b. 01/11/1906 Barnsley, Yorkshire. d. 2nd Quarter 1971 Upper Agbrigg, Yorkshire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 07/05/1947 Barnsley Main Colliery.
Henry was one of at least five children born to Thomas and Sarah Ann Crummack (nee Graham). The family lived at 22 King Street in Barnsley, with Sarah’s widowed father George, and her brother Thomas. Harry became a coal cutter from a young age in the Barnsley Main Colliery and then became a Chargeman Filler. He married Annie and had two children Sylvia and John. Little is known about his life after the incident which led to his award of the Edward Medal though he did spend most of his life in Barnsley. He died in the 2nd Quarter of 1971, aged 64, only a few months before the decision to allow living recipients to exchange for a George Cross.
EM CITATION:
An explosion occurred at Barnsley Main Colliery at about 12.15 p.m. on Wednesday the 7th May last. Harry Crummack, Chargemah Filler, and Sydney Blackburn, Shotfirer, were at the end of the face away from the resulting flame; Crummack was blown over by a gust of wind caused by the explosion but quickly recovered and with Blackburn, despite fumes and dust, assembled men who had scrambled from the face and led them to a place of safety. Returning they found a number of injured men to whom they gave assistance and then proceeded through fumes and clouds of dust in search of others. Both men, while taking every reasonable precaution, continued to disregard their own personal safety in their efforts to ensure that none of the victims were left unattended in the danger area.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.