Alan Forsyth Crosthwaite was born in May, 1896, to Newcastle-born Brewer, Robert Forsyth Crosthwaite, and Australia-born Mary Eliza (Davis).

He joined the High School in 1905 at the age of 9, but left unexpectedly in July 1908, having left South Shields "for reasons of health".

In 1911 he was attending a small private boarding school at the Vicarage in Aylesbeare, Exeter and within a couple of years of this his parents had moved to Hereford.

It is not clear when he signed up, but Alan initially served as a driver with the Welsh Division of the Army Service Corps, and then with the 12/13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.

With the Fusiliers, he was in France & Flanders, and was killed in action on 4-Oct-1917.

His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial in West Flanders, Belgium.