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Reuben Crutchfield was born in May 1885 in the village of Langwith, on the Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire border.
On 31st May he was baptised in Whaley Thorns, probably at St.Lukes Church, taking his mother's maiden name, Ford, as his middle name.
At the age of six Reuben was living with his grandmother, Eliza Crutchfield, in Lansdowne Terrace, Twyford.
Ten years later he was at the same address with his father (also called Reuben)
and working as a butcher's assistant.
From the battallion war diary:
Thursday 24th May 1917
France, RESERVE TRENCHES BEHIND ARLEUX
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Day quiet with occasional enemy shelling. Weather fine.
9.30 p.m. 2 Officers and 100 other ranks working under orders of OC 22nd Royal Fusiliers carried wire and stakes to the front line.
Casualties during the day: 2 other ranks wounded
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Monday 28th May 1917
France, RESERVE TRENCHES BEHIND ARLEUX
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Work as on 24/5/17. Casualties 14 other ranks wounded, one of whom died of wounds early on 29/5/17.
These casualties occurred when the working party was on the way up to the front line.
Major B G BROMHEAD and Captain H T W QUICK joined the Battalion.
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Thursday 28th May 1917
France, ST AUBIN
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Noon Church Parade.
Weather very fine and warm.
The Battalion relieved 23rd Royal Fusiliers in close support trenches between ARLEUX and OPPY, being still organised in 2 Companies
(No. 1 under command of Captain PUGH MC, and No. 2 under command of Captain GREEN MC).
Relief complete 11.30 p.m.
Casualties NIL.
Heavy rain had fallen the previous day and parts of the line were badly flooded.
Battalion HQ at B.10.d.47
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Reuben now rests in the
Aubigny Cemetery along with
Frederick Sherwood who had been killed a month earlier.
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