De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 4 page 40

Tyne Cot Panel Panel 19 to 23 and 162

Medal Index Card

Newcastle Journal Friday 16/11/1917

Morpeth Herald Friday 23/11/1917

Robert John Crisp was the oldest son, born on the 26th May 1894, at Swarland Terrace, Broomhill, Northumberland, to Robert Crisp [Thirston, Felton, Northumberland], who was a Gamekeeper, and his wife Elizabeth Crisp. Robert had two younger brothers William, born 1998, and Samuel, born 1900, and a sister Mary, born 1897.

Robert was educated at Thirston School, and on leaving school he was a farm servant at Ashington Farm, near Morpeth.

He enlisted on the 31st August 1914 in the Northumberland Fusiliers and was transferred to the 4th Battalion, Tyneside Scottish Battalion.

He was sent to France and Flanders on the 25th August 1915. He was a signaller with the battalion.

He was killed in action at Rortebeck Farm, near Langemarck on the 18th October 1917. Age 23. He was unmarried.

"The 23rd Battalion had been given instructions to relieve three companies of 10th West Yorkshire Regiment and two companies of the 7th Green Howards of the 17th Division. At 6 pm on the 16th October the battalion moved forward into the front line, which was really a series of defended pill boxes and shell boxes. Here they were subjected to a heavy artillery which caused the deaths of three men and the wounding of a further ten".

He was buried at Rortebeck Farm, but his grave was lost, and so his name is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Morpeth Herald 23/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:
ROLL OF HONOUR
CRISP.- Killed in action on October 18th, 1917, Signaller Robert John Crisp, dearly beloved and eldest son of Robert and Elizabeth Crisp, [of Fox Hemel], Thirston, Felton.

"By the Green of the Spring" A tribute to the men of Chevington and Broomhill who served in the First World War:; J.H. Hardy; 2004; Amble Social History Group. Page 27

Robert John Crisp is remembered at Felton on F14.01, F14.02 and F14.12, at East Chevington on E7.02 and in the Alnwick Gazette Almanack page 48, where his name is given as "Chrisp".

Felton Roll of Honour
23rd Battalion Scottish Tyneside R.O.H.
The CWGC entry for Private Crisp