He was the son of Tom John and Jane Cripps, of The Poplars, Bedlington and grandson of the late Mr and Mrs Thomas Northorpe of Sunderland.
Morpeth Herald 21/09/1917 carries a brief obituary:
Information has been received of the death of Staff-Sergeant Thomas Cripps, R.E., son of Mr and Mrs T.J. Cripps, Ingleside House, Seaton Burn. Deceased was Chief Engineer of the Seaton Burn Coal Company. He served his time at Newbiggin Colliery.
Thomas John Cripps is remembered at Seaton Burn on S88.01 at Newbiggin by the Sea on N10.03, N10.06 and N10.14 and at Sunderland on S140.048 part 7
