No.M/203668, Private, Jack CRISPIN
Aged 19
|
Jack Crispin was born in Hammersmith (Fulham Q2-1898 1A:315, son of William H and Emily CRISPIN (née WEBB).
1901 census...Aged 2, he was at Six Mile Bottom ,("Lodge Stables with rooms over") with his father William H. CRISPIN, [29],domestic coachman born Brixham, Devon; his mother Emily [27] born Clawton, Devon and brother William [1] born Six Mile Bottom. There was a boarder, William STONE, [18] a stable helper born Brighton. 1911 census...Aged 12, he was visiting his uncle and aunt, Reuben and Martha HARDING at 99 Victoria Road, Exmouth. His parents, brothers William James, Algernon Sansom [5] and Donald Sansom [4 months] and sisters Winifred Mary [9], Dorothy Olive [7] and Nora [3] were still at Six Mile Bottom. All the new children were born in Six Mile Bottom |
|
He enlisted in Newmarket. Present day Tanzania was then part of German East Africa. Both the Germans and British employed native soldiers. The Germans proved to be much harder to defeat in Africa, despite their logistical problems. In the latter part of 1917, Major-General J.L. van Deventer of South Africa took over from Major-General Reginald Hoskins (Kings African Rifles). Van Deventer began an offensive in July 1917, which by early autumn had pushed the Germans 100 miles (160 km) to the south. Jack Crispin's death is the only one recorded that day in that area, but the native bearers deaths were probably not recorded. Many records, including at times the CWGC, refer to the RASC when if fact it should be the ASC until late 1918, when the Corps received it's Royal prefix. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details