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| Consett soldier's life-saving prayer book donated to DLI collection | Consett soldier's life-saving prayer book donated to DLI collection |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A soldier's prayer book which helped saved his life when he was struck by a bayonet has been donated to a collection of war memorabilia. | A soldier's prayer book which helped saved his life when he was struck by a bayonet has been donated to a collection of war memorabilia. |
| Durham Light Infantryman Tommy Crawford was attacked in a German trench when his rifle jammed during World War One's Battle of the Somme. | |
| However, the blade hit the book and a cigarette case in his top pocket. | |
| His son, Brian, has now handed it to the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Collection in Spennymoor. | His son, Brian, has now handed it to the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Collection in Spennymoor. |
| Cpl Crawford, of Consett, County Durham, was 18 when he joined the Army and served in the 15th Battalion of the regiment. | Cpl Crawford, of Consett, County Durham, was 18 when he joined the Army and served in the 15th Battalion of the regiment. |
| The book was lost in mud at the Somme but was remarkably found and returned home to his girlfriend. | |
| With a bayonet hole through it, the book contains handwritten accounts of the war, poems, medals and a King's shilling given to Cpl Crawford on joining the Army. | With a bayonet hole through it, the book contains handwritten accounts of the war, poems, medals and a King's shilling given to Cpl Crawford on joining the Army. |
| Cpl Crawford's son said: "He was very lucky to survive the war as he charged into a German trench, his rifle jammed and a young German bayoneted him in the chest. | Cpl Crawford's son said: "He was very lucky to survive the war as he charged into a German trench, his rifle jammed and a young German bayoneted him in the chest. |
| "Fortunately, the bayonet entered his silver cigarette box and then went half way through a prayer book that he carried in the same pocket. | "Fortunately, the bayonet entered his silver cigarette box and then went half way through a prayer book that he carried in the same pocket. |
| "Incredibly, when my father fell injured, he lost his prayer book, but somehow it was found and returned to his sweetheart Amy, who he later married. | "Incredibly, when my father fell injured, he lost his prayer book, but somehow it was found and returned to his sweetheart Amy, who he later married. |
| "It's amazing to think there are over 70,000 names of the missing on the Thiepval memorial, but his little prayer book made its way home." | "It's amazing to think there are over 70,000 names of the missing on the Thiepval memorial, but his little prayer book made its way home." |
| Cpl Crawford died in 1980, aged 84, after marrying twice and having four sons. | Cpl Crawford died in 1980, aged 84, after marrying twice and having four sons. |
| The book will be available to view at County Durham Council's Sevenhills, in Spennymoor, from 11 October. | The book will be available to view at County Durham Council's Sevenhills, in Spennymoor, from 11 October. |