David Crawley was born in Askam-in-furness, England on November 14, 1912, the son of Thomas Crawley and Mary Ann (nee Mylray) Crawley. Both of his parents, Thomas and Mary Ann, were born in England. David had an older brother, Frank, who was born in 1909. When David was ten years old, he would lose his father Thomas, who died in June 1923. Mary Ann Crawley along with her two sons, Frank and David, departed Liverpool, England aboard the vessel Montrose and arrived on December 3, 1927 in St. John, New Brunswick. David was 14 years old when his family arrived in Canada. Their destination was Mary Ann’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Bright of R.R. #1 Campbellford, Ontario.

David Crawley would marry Blanche Doris (nee Maidment) Crawley, and they would reside at 255 ½ North Mitton Street. David enlisted on August 5, 1942, joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. He trained at Lachine and Hagersville and received his Air Gunner’s badge at MacDonald, Manitoba. He would become a member of RCAF #420 Snowy Owl Squadron “Pugnamus Finitum” (We fight to a finish), attaining the rank of Sergeant Air Gunner. While David was overseas, his wife Blanche would reside at 254 North Front Street, Sarnia with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Maidment. David would arrive overseas in July 1943. Only seven months after arriving overseas, on February 25, 1944, David was part of a crew aboard Halifax aircraft LW427 that crashed in enemy territory during a night trip to Schweinfurt, Germany. Perishing with Sergeant-Air Gunner David Crawley were F/O. H.M. Long; P/O. M.A. Knight; FS. D.B. Richardson; and  Sgt.s H.E. Hirst and W.H. Botterill (RAF). One crew member, not Canadian, was reported missing and believed killed.

In early March 1944, Blanche Crawley would receive a telegram from the casualty office at Ottawa informing her that her husband, Sgt. David Crawley, has been reported missing after air operations on February 25. There were no other details provided and the message added that further information would be forwarded when received. David Crawley would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas (Germany). Thirty-one year old David Crawley is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany, Grave 4.C.23.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, M, N, 2C, 2D