William Crinnion
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Crinnion born in 1893 at Gateshead, County Durham, one of 10 children of whom only 8 survived, was the only son of Michael Crinnion and Barbara Gibbon born 1866 and 1870 respectively at Gateshead, where they married at Holy Trinity Church, June 10th 1889. They settled at Nuns Lane with their daughter Frances, Michael was a sand moulder at Hymer’s Old Foundry, both just off Gateshead High Street. Ten years later with their 5 children they had moved to 60, Regent Street, where their remaining children were born. Barbara Crinnion nee Gibbon died in 1906 aged 36 years of age. Widower Michael Crinnion remained at Regent Terrace, in 1911 still employed as a metal moulder he had been joined at the foundry by William, now 18 years of age, as a labourer. His sisters Annie (16), Eleanor (14) and Barbara (12) assisted with domestic duties, Agnes (10) and Lily (8) attended school.William and Matthew possibly worked at Clark Chapman Works as this time.
On the outbreak of war William Crinnion was 21 years of age and enlisted at Gateshead, assigned as Private 3336 Durham Light Infantry to the 1st/9th Battalion, a unit of the Territorial Force with H.Q. and drill hall at Burt Terrace, Gateshead. After spending the first few months digging trenches at South Shields the part time soldiers were formed into 4 companies and trained at Ravensworth, Boldon and Newcastle for service overseas. The main body of men departed for the Western Front from Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station April 19th 1915.
Private Crinnion did not depart until August 19th 1915. Newly arrived he was placed with the 3rd Entrenching Battalion of the 3rd Army until he was transferred as Private 325407 Durham Light Infantry back to the 1st/9th Battalion joining his regiment in the field on the Ypres salient in Belgium and in the trenches at Armentieres as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, where they remained until August 1916. Moved south to the Somme during September and October they attacked towards Starfish Line north of High Wood and the Flers Line at Eaucourt-L’Abbaye and finally at the Butte de Warlencourt, November 5th 1916. Although they captured the Butte they were unable to hold it and fell back at a cost of 500 men killed and wounded. Spring 1917 they were moved to the Arras sector in preparation for the Battle of Arras which raged from April 9th-May 16th and remained in the sector for the remainder of the year.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal Crinnion was wounded and either whilst being transferred back through the lines for treatment or upon his arrival at the hospital centre in Rouen, died of wounds April 27th 1917. He is at rest within St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Siene-Maritme, France used by the many general hospitals in the vicinity of Rouen from September 1916 until April 1920. Lance Corporal Crinnion was 24 years of age and single.
His father Michael received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He died at Gateshead in 1926 aged 60 years, confirmed by birth and marriage entries although the informant declared he was 58 years old.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Crinnion is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004 G39.006 G39.091 and G39.127
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 102
