Francis Frederick George (Frank) Crabbe

Story:
Francis Frederick George (Frank) Crabb was born in 1895 in Beaminster. (N.B. Early records give his family name as Crabbe but the 'e' was dropped by 1911). For most of his life he was known as Frank, including military records. He was the son of George Crabb, an agricultural labourer, and Ellen Elizabeth Crabb (née Gale). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living at Shute Lane, Iwerne Minster, Dorset. He enlisted in Blandford as a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 16349). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 19th November 1917 at Langemark, Belgium and was buried at Cement House Cemetery, Langemark, West Flanders, Belgium, (grave id. V.B.16). He is remembered on the Iwerne Minster War Memorial, Shaftesbury.  His brother, Sidney Herbert Crabbe, also served but survived the conflict.  Both the brothers are named on a Roll of Honour published privately in Iwerne Minster.