World War I British Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, he served as a Commander in the Royal Navy Reserve. On August 15, 1917, in the North Sea, the ship H.M. Smack Nelson was engaged in fishing when she was attacked by gunfire from a German submarine. The gear was let go and the submarine's fire was returned. The submarine's fourth shot went through the port bow just below the waterline and the seventh shell struck Skipper Thomas Crisp, partially disabling him and passed through the deck and out through the side of the ship. In spite of the terrible nature of his wound Skipper Crisp retained consciousness and first thought to send off a message that he was being attacked and giving his position. He continued to command his ship until the ammunition was almost exhausted and the H.M. Smack Nelson was sinking. He refused to be moved into the small boat with the rest of the crew as they were abandoning the vessel as she sank. His last request before he died and went down with his ship, was that he be thrown overboard rather than slow them down. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on November 2, 1917.
World War I British Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, he served as a Commander in the Royal Navy Reserve. On August 15, 1917, in the North Sea, the ship H.M. Smack Nelson was engaged in fishing when she was attacked by gunfire from a German submarine. The gear was let go and the submarine's fire was returned. The submarine's fourth shot went through the port bow just below the waterline and the seventh shell struck Skipper Thomas Crisp, partially disabling him and passed through the deck and out through the side of the ship. In spite of the terrible nature of his wound Skipper Crisp retained consciousness and first thought to send off a message that he was being attacked and giving his position. He continued to command his ship until the ammunition was almost exhausted and the H.M. Smack Nelson was sinking. He refused to be moved into the small boat with the rest of the crew as they were abandoning the vessel as she sank. His last request before he died and went down with his ship, was that he be thrown overboard rather than slow them down. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on November 2, 1917.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Other Records
Advertisement
