Victor Burkett Crosswell

A Lance Corporal with the 2nd Battalion, Victor died on 28th of March 1918 at the age of 21. 

Victor was born at Portsmouth on 11 June 1897, a son of Daniel and Louisa Crosswell. He was baptised at All Saints’ Church, Portsea, on 25 June 1897 and his family lived at 86 Dicken’s Road. In 1901 they lived at 30 Baker Street, Portsmouth. 

By 1906 Victor’s family were living at 16 Fir Lane. Victor had attended school at Oulton and, on 1 October 1906, joined Saint Margaret’s School. In May 1910 the family were living at 61 Kimberley Road and, on 10 May 1910 he joined Saint John’s School. Victor left Saint John’s School in 1910, but was re-admitted on 7 November 1910 and his family lived at 21 Lothing Street and this was still their home in 1911. Later his parents lived at 16 Ontario Road, and, subsequently, at 86 Carlton Road.

Victor volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 14874. He was posted to the 8th Battlion and arrived in France, with the battalion, on 25 July 1915. Victor was wounded in 1917 and his name appears in the official casualty list, the War Office Daily List, of 15 September 1917. He was evacuated to England for treatment and was able to attend his sister’s wedding in January 1918. Once recovered Victor returned to France and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, and joined Z Company.

On 21 March 1918 the 2nd Battalion were in positions south of Cojeul and they also occupied billets at Wancourt. Their main strategic position was astride the Arras-Cambrai Road at the Cojeul River. During the German offensive they were forced back to the third reserve line and on 26 March were in the vicinity of Neuve Vitasse. March 28 was the worst day for the battalion and the officer commanding had to order 79 men to hold the front, with 50 in reserve, while the others were withdrawn. The final withdrawal (relief) took place at 3.40 am on 29 March.

Between 21 and 29 March the battalion lost seven officers killed, and had a further seven wounded, while 414 of the other ranks became casualties. In effect they had lost half the battalion. 

Victor's relative contacted the Red Cross to see if there was any information - perhaps hoping that he was a prisoner of war. The Red Cross had no record at all and so it had to be concluded that he had been killed. The date of his death is a presumed date and, in truth, he could have been killed on any of the days between 21 and 29 March.