Patrick Crinnion
Patrick with his mother
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Patrick Joseph Crinnion was the son of James Crinnion born May 15th 1861 at Crook, County Durham, he was married January 13th 1887 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church Tow Law, County Durham, to local girl Anne McMahon, known as Annie, born January 31st 1868. Eight of their 11 children were born at Tow Law, where they lived at North Street and Castle Street, as James Crinnion was employed as a coal miner. Michael Crinnion was born December 2nd 1887, Nicholas in 1890, Mary August 5th 1891 died August 19th 1904, John June 22nd 1893, James April 24th 1895, Patrick Joseph March 30th 1896, Ann Josephine born March 22nd 1899 died July 3rd 1899 and Winifred was born April 14th 1901. By 1903 they had moved to Cornsay where Thomas was born April 25th 1904 and lived less than 24 hours and Nora Mary born December 26th 1904 died January 9th 1905 and 1 other deceased, gender unknown.
In 1911 they were living at the Royal Oak Hotel, Cornsay Colliery where their mother was the licensee and employed her husband as an assistant in the business. Only two of their sons worked at the colliery, Michael (23) as a joiner and Nicolas (21) as a weigh-man, John (17) was a blacksmith’s striker, James (16) an apprentice cabinet maker, Patrick (14) and Winifred (9) were scholars, 20-year-old Elizabeth Harrison was employed by them as a servant. Even after the death of her husband, August 2nd 1912, Annie continued to run the Royal Oak Hotel.
On the outbreak of war Patrick Joseph enlisted at Durham in 1914 and was initially assigned as Private 8896 Durham Light Infantry. When he turned 19 and was eligible for overseas service he departed August 28th 1915 for the Western Front and upon his arrival was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry of the Regular Army. The Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 and he was subsequently transferred to the 6th Battalion Machine Gun Corps attached to the 2nd Division, as of January 1st 1916 with the new service number 16388. The division participated during the Battles of the Somme at Delville Wood and on the Ancre. In 1917 at the Battles of Arras participating at the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, Arleux and the Battle of Cambrai and in 1918 in the St. Quentin sector.
Having risen through the ranks the now Sergeant 16388 Patrick Joseph Crinnion Machine Gun Corps was killed in action September 16th 1918 during the battle to regain from the Germans the villages of Caulaincourt and Trefon and interred at Trefon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne, France, grave A. 16. He was 21 years of age and single.
His mother Annie as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at the Royal Oak Hotel, Cornsay, County Durham. She commissioned at a cost of 9 shillings 7 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy R.I.P.”
Patrick Joseph’s brother James also served, details unknown, he survived the conflict.
Annie Crinnion nee McMahon of the Royal Oak Hotel, Cornsay Colliery, County Durham, died June 8th 1928, aged 60 years, leaving effects in the sum of 2 thousand 8 hundred and 44 pounds 15 shillings 8 pence to her children Nicholas and John Crinnion licensed victualers, James Crinnion joiner and Winifred Crinnion spinster.
Michael Crinnion married Mary Ellen Josephine Conway 1892-1991, and had 5 children. Mary Winifred 1916 and James 1920-1920, after the death of James they emigrated to Australia where his wife gave birth to Monica 1924-2009, Anne 1928-2003 and William 1931-2010, Mary Winifred died in 2014. Michael Crinnion died aged 63 years, July 4th 1951, Mary Ellen Josephine Crinnion nee Conway, October 13th 1991 aged 99 years. All deaths registered in New South Wales, Australia.
Nicholas Crinnion married Lilian Ethel Scarth with whom he had 2 children, John 1915 and Jessie Annie 1917. Nicholas died December 20th 1948 at 1, The Avenue, Leadgate, County Durham, aged 58 years.
John Crinnion died February 5th 1954 in New York, U.S.A, Winifred Crinnion married Thomas A. Coates in 1928 and died June 19th 1981, residence 32, Quebec Street, Langley Park, County Durham. Effects £14296.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Eddie Castling & Andrew O’Sullivan have submitted the following:
CRINNION, Patrick Joseph
Lived at Royal Oak Hotel, Cornsay Colliery, Co Durham.
In 1911, had 4 brothers and a sister (5 other siblings had died as children). Mother Annie was Publican, with father James assisting in business (he had previously been a coal miner).
He was a pupil at Durham Johnston School.
He started service as a Private in D.L.I., then was a Serjeant in 6th Bn Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), Regtl no 8896, then 16388, and first saw active service in France in August 1915.
He died 16/09/1918, aged 21. Battle of Aisne.
Medals: British Defence Medal, Victory Medal
Patrick Joseph Crinnion is remembered at Quebec on Q2.05 at Cornsay on C116.01 and in Durham on D47.025
