Corby Council to remember two more fallen First World War soldiers

The council will fly a flag outside Corby Cube tomorrow (Saturday) and on Wednesday (March 15) to mark the anniversary of their deaths.

John William Craxford was born in Gretton in 1875.

His family were living in Gretton in 1881 and later relocated to Warwickshire before the 1911 Census showed they were living at Hunningham, near Leamington.

John served as a Private (74783) with the Royal Army Medical Corps (39th Field Ambulance Unit). He served in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).

The war raging there between the Ottoman (Turkish) forces and the British and Commonwealth forces was fierce and unforgiving.

The 39th Field Ambulance Unit provided medical assistance to the 13th Western Infantry Division.

The Division was involved in heavy fighting in March 1917 as the British and Commonwealth forces pushed towards Baghdad.

It is recorded that Private Craxford died of wounds on March 11, 1917. He was 44 years of age.

Harry Stapleton Wilford was born in Corby 1893. By 1911 the family were shown to be living on Oakley Road in Corby.

Harry originally enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regiment (22445) before being transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 94th Company (6915).

The 94th Company was formed in Grantham. It moved to France in May 1916 joining the 94th Brigade of the 31st Division.

It became the No 31 Bn, Machine Gun Corps on 21st February 1918.

Harry Wilford was promoted to Lance Corporal shortly before he died. Lance Corporal Harry Wilford died on 15th March 1917.

Further information on these local soldiers will be presented on the Cube Helpdesk, will be shared through Twitter, @CorbyBC, and can be found on Corby Council’s website, www.corby.gov.uk, as part of the commemorations.