Thomas Crisp

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Skipper Thomas Crisp VC DSC RNR (April 28, 1876 - August 15, 1917) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 41 years old, and a skipper in the Royal Naval Reserve during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 15 August 1917 in the North Sea, Atlantic, 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 water-line and another shell passed through the ship, mortally wounding the skipper, who, however, went on directing operations. He gave the order to abandon ship but he was too badly injured to be moved and went down with Nelson.

Although the medal itself is not publicly displayed a replica can be seen in Lowestoft town hall. The original is held secure by the local council. The family of Skipper Crisp felt his inerests would not be served if the medal were held privately, out of public view.

[edit] References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.