LIEUT. GORDON W. CROW KILLED IN ACTION ON 17TH

Only Son of Mayor John H. Crow and Mrs. Crow of Welland Awarded Military Cross Which He Had Not Yet Received From King

NARROW ESCAPE OF HIS SISTER, MISS CROW, FROM GOING IN CANAL WITH CAR.

[Welland Tribune, 21 September 1916]

Flags on the public buildings of Welland are flying at half mast. Welland mourns the death of one of her brightest sons and the sympathy of the entire community is extended to Mayor John H. Crow and family, who were notified yesterday afternoon that Lieutenant Gordon Willson Crow had been killed in action Sunday last, Sept. 17. The first word was received yesterday afternoon in a cable from Major McDonald, who was Lt. Crow’s commanding officer. This was followed by the official notification this morning from Ottawa.

Deceased was the only son of Mayor and Mrs. Crow, and besides his bereaved parents, is survived by one sister, Miss Muriel Crow. He was born in Welland in May, 1894, and was therefore 22 years of age. He attended Welland public and high schools, matriculating from the latter institution in 1910. He then attended Toronto University and Victoria College, graduating in arts in 1914. In 1915 he took his first year’s exam in medicine.

In University life he was very active, playing college tennis, basketball and water polo. His chief athletic sport was swimming and he had been a member of a team in many intercollegiate matches, winning a medal at McGill University, Montreal. He was a member of the University club and had won a medal for achievement in that line. While a schoolboy in Welland, he was an active member of the Welland Rifle Club.

Lt. Crow enlisted in the 26^th Battery in March, 1915, serving six months in training as a gunner. He then took out a commission as lieutenant, and qualified at Kingston Military school. Eager to get to the front, he then became attached as supernumerary to the 31^st Battery, without pay. In November 1915 he was sent overseas with a draft of 50 men and finally joined the 7^th Battery, 2^nd Brigade, 1^st Canadian Contingent, going on active duty in February 1916. He had therefore served at the front for seven months without leave of absence, but this was largely of his own choice, as he was anxious to stay. His letters, the last one received having been written on Sept. 4^th, were always hopeful.

It will be remembered that Lieut. Crow recently was awarded the Military Cross, a miniature of which was received here this week by his parents. This decoration would have been presented to him by the King on his first leave of absence, had he not met death on the field of battle. In all his letters, he modestly refrained from telling of the action which won him this honor. The official report states: “Lieut. Gordon Willson Crow repelled with a revolver a party of the enemy, then reconnoitred and sent back information of the enemy’s new position.”

Just before the war broke out in 1915, he had taken a trip over most of the countries in the western theatre of war. War was declared while he was on the ocean on the return trip and on his arrival here he said he wished he had been in England when this occurred, and he would have joined the British army. While on the Rhine in Germany he met a young German officer who was then enroute to join his army and Lt. Crow, recalling their conversation in the light of later events, knew that the German officer was aware that the Germans were about to strike.

Lt. Crow was an exemplary young man in every respect, with splendid physique and the assurance of a brilliant future. His death has cast a deep gloom over the whole town.

Miss Crow’s Close Call

Yesterday afternoon, previous to learning of her brother’s death, Miss Muriel Crow had a narrow escape from possible death. She was driving her father’s auto and in turning around on the tow path at Dain city, the brakes failed to work and the car started to back down the bank toward the water. With marvellous presence of mind, Miss Crow whirled the steering gear and the car quickly turned broadside to the canal, with one front wheel in the water, when she succeeded in bringing it to a stop. She was accompanied by Mr. Kottmeier of Toronto. The failure of the brakes to work is attributed to the use of the car through the Adirondacks for the past ten days, when it is supposed they had become worn. The car was pulled back up the bank by a passing motor truck and Miss Crow drove it back to Welland.