His grandfather James Cromey was the owner/operator of a merchant station located on South Wolf Island near Indian Tickle Groswater Bay.

Crummey volunteered with the Aircraft Detection Corps Newfoundland, which was created by the Commission of Government during World War II.

The Aircraft Detection Corps was an all-volunteer civilian unit meant to observe the Newfoundland coast for suspicious planes and ships.

He reported to the National Convention that the British North America Act states all maritime matters are a federal jurisdiction so Newfoundland would lose control of its offshore resources if it joined Canada.

P. W. Crummey was a member of the Responsible Government League, which was formed in February 1947 by Major Peter Cashin to oppose Canadian Confederation.

Seeking alternative options for Newfoundland's future, Crummey and several other delegates split away to form the Party for Economic Union with the United States.

[6] The Economic Union Party was created on March 20, 1948, by St. John's businessman Chesley Crosbie and "co-founded" by Geoff Stirling, publisher of The Sunday Herald.

[7] 627981180 9552321 There was insufficient support in the Convention to have the option of economic union with the US placed on the 1948 referendum ballot, Crummey and other EUP members called for a vote for responsible government in opposition to Joey Smallwood and his Confederate Association.