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2nd Lieutenant William Harrison Crowder, 51st Highland Division, Adam Fox, Baillie family history, Bombardier Baillie, First World War, First World War film, Great War, Indie Filmmakers, Kaiserschlacht, Nick Loven, Spring Offensive 1918, Tell Them of Us
Our 2014 WWI film ‘Tell Them of Us’, is the true story of one Lincolnshire family, made to commemorate the outbreak of WWI. Their story was told from the home front and the perspective of those left behind. It is now available on DVD.
One story remained untold however; what happened to William Crowder at the front which resulted in him receiving the Distinguished Service Order. The DSO was awarded to an officer for acts of gallantry under attack; so what exactly happened to William? Fortunately we have an account of his experience of the Kaiserschlacht and it is one of the most arresting and visually compelling WWI narratives I have read.
We are planning a documentary with some dramatised scenes. William was attached to the 51st Highland Division and his three telephonists were all Scottish. We are still casting for these roles – especially that of Bombardier Baillie below.
Here is the link to the crowdfunding campaign, William’s Story – please help support us if you can.
My grandfather, William Steele Tarbet, was from Glasgow. He served in the Royal Horse Artillery in WW1. We have his diary. I imagine William Crowder, as a young Lincolnshire lad, would have had an interesting time if his 3 telephonists were all Scottish; my grandfather was wounded & in the 10 days he was in hospital his unit had moved & as he was unable to rejoin it he was attached to a regiment from East London. He couldn’t understand a word. Incidentally my grandmother was from Fakenham & my mother was brought up in Brigg.
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