3531840 Company Sergeant Harold Crowley was born on 13^th November 1919 in Salford, Lancashire. His parents were William and Ada (née Telford) Crowley. William was a self-employed off-licence holder. In 1921 Harold was living with his parents and a servant at 46/48 Monmouth Street, Salford.

He was in the 8th (Ardwick) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment in Malta and the Middle East (1942-43). Parachute Course No. 55 at Ramat David in Palestine from 20 July to 01 August 1943. After receiving his parachute qualification wing he was assigned to B Company as Company Quarter Master Sergeant.

Shortly after the battalion's return from Palestine to the UK in January 1944, on January ¹⁸ 1944, Harold married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Easthope, in Baguley Cheshire.

During the Battle of Arnhem he was wounded and taken prisoner of war. He was sent to Stalag XIB at Falling-out, Germany, and allocated his prisoner of war number 117577. He was later transferred to Stalag VIIIC at Sagan, Lower Silesia (now Żagań, Poland).

His treatment whilst held prisoner of war was described by his wife:

"He served in the second world war with the Manchester Regiment and Paras. He was caught parachuting into Holland in 1942 and held prisoner until 1944! When he was repatriated his health had deteriorated due to the treatment dished out by his captors (info from his wife)." ¹

Harold died on 8^th March 1983 in Hartlepool, Durham.

1. Source alandavies1231 Ancestry.co.uk