CRISP 2/Lt. Francis Edward Fitzjohn, died 5th January 1915

[NedRutland]

CWGC Casualty Details:

CRISP, Francis Edward Fitzjohn, Second Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards, 1st Bn.

Date of Death: 05/01/1915

Age: 33. Son of William Fitzjohn Crisp and Jane Euphemia Crisp, of "Sunnyview", Warboys, Hunts. Native of Highgate, London. An Artist, Gold Medallist, Royal Academy, 1907.

Cemetery: Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Pas de Calais

In the desperate first few months of the war, Frank Crisp, a professional artist, soon found himself in charge of elite regular troops. From disembarkation to death was only 10 weeks.

At the outbreak of war Crisp served as a Corporal in F Company of the 28th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Artists' Rifles) and disembarked in F&F 26th October 1914. His service number of 1076 suggests he had joined this territorial unit in September/October 1912.

He is listed as one of the “First Fifty” of the Artists' Rifles - territorial soldiers who, before they had seen action, were picked to replace the heavy officer losses of the all-regular 7th Division.

“ … at less than 48 hours' notice the Battalion was embarked overseas, landing in the critical period at the end of October, 1914.

On their way up to Ypres they were dramatically halted at Bailleul by a Staff-Officer (as it happened, an old Artists Adjutant, Col. Romer) with an urgent message from the Commander-in-Chief who wished to see them. They de-bussed and were visited by him there. The result of an historic interview between him and Colonel May was that a few days later some 50 "other ranks," public school and University men who had taken to heart Lord Roberts' warning and trained in peace time, were rapidly given some practical tips, promoted to Second Lieutenant and the next day went straight into action (still wearing their Territorial private's uniform and Artists badge with the addition of a "pip") against some of Germany's most famous Regiments, in command of seasoned regular soldiers of the immortal Seventh Division.”

(From

The Regimental Roll of Honour and War Record of the Artists' Rifles

)

The Artists' “first fifty” comprised 40 privates, 8 corporals & 2 sergeants. As Probationary 2nd Lieutenants, they commanded regular army troops from eleven separate infantry battalions.

His commission was only gazetted a fortnight after his death; “The undermentioned, from 28th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Artists Rifles), to be temporary Second Lieutenants. Dated 15th December, 1914: …. Edward Fitzjohn Crisp.” (London Gazette, 19 January 1915. p611).

According to a book dedication, at the time of his death he was in the King's Company of 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards. The King's Company is picked for height and bearing, and performs important ceremonial roles, including bearing the monarch's coffin. “It is fair to say that the company, being the senior one of the senior [infantry] regiment of the British Army, is the senior of all.” (to quote Grumpy)

Unusually for the Artists' Rifles in 1914, he actually was an artist - a painter. He had studied at the Royal Academy of Arts where he won the gold medal and travelling scholarship for a historical work in 1907, had exhibited at the Royal Academy, Royal Scottish Academy and in New York and his paintings were used to illustrate books.

And in one of those little finds that make this research so fascinating, I noted that in 1912 he was stumped off the bowling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while playing for the Royal Academy against the MCC at Lord's

http://ycccsg.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/302/302785.html  The Artists' Rifles were quartered at Lord's before moving overseas “and slept in alcoves at Lord’s Cricket Ground built originally for the hungry relatives of Etonians and Harrovians” (Insanity Fair by Douglas Reed)

His name appears on the war memorial to the students of the Royal Academy at Burlington House (where there is also a memorial to the Artists' Rifles whose original HQ was here). The post-war edition of Naples and Southern Italy by Edward Hutton (which included 12 illustrations in colour by Crisp) was dedicated to him.

Crisp was a very distant cousin. If anyone can add anything on the likely circumstances of his death or correct any errors I would be grateful to receive information.

[Jim_Grundy]

Not much detail, I'm afraid, but I did transcribe a small excerpt from a letter by a Grenadier Guardsman who described 2/Lt. Crisp's death as being the first in his unit since the Christmas 1914 Truce. Here it is:

"Lieut. Crisp, Grenadier Guards, was the first killed after this armistice. This was about the 7th of January [sic, Crisp was killed on 5th January 1915], so in return we let off on the old game. We have had bad weather out here; many a place was up to the knees in water. We often had to lay down in the mud wet through, so little rest was gained in this condition."

Source: 'The Mansfield Reporter and Sutton-in-Ashfield Times', 5th February 1915.

I put this on my 'Small Town, Great War' facebook page, together with an image of one of Crisp's watercolours, here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/small-town-great-war-hucknall-1914-1918/pte-james-bowler-1st-battalion-grenadier-guards-end-of-the-truce-5th-january-191/333513183334092.

[Tim Godden]

Thanks for posting this Ned, a fascinating insight in to Francis Crisp's life.

[sotonmate]

Tim

There may be a few more details in this Officer's file at Kew,under WO339/18001.

Sotonmate

[Camilla_Wybrants]

Not very sure if I am posting in the right place. In answer to the distant cousin of Frank Crisp - if it is the same Frank Crisp - he was my father's mother's brother - one of his names is Fitzjohn that is one of my father's names.

[Camilla_Wybrants]

re previous posting on Frank Crisp - my father's first name is also Francis - never associated the two facts all these years! Have just looked at the facebook page with the watercolour - looks just like Frank's work.

[Camilla_Wybrants]

My father's full name is Francis Edward Fiztjohn Wybrants.

[Beau Geste]

In my younger days in The Blues we had an officer whose surname was Crisp. It's a relatively unusual name and I was wondering if they were related. If my failing memory has got it right, he was a captain in the Mounted Regiment in London in the 1950s.

Harry

[Camilla_Wybrants]

That is interesting Harry - spelt Fitzjohn wrong -

I will ask my father about him

[Beau Geste]

Hello Camilla,

I have emailed a friend, a former RHG RCM who does some work at the Household Cavalry museum at Windsor. I've asked him to look up Capt Crisp and send me any useful information they have on him. I'll be in touch when he responds.

Harry

[NedRutland]

Hello Camilla,

Frank's father, William Fitzjohn Crisp was an architect and civil engineer and his mother was Jane Euphemia, daughter of William Bell of North Lodge, Highgate, London. His father's family came from the Cambridgeshire fens.

I am not aware of any sister of Frank, only an older brother who died in infancy. Nor did Frank have any offspring.

Ned

[Camilla_Wybrants]

Hello Ned,

I have at last just spoken to my father - I asked him about Frank's parents. Yes as you say - Frank's father William Fitzjohn Crisp and mother Jane Euphemia (Nee Cowenhern-Bell?). His father was an architect - yes - my father said something about him designing a cathedral in New Zealand? My father confirmed the locations ie Highgate, London and Cambridgeshire.

I asked my father about a brother that died in infancy - he didn't know about that - but it might not have been talked about.

Frank had a brother called Hope - he served in the war and lost a leg - he was a tennis player and won the mixed doubles in 1913 - which doubles I am not sure!! My father did tell me. My father's mother ie Frank and Hope's sister was called Olive Euphemia Crisp! Poor woman.

I grew up surrounded by Franks' paintings - they were a fascinating comfort to me during childhood. I used to love a painting he did when he was twelve of a lovely romantic English farmhouse. There was a self-portrait of him hanging in the hall which I found rather frightening - I think it was his moustache!

Hi Harry - I asked my father about Captain Crisp who was in the Mounted Regiment in London in the 50s - my father didn't know him.

This is all very moving. Thank you. I am off now to the wilds in Achfary to do my live-in cleaning and cooking job but will keep in touch if I find out anything more. Camilla

[NedRutland]

This is an amazing new lead. Hope Crisp won the first Wimbledon mixed doubles in 1913 (the match was abandoned after an opponent was injured) and then, having lost a leg in the War, returned to play in 1919!

http://www.telegraph...afel-Nadal.html

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 OCTOBER, 1914; "3rd Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), Hope Crisp to be Second Lieutenant (on probation)."

Crisp was wounded in 1915 at Hill 60. His right leg was amputated.

On resuming his tennis career, Crisp was said to have a "fairly easy" service and "when there is no hurry, he walks with a fair speed, approaching a run. Other times, he hops."

(Camilla; will contact by PM)

[Beau Geste]

Hello Camilla,

I have emailed a friend, a former RHG RCM who does some work at the Household Cavalry museum at Windsor. I've asked him to look up Capt Crisp and send me any useful information they have on him. I'll be in touch when he responds.

Harry

Hello again Camilla,

I received an email from my friend this morning. He too can remember an officer called Crisp in The Blues (RHG). He thinks his christian name was Simon. However, he will be working in the Household Cavalry Museum in Windsor tomorrow (Thursday) and will see if he can find anything more substantive. He did say, however, that officers records are "pretty sparse".

Fingers crossed.

Harry

[Beau Geste]

Hello Ned and Camilla,

Here is the information I promised you. Sorry about the delay. My friend only works at the Household Cavalry Museum one day a week.

John Simon Crisp from Bungay, Essex.

DoB 19 January 1937.

Enlisted in 1955 and joined the Brigade Squad at the Guards depot, Caterham on 17th June 1955 prior to going tyo the RMA Sandhurst.

He was commissioned on the 21 December 1956.

He retired on 7th November 1975 with the rank of Major.

He served withg the Mounted Squadron at Knightsbridge on two occasions: March 1960 - March 1962 and November 1964 until October 1966.

He had a brother in the Coldstream Guards (no details available.

Hope this helps.

Harry

[NedRutland]

Thank you Beau/Harry - I am not aware of a connection with Frank and Hope.

More detail on Hope:

Hope Crisp (6 February 1884 - 25 March 1950) was, with Agnes Tuckey, the first winner of the Wimbledon mixed doubles in 1913. Educated at Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, he went up to Cambridge where he captained the University tennis team.

In the 1913 Wimbledon Championships, he won with Tuckey the first mixed doubles final at Wimbledon in an unusual fashion when one of their opponents Ethel Thomson Larcombe was struck in the eye by her partner's miss-hit smash and unable to continue the match. The incident occurred when the second set was 5-3 for Crisp and Tuckey, the first having been won by the opposing pair of James Cecil Parke and Mrs Larcombe. In the 1914 Wimbledon Championships Crisp and Tuckey were the losing semi-finalists.

During the War, he received a commission in The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. In April 1915 while attached to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, he was wounded at Hill 60 near Ypres and his right leg was amputated.

Nevertheless, with a prosthesis, he returned to Wimbledon to play in the 1919 Championships with Mrs Perrett, losing in the second round after a bye in the first. The Times wrote; "It was interesting to see how he managed. He is a strong volleyer and naturally half volleys many balls which a two-legged player would drive. The artificial leg is the right; accordingly service is fairly easy and when there is no hurry, he walks with a fair speed, approaching a run. Other times, he hops. His cheerful temperament makes the game a real pleasure to himself and others"

After the war, Captain Hope Crisp was employed as a Regional Awards Officer for the Ministry of Pensions; he received the OBE in 1923.