Robert Copland-Crawford
Encyclopedia
Robert Erskine Wade Copland-Crawford (5 September 1852 – 23 May 1894) was a Scottish soldier and amateur sports
man.
He served in the Afghan War
from 1878 to 1880, and was mentioned in dispatches
. He was later a police-officer in Sierra Leone, but ended his career in disgrace when he was imprisoned for causing the death of a native by flogging.
He played football four times for Scotland in the representative matches
played between 1870 and 1872, scoring the opening goal in the first match. He also played first class cricket for M.C.C.
in 1872 and 1873.
, Jersey
where his father, Captain Robert Fitzgerald Crawford was serving with the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
He was raised in Edinburgh
, before attending Harrow School
between 1866 and 1871. At Harrow, he was a member of the school football XI between 1869 and 1871 and represented the school at cricket
between 1868 and 1871.
The family name was changed to "Copland-Crawford" in September 1872.
" organised by C. W. Alcock
and Arthur Kinnaird
in March 1870. Late in the second half, Alcock instructed England's goalkeeper to leave his goal and move upfield in support of the forwards; Crawford took advantage of this and, shooting from distance into an empty goal, gave Scotland the lead with 15 minutes remaining. (The Sporting Gazette of Saturday 12 March 1870 described the goal as "a rather lucky kick" and "almost a fluke".) England equalised in the 90th minute with a goal from Alfred Baker
and the match ended in a 1–1 draw.
Crawford retained his place for the next match between the two sides played on 19 November 1870, which ended in a 1–0 victory for the English and again "played well".
Having missed out on the third match, Crawford, now with the Harrow Chequers
club, played in the final two matches on 18 November 1871 and 24 February 1872, which both ended with victories for England. In each of these matches he was joined by his brother, Fitzgerald. According to a report on the November 1871 match, Crawford was "truly unwearied from beginning to end" although "owing to the long journey from Edinburgh, . . . (he) hardly showed his best form." In the report on the final match, he and his brother were praised for their "untiring forward play throughout".
As a member of the Harrow Chequers club, he played (as team captain) alongside his brother against the Wanderers
in the opening match of the 1871–72 season, which ended scoreless. In the match report in the Morning Post on Monday, 16 October 1871, the Crawford brothers were commended for being "conspicuous for excellent play". Both brothers were later to become members of the Wanderers club; Robert's last match for the Wanderers was the FA Cup semi-final against Queens Park on 4 March 1872 which ended in a 0–0 draw.
(plus one catch) in a drawn match, and against Harrow Town on 4 July 1871 when he claimed six wickets in Harrow Town's second innings.
He made two first class appearances for M.C.C.
in 1872 and 1873 as well as an appearance for the North of England against the South. He made several other appearances for the M.C.C. as well as playing for the Old Harrovians, the Army and I Zingari
, for whom he scored his only recorded century
in a match against Household Brigade on 18 July 1872; he scored 106 playing with a young George Harris
, who scored 117. Harris was later to captain Kent
and England.
and in September 1873 was appointed as a sub-lieutenant
. The following January, he joined the 60th Rifles with the rank of sub-lieutenant and resigned his commission with the 2nd Middlesex Militia.
In January 1876, he was promoted to the full rank of lieutenant
with the 60th Foot. He served in the Afghan War
from 1878 to 1880, and was mentioned in dispatches
for his involvement in the Battle of Ahmed Khel
in April 1880. He also took part in the march to Kandahar under the overall command of Sir Frederick Roberts
.
He resigned his commission on 6 August 1884.
Frontier Police, but ended his career in disgrace after he was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour for causing a native servant to be flogged to death.
Copland-Crawford was posted to the Sulymah district in the south-east of Sierra Leone, in an area described as "a narrow strip of coast in the south east of the colony, bounded by the territories of a number of independent native chieftains, who have never yet been considered subject to the British Crown". Shortly after his appointment, he made a visit to one of the local chiefs, Makaia (or Mackiah), at the town of Lago with instructions from the Governor of Sierra Leone, Sir James Hay to "enter into negotiations with a view to a peaceable settlement of disorders that had taken place on the frontier". Despite being hospitably received by Makaia, Copland-Crawford reported back "As your Excellency is well aware, the only way to renew trade, not 5 per cent, but 100 per cent, which means good for the Revenue as well as good for the merchants and traders, is to smash once and for all Mackiah, on one side, and Gumbo Saido . . . on the other". His report was not favourably received by Hay who wrote back "While I am pleased to note that your journey has not been attended by any untoward accident, I cannot but remark that it is one which should not have been undertaken without specific instructions from the officer administering the Government, the more so as, at present, the relations between Mackiah and this Government are such that the future policy in dealing with him is one which requires much consideration".
Despite this warning, Copland-Crawford then embarked on a further visit, this time to another chief, Fahwoondoo. When Fahwoondoo declined a request to attend a meeting with Copland-Crawford, Copland-Crawford ordered his arrest. In the resulting fight, ten of Fahwoondoo's men were killed and three constables injured; Fahwoondoo was taken to Sulymah where he was imprisoned. Governor Hay again expressed his displeasure: "Apart from the fact that your action may create complications, it is at all times, and more so at present, unadvisable to arouse the hostility of the people with whom the police come in constant contact, as it may have a tendency to render their services as messengers, as heretofore, of little or no use to us when once distrust has been created. I remark, that you say in your Report that you issued a warrant to make this arrest; this, I need hardly inform you, was invalid, and should not again be resorted to".
On 12 December, Copland-Crawford captured the town of Jehoma, killing 131 of Makaia's "warboys" with one policeman receiving serious injuries; this was again without authority from Governor Hay. Copland-Crawford was yet again rebuked by Hay: "I have once more to point out that in so doing you have exceeded your instructions; you have no authority from this Government to assume the offensive by attacking towns".
Copland-Crawford's actions eventually came to the attention of Parliament in London and, on 2 June 1890, were the subject of a heated debate with James Picton
M.P. and others criticising his actions and the failure of Governor Hay to restrain him, while Baron Henry de Worms
, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
endeavoured to defend Hay in particular.
In April 1889, Copland-Crawford was arrested on a charge of causing a native servant to be flogged to death, his object being to extort a confession of crime. In July, he was tried at Freetown
and found guilty; he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour. By this time, his health was not good and the authorities decided to send him back to England. He was shipped back from Freeport to Liverpool on board the S.S. Lagos in August. On his arrival at Liverpool he was examined by two doctors who reported that Copland-Crawford was suferring from the following conditions:
He died on 23 May 1894.
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
man.
He served in the Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
from 1878 to 1880, and was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
. He was later a police-officer in Sierra Leone, but ended his career in disgrace when he was imprisoned for causing the death of a native by flogging.
He played football four times for Scotland in the representative matches
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
played between 1870 and 1872, scoring the opening goal in the first match. He also played first class cricket for M.C.C.
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in 1872 and 1873.
Family and education
Crawford was born in Elizabeth CastleElizabeth Castle
Elizabeth Castle is a castle in Saint Helier, Jersey. Construction was started in the 16th century when the power of cannon meant that the existing stronghold at Mont Orgueil was insufficient to defend the Island and the port of St. Helier was vulnerable to attack by ships armed with...
, Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
where his father, Captain Robert Fitzgerald Crawford was serving with the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
He was raised in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, before attending Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
between 1866 and 1871. At Harrow, he was a member of the school football XI between 1869 and 1871 and represented the school at cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
between 1868 and 1871.
The family name was changed to "Copland-Crawford" in September 1872.
Football
While still at Harrow School, Crawford was selected to represent Scotland at football in the first "pseudo-internationalEngland v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
" organised by C. W. Alcock
C. W. Alcock
Charles William Alcock was an influential English sportsman and administrator. He was a major instigator in the development of both international football and cricket, as well as being the creator of the FA Cup....
and Arthur Kinnaird
Arthur Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird
Arthur Fitzgerald Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird KT was a principal of The Football Association and a leading footballer....
in March 1870. Late in the second half, Alcock instructed England's goalkeeper to leave his goal and move upfield in support of the forwards; Crawford took advantage of this and, shooting from distance into an empty goal, gave Scotland the lead with 15 minutes remaining. (The Sporting Gazette of Saturday 12 March 1870 described the goal as "a rather lucky kick" and "almost a fluke".) England equalised in the 90th minute with a goal from Alfred Baker
Alfred Joseph Baker
Alfred Joseph Baker was an English amateur sportsman who scored England's goal in the first representative match against a Scottish XI in March 1870. By profession, he was an auctioneer.-Family:...
and the match ended in a 1–1 draw.
Crawford retained his place for the next match between the two sides played on 19 November 1870, which ended in a 1–0 victory for the English and again "played well".
Having missed out on the third match, Crawford, now with the Harrow Chequers
Harrow Chequers F.C.
Harrow Chequers Football Club was an association football club from London, United Kingdom. They were formed in 1865 and played their home matches at Kennington Oval, London. The club played an important part in English football in the 19th century and played in various FA Cups...
club, played in the final two matches on 18 November 1871 and 24 February 1872, which both ended with victories for England. In each of these matches he was joined by his brother, Fitzgerald. According to a report on the November 1871 match, Crawford was "truly unwearied from beginning to end" although "owing to the long journey from Edinburgh, . . . (he) hardly showed his best form." In the report on the final match, he and his brother were praised for their "untiring forward play throughout".
As a member of the Harrow Chequers club, he played (as team captain) alongside his brother against the Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
in the opening match of the 1871–72 season, which ended scoreless. In the match report in the Morning Post on Monday, 16 October 1871, the Crawford brothers were commended for being "conspicuous for excellent play". Both brothers were later to become members of the Wanderers club; Robert's last match for the Wanderers was the FA Cup semi-final against Queens Park on 4 March 1872 which ended in a 0–0 draw.
Cricket
Crawford played cricket for Harrow School between 1868 and 1871. His best performances for the school came against a side from Lords and Commons on 10 June 1871 when he scored 72 runs and took four wickets with his underarm bowlingUnderarm bowling
In cricket, underarm bowling is as old as the sport itself. Until the introduction of the roundarm style in the first half of the 19th century, bowling was performed in the same way as in bowls, the ball being delivered with the hand below the waist...
(plus one catch) in a drawn match, and against Harrow Town on 4 July 1871 when he claimed six wickets in Harrow Town's second innings.
He made two first class appearances for M.C.C.
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in 1872 and 1873 as well as an appearance for the North of England against the South. He made several other appearances for the M.C.C. as well as playing for the Old Harrovians, the Army and I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
, for whom he scored his only recorded century
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
in a match against Household Brigade on 18 July 1872; he scored 106 playing with a young George Harris
George Harris, 4th Baron Harris
George Robert Canning Harris, 4th Baron Harris, GCSI, GCIE was a British politician, cricketer and cricket administrator...
, who scored 117. Harris was later to captain Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
and England.
Military career
Copland-Crawford joined the 2nd Middlesex or Edmonton Royal Rifle Regiment of MilitiaMilitia (United Kingdom)
The Militia of the United Kingdom were the military reserve forces of the United Kingdom after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland....
and in September 1873 was appointed as a sub-lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
. The following January, he joined the 60th Rifles with the rank of sub-lieutenant and resigned his commission with the 2nd Middlesex Militia.
In January 1876, he was promoted to the full rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
with the 60th Foot. He served in the Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
from 1878 to 1880, and was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
for his involvement in the Battle of Ahmed Khel
Battle of Ahmed Khel
The Battle of Ahmed Khel was fought in April 1880 and ended in a British victory. This battle occurred during General Donald Stewart's march from Kandahar to Ghazni, then on to Kabul.-Order of battle:*Royal Horse Artillery*Royal Artillery...
in April 1880. He also took part in the march to Kandahar under the overall command of Sir Frederick Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
.
He resigned his commission on 6 August 1884.
Sierra Leone
In mid-September 1888, he took up a six month posting with the Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
Frontier Police, but ended his career in disgrace after he was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour for causing a native servant to be flogged to death.
Copland-Crawford was posted to the Sulymah district in the south-east of Sierra Leone, in an area described as "a narrow strip of coast in the south east of the colony, bounded by the territories of a number of independent native chieftains, who have never yet been considered subject to the British Crown". Shortly after his appointment, he made a visit to one of the local chiefs, Makaia (or Mackiah), at the town of Lago with instructions from the Governor of Sierra Leone, Sir James Hay to "enter into negotiations with a view to a peaceable settlement of disorders that had taken place on the frontier". Despite being hospitably received by Makaia, Copland-Crawford reported back "As your Excellency is well aware, the only way to renew trade, not 5 per cent, but 100 per cent, which means good for the Revenue as well as good for the merchants and traders, is to smash once and for all Mackiah, on one side, and Gumbo Saido . . . on the other". His report was not favourably received by Hay who wrote back "While I am pleased to note that your journey has not been attended by any untoward accident, I cannot but remark that it is one which should not have been undertaken without specific instructions from the officer administering the Government, the more so as, at present, the relations between Mackiah and this Government are such that the future policy in dealing with him is one which requires much consideration".
Despite this warning, Copland-Crawford then embarked on a further visit, this time to another chief, Fahwoondoo. When Fahwoondoo declined a request to attend a meeting with Copland-Crawford, Copland-Crawford ordered his arrest. In the resulting fight, ten of Fahwoondoo's men were killed and three constables injured; Fahwoondoo was taken to Sulymah where he was imprisoned. Governor Hay again expressed his displeasure: "Apart from the fact that your action may create complications, it is at all times, and more so at present, unadvisable to arouse the hostility of the people with whom the police come in constant contact, as it may have a tendency to render their services as messengers, as heretofore, of little or no use to us when once distrust has been created. I remark, that you say in your Report that you issued a warrant to make this arrest; this, I need hardly inform you, was invalid, and should not again be resorted to".
On 12 December, Copland-Crawford captured the town of Jehoma, killing 131 of Makaia's "warboys" with one policeman receiving serious injuries; this was again without authority from Governor Hay. Copland-Crawford was yet again rebuked by Hay: "I have once more to point out that in so doing you have exceeded your instructions; you have no authority from this Government to assume the offensive by attacking towns".
Copland-Crawford's actions eventually came to the attention of Parliament in London and, on 2 June 1890, were the subject of a heated debate with James Picton
James Allanson Picton
James Allanson Picton was a British independent minister, author and Liberal politician.Picton was born at Liverpool, the eldest son of Sir James Allanson Picton and his wife Sarah Pooley. His father was an architect and supporter of the Liverpool Free Library...
M.P. and others criticising his actions and the failure of Governor Hay to restrain him, while Baron Henry de Worms
Henry de Worms, 1st Baron Pirbright
Henry de Worms, 1st Baron Pirbright PC, DL, JP, FRS , known before his elevation to the peerage in 1895 as Baron Henry de Worms, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and, from 1948, also to a Minister of State....
endeavoured to defend Hay in particular.
In April 1889, Copland-Crawford was arrested on a charge of causing a native servant to be flogged to death, his object being to extort a confession of crime. In July, he was tried at Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
and found guilty; he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour. By this time, his health was not good and the authorities decided to send him back to England. He was shipped back from Freeport to Liverpool on board the S.S. Lagos in August. On his arrival at Liverpool he was examined by two doctors who reported that Copland-Crawford was suferring from the following conditions:
Absence of reflex action at left knee, slightly present in right knee; impaired sensibility of left foot and leg up to knee; inability to clench the hands tightly; unsteadiness of gait; œdema of both ankles and feet; enlargement of abdomen (evidently from fluid) with increased size of liver and spleen; excited action of heart; marked mental excitement; slight hesitancy in speech.As a result it was decided that Copland-Crawford was unfit to be imprisoned and the remainder of his sentence was remitted.
He died on 23 May 1894.