338 L/Cpl Frederick Gordon Crisp DCM MiD
1st Light Horse Regiment, AIF
by Robert Simpson
Fredrick Gordon Crisp was born at Browning, near Yass in New South Wales in July 1895. He was a son to William Crisp and Mary McKinnon, who had been married in Yass in 1882. William had been born in Cambridgeshire, England in 1858 and had migrated to Australia in 1862. No other details are known about Mary (apart from her funeral details which give her age as 85, so born about 1857). They had seven children all up, Frederick being the youngest son and one of four boys. On 28th May 1901, the Wagga Wagga Advertiser had an entry in Land Notes, Forfeited Conditional Purchases in the Albany District for William Crisp, that “c p 91 59, 50 acres, county Goulburn, parish Vautier”, was declared forfeit due to non-payment of money. Frederick joined the 43rd (Werriwa) Infantry Regiment (Headquarters at Goulburn), a militia regiment, sometime in 1912, as he stated he had served with them for 2 years on his service record. He was probably with C Company, which was based around Yass, Braidwood, Cooma, and Bega. The Regiment had been formed after the reorganisation of the army in 1911 in New South Wales. It was a Militia Force in the 2nd Military District and part of the 10th Infantry Brigade. But in 1913 and 1914, the 43rd Werriwa Regiment was attached to the 14th Infantry Brigade for training. Frederick was still living with his parents in Victoria Street in Bowral. At this time he was working in the quarry on Mt. Gibraltar as a stonemason. He was a member of the local freemasons in Bowral, the Loyal Lighthouse Lodge. A description of him at that time was “open-hearted, fearless and chivalrous, of irreproachable character, and of a generous and jovial disposition”.
Frederick joined on 25th August 1914 with the 1st Light Horse Regiment as Private 338. He was one of the first men in the Southern Highlands to enlist. The regiment was raised with men from New South Wales in August 1914. He noted on his attestation paper that he was working as a mason and was born in Yass. Frederick had never been an apprentice, nor was he married. He gave his next of kin as his father, William Crisp of Victoria St, Bowral. He was still serving with the 43rd Werriwa Infantry and had been with them for 2 years. Rosebury Park was the place he enlisted at. Frederick was described as being 19 years and 1 month old, height of 5 foot 10 inches, weight of 11 stone 6 pounds, chest measurement of 39 inches, of ruddy complexion with blue eyes and dark hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. He was passed as medically fit. Lieutenant Colonel John B Meredith, Commanding Officer of 1st Light horse Regiment, approved the attestation and appointed him to “B” Squadron on 28th August 1914 at Rosebury Park.
His service records read that he was a Driver from 1st September 1914 to 11th September 1914 and then reverted back to Private from 12th September 1914. As a part of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, Frederick embarked at Sydney on the HMAT Star of Victoria A16 on 20th October 1914 (another record has 19th). He was with B Squadron. They disembarked at Egypt on 8th December 1915. His rate of pay was 5 shillings a day, of which he took 2 shillings and 6 pence. They incorrectly spelt his middle name as Gorden. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 21st (or 22nd in another record) January 1915.
The Light Horse Regiments were deployed to Gallipoli without horses, to reinforce the infantry. The 1st LHR landed on 12th May 1915 and was used in a defensive roll for most of the campaign.
He was recommended for a gallantry award with the recommendation reading: – Lance Corporal F G Crisp 338 1st ALH Regt., on 15th May 1915 at Razor Back, near Quinn’s Post “This man volunteered and was allowed to go out in daylight on the morning of 15th May to rescue a wounded man of the 2nd A.L.H. who was seen lying on the cliff face of Razor Back to the left of QUINN’S POST and within twenty yards of the enemy’s trench. L.Cpl. Crisp had to climb the cliff in the sight of the enemy and returned with the wounded man.” He had not been previously recommended for an award.
Frederick was promoted to Corporal (temporary) on 26th July 1915.
His DCM was promulgated in the London Gazette of 3rd June 1916 (A32-27) page 5585, position 4 as Lance Corporal No. 338 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment. The citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal reads “CRISP F.G. L/Cpl 338 1st Regt. For conspicuous gallantry. He voluntarily went out by daylight and rescued a wounded man from within 20 yards of the enemy’s trench. 21.6.16”. It was published in the London Gazette of 21st June 1916 on page 6159, position 2. Base Records sent a letter to his father at Bowral, advising him of the entry in the London Gazette, although it said it was No. 29631 of 20th June 1916.
His Mention in Despatches was published in the London Gazette of 13th July 1916 page 6954, position 11, as Lance Corporal F G Crisp 338 1st Light Horse Regiment Australian Cavalry. His father was sent a letter on 2nd December 1916 the extract from the London gazette of 11th July 1916 Fourth Supplement No. 29664 “relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, the late No. 338, Corporal F. C. Crisp, 1st Light Horse Regiment. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. With reference to the despatch published on the 10th April the following are mentioned for distinguished and gallant service rendered during the period of Sir Charles Munro’s Command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force :- No. 338 FREDERICK GORDON CRISP.” Note, they put C instead of G in his initials. It was sent to Victoria Street Bowral. Another record notes it was for services between 6th May 1915 and 28th June 1915.
As part of the August offensive, the regiment was used to mount an attack on the Turkish position known as the Chessboard on the 7th. The allies planned to break the stalemate and seize the high points along the Sari Bair range. A diversion was planned at Lone Pine to start on the afternoon of the 6th. They had to attack against formidable entrenched Turkish positions. Some of these positions were covered by pine logs, which they had to break through to get to the Turks. The main Turkish trench was taken 20 minutes after the charge, but this led to 4 days of intense hand-to-hand fighting. Of the 200 men involved of the 1st HLR, 147 became casualties. During the attack on Lone Pine on 8th August 1915, Frederick was wounded with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Frederick died of his wounds at sea on H.S. Dunluce Castle off the shore of Gallipoli on 8th August 1915 (another entry has 20th August?). The ship was on its way to the hospital at Malta when he died. Frederick was buried at sea en route to Malta, after the service to commit him. He was one of eleven Southern Highlanders who were killed during the attack at Lone Pine, between the 6th and 9th August 1915.
He is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial at Anzac with his name listed on Panel 1. G.
Army Form B 2090A was filled out on 19th August 1915 at Alexandria to report on his death and stated that Frederick Gordon Crisp, First Light horse Regiment, B Squadron, Regimental number 338 with the rank of Lance Sergeant (crossed out and Corporal handwritten), died on the 8th August 1915 on board “Dunluce Castle” at sea and the cause of death was died of wounds received in action. There was no indication of a will and his pay book was not yet at hand.
The man he rescued was Trooper Edward Donovan of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment C Squadron (Private 501). Edward later returned to Australia on 23rd December 1918 as Corporal in the 1st Light Horse Regiment. He wrote a letter which was published in the local paper: – “Saved By a Comrade. Trooper Edward Donovan, of 2nd L. H. Regt, writes from the 1st Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis, to his father at Lismore, as follows:- “When I was wounded at Quinn’s Post I lay unconscious out in front of our lies, at that time the most dangerous place at Anzac. After a month’s time I found that the man who rescued me under heavy machine-gun fire was Corporal Frederick Crisp, of B Troop, B Squadron, 1st A.L.H. Regt. I hear he was awarded the D.C.M. for the brave act. This is the first opportunity I have had of thanking him.” [The above has evidently been written by a soldier who is unaware of the death of the comrade who rescued him. Corporal Crisp, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Crisp, of Bowral, was subsequently killed in the memorable Lone Pine battle on the ill-fated Gallipoli peninsula. It must be consoling to his parents to know that the heroic act for which he was awarded the D.C.M. was in every sense genuine.-Ed.]”
On Tuesday 31st August 1915, the Southern Mail in Bowral had this article in the “Roll of Honor: – CORPORAL FRED. CRISP. It was with profound regret that the news was received in Bowral on Thursday last that Corporal Frederick Gordon Crisp, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Crisp, Victoria-street, Bowral, had died on 8th August from wounds received in action at the Dardanelles. From the meagre particulars to hand it appears that Corporal Crisp was wounded in the battle at Lonesome Pine, and died on the boat while being conveyed to the hospital at Malta. He was buried at sea. The deceased soldier, who was within four days of his 20th birthday, was a splendid type of the young Australian – open hearted, fearless and chivalrous, of irreproachable character, and of a generous and jovial disposition which won the affection and esteem of all who knew him. He sailed with the 1st Light Horse, 1st Australian Division, obtained the first stripe while in Egypt, and the second at the Dardanelles. That Corporal Crisp was distinguishing himself in the firing line was evident from the fact that he had been mentioned in recent despatches for gallantry. We join their many friends in extending sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.”
The Sydney Morning Herald of 1st September 1915 had under Roll of Honour “CRISP. – LANCE-CORPORAL Frederick Gordon, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 1st Australian Division, died of wounds received in action at the battle of Lonesome Pine, in his 20th year. Dearly beloved brother of Cecil and Ettie Crisp, of Moss Vale.” The same paper on Tuesday 8th August 1916 had two entries in the Roll of Honour:-
“CRISP. – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Corporal Frederick Gordon Crisp, D.C.M., 1st L.H., died of wounds received at Lone Pine August 8, 1915. He rose responsive to his country’s call, And gave his best – his life, his all.
CRISP. – In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle, Corporal Frederick Crisp, 1st Light Horse, who gave his life for his country at Lone Pine August 8, 1915. His King and country called him, The call was not in vain; On Britain’s roll of honour You will find our hero’s name. Never forgotten by his loving sister and brother-in-law, Jim, niece, Mary, and nephews, Keith and Jimmy Walsh, 440 Wattle-street, Sydney.”
A letter from the Commanding Officer of the 43rd Infantry at Goulburn was replied to on 18th September 1916 by Base Records, sending him Record Books C.M. Forms M.7-8 (with A.I.F. service entered) relating to Frederick, who was in the AIF and “formerly of your Command, reported as :- Died of wounds, 8th August, 1915.” On 4th October 1916, R A Page, Captain and Adjutant pro Commanding Officer acknowledged receiving them.
A letter was written to Mr W Crisp at Victoria St Bowral on 10th October 1916, which reads:- “With feelings of admiration at the gallantry of a brave Australian soldier who nobly laid down his life in the service of our King and Country, I am forwarding to you as the next-of-kin of the late No. 338 Corporal F. G. Crisp, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force, the Distinguished Conduct Medal which His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award that gallant soldier for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at the Dardanelles while serving with the Australian Expeditionary Force. May I ask you to accept my deep personal sympathy in the loss which not only you, but the Australian Army has sustained, by the death of Corporal Crisp, whose magnificent conduct on the field of battle helped to earn for our Australian soldiers a fame which will endure as long as memory lasts.”
On 10th November 1915, a claim for a pension by Mary Crisp of Victoria St Bowral was rejected by the Deputy Commissioner of Pensions in Sydney as she was not dependent on the deceased soldier.
A couple of entries in his service record state he had no personal effects in his kit.
On 12th January 1921, his father was sent the book “Where the Australians Rest”.
On 27th August 1921, William Crisp signed for the Memorial Scroll and the Memorial Plaque on 31st August 1922. He also signed for the Victory Medal with oak leaf attached on the same day. On 7th July 1921, the certificate for the Mention in Despatches for “the late No. 338 T/Corporal F.G. Crisp ‘DCM’, 1st L. H. Regt.” Was posted to Mr W Crisp of Victoria Street Bowral, only to be returned unclaimed. It was re-sent to PO Griffiths on 9th March 1922.
At some stage his father, William, changed his address to C/O Post Office Griffiths NSW, as recorded on the Attestation page in his son’s records.
William Crisp, his father, passed away in September 1938 and is buried in Randwick General Cemetery. Mary Crisp died in April 1942 and was also buried at Randwick General Cemetery.
His medals are Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaf.
Memorial at Bowral.
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