PATRIOTS DEATH FROM WOUNDS (Burnley Express 21/9/1918)

Mr. and Mrs. Pomroy, 5 Harold-street, Burnley have been deprived of their only child, Pte. John Wm. Crowther (67237) Machine Gun Corps, whose death resulted from a gunshot wound in the back, at the 55th Casualty Clearing Station , France, on the 2nd September. The intimation that Pte. Crowther had been wounded was received on Wednesday September 4th, and official notice of his death was communicated a week later. Though of fine physique, Pte. Crowther in the early days of the war made several unsuccessful efforts to enlist, his rejection being due to a defect in his sight. He was, however accepted in the East Lancashire Regt. in August, 1916, and spent a period of training at Plymouth. After his first furlough he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, and went to France in February, 1917. Being badly gassed in July last year, he spent over eight months in recovering, and on the 17th April last he again went overseas. He was 23 years of age, and had previously worked as a driller at Messrs. Butterworth and Dickinson’s, and had spent a period at Barrow. He was connected with the Sandygate Day and Sunday Schools and was an enthusiastic Aston Villa footballer.