Crumps and Crumpets

[Saabman2005]

While researching Lt A Russell of the 12HB RGA I have come across a book of rounds that his family has, that also includes a war diary. In quite a few places the word crump, or crumps, or crumpet are used in designating artillery rounds, mostly I believe referring to incoming ones. Eventually found a disctionary reference that Crump was the sound of an exploding bomb or shell. So possibly the designation crump refers to a round that they heard but did not see explode.

Does any one have anything that can shed some further light on this?

Many thanks Neil

[Robert Dunlop]

'Crump(s)' is often used as a descriptor for the shelling of a position or area. It is usually different from a barrage, and usually refers to a sporadic episode of shelling. The context is often near-misses relating to the individual writing the account, and does not seem to be related only to the sound of an explosion.

Robert

[truthergw]

Unfortunately I cannot lay my hand on the source but I am sure I have seen the word used as a description of the explosion of a heavy shell in a similar way to " coal box, jack johnson " etc.

[centurion]

I'd agree with Tom - crump a heavy reatively low velocity shell, whiz bang a flat trajectory high velocity shell

[Saabman2005]

Thanks guys for these - appreciate your help.

Truthergw - hope you can find that source for me.

cheers Neil

[Robert Dunlop]

Tom, you are right. In some descriptions, it is very clear that the term was used re heavy, low velocity shells. But my strong impression is that this was not always the case. In some instances, it is not possible to tell. In other cases, the word appears to describe shelling in a generic sense. I don't believe I have ever seen it used in relation to Minenwerfer attacks. Many accounts refer more specifically to 'coalboxes', 'Jack Johnsons', '5.9s', etc, rather than 'crumps' - the descriptor was not universally used, though I suspect was always understood!. I will pay specific attention to the word from now on.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

This example from the history of the New Zealand artillery, during their time on the Somme:

"Later on the positions were 'crumped' with 5.9's, and a lot of casualties were caused..."

Robert

[stoj22]

I guess this farm got plenty of crumping........!!