Thomas Crisp
Skipper, Royal Naval Reserve
- Register No.
- 275 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Skipper all Skippers →
- Unit
- Royal Naval Reserve all Royal Naval Reserve VCs →
- Date of action
- 15 August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 2nd November, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 28th April, 1876 at Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Died
- 15th August, 1917 in the North Sea
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- On a bell at St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft and on Chatham Memorial
Digest of citation
On 15th August, 1917 in the North Sea, Skipper Crisp of HM Armed Smack NELSON was below packing fish when a German submarine opened fire. The skipper cleared Nelson for action just as a shell hit her below the waterline and another shell passed through the ship, mortally wounding the skipper, who, went on directing operations. He gave the order to abandon ship but he himself was too badly injured to be moved and went down with NELSON
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CRISP, Thomas. (reg No. 275).
Skipper. Royal Naval Reserve.
London Gazetted on 2nd November, 1917.
Born on 28th April, 1876 at Lowestoft, Suffolk.
Died on 15th August, 1917 in the North Sea.
Memorial On a bell at St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft and on Chatham Memorial.
Digest of Citation reads: On 15th August, 1917 in the North Sea, Skipper Crisp of HM Armed Smack NELSON was below packing fish when a German submarine opened fire. The skipper cleared Nelson for action just as a shell hit her below the waterline and another shell passed through the ship, mortally wounding the skipper, who, went on directing operations. He gave the order to abandon ship but he himself was too badly injured to be moved and went down with NELSON.
Additional information:. Skipper Crisp also held a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
Additional information
Skipper Crisp also held a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: On a bell at St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft and on Chatham Memorial
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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