Harry Crank

After leaving school, Harry Crank became a pastry chef, but the popular young man from Bolton was better known as a fine local swimmer and diver. His home town was delighted when he was selected for the 1908 London Olympics at just 17-and -a-half years of age, and the only Northerner in the aquatic team. Sadly, he failed to bring a medal back to Lancashire.

During the War he served with the Lancashire Fusiliers, quickly rising to the rank of sergeant and then, in 1915, was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was to lose his life whilst on active service in 1917, and sadly his body was never identified or recovered. Crank was awarded the Military Cross