, Crossland, Darvell, Dimmock, Emery, French, Gettings, Griffin, Griggith, Hampden, Hassell, Hedges, Heley, Hodge, Houchen, Howkins, Hutton, Icke, Jakeman, Loosley, McGonigle, Mead, Morris, O'Keeffe, Raymond-Barker, Rothschild, Seymour, Singlehurst, Skipper, Smeathman, Smith, Sparks, Taylor-Smith, Vaisey, Wilkins, Wright, Young