Robert Stobo Crawford was born on the 12th August 1892 in Greenock, Renfrewshire. He was the yougnest of four children born to John Wilson Crawford (1854-1935), a Writer/Solicitor, and Jessie Charlotte Crawford (nee Rennie) (1861-1894), who had married on the 28th June 1886, at the Alexandra Hotel, 148 Bath Street, Glasgow.

Robert was educated at the Collegiate School, Greenock, and Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh. He played rugby for Greenock Wanderers Rugby Club. He came to the University of Glasgow in 1910 to study Medicine. During this time at the University he took the following classes - Chemistry, Junior Anatomy, Materia Medica, Practical Zoology, Surgery, and Zoology.

Whilst at Glasgow Robert was a member of the University of Glasgow OTC and was gazetted to the Reserve of Officers in 1912. 2nd Lieutenant Crawford served with the 3rd Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers, attached to the 2nd Bn. He arrived in France on the 5th December 1914.

2nd Lieutenant Robert Stobo Crawford was killed in action on the 17th May 1915, aged 22. He is buried in the Guards Cemetery (Windy Corner), Cuinchy, France.