Hamsteels St John
In St John the Baptist Churchyard, Hamsteels is a headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Elizabeth widow of the late Jacob Crabb
of Cornsay
who died 5th June 1924 aged 64 years
Also of Jacob their son
who fell in action in France
10th October 1916 aged 21 years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Jacob Crabb Jnr, one of 6 children, he was the 3rd born of 4 sons and had 1 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Jacob Pester Crabb of Beer Crowcombe, Somerset, born 1859, a farmer’s son, in 1881 was a lodger at the Police House in Llanover, Monmouthshire, Wales, where he was a serving police constable along with John Jones under the command of Sergeant William James. Within 3 years he had been transferred to Thornley, near Tow Law, County Durham, and married Elizabeth Pearson of Low Worsley, County Durham, October 13th 1884. They lived at Seaton Carew, West Hartlepool with their son John Johnson Crabb 1886, William 1889 and 3 month old Elizabeth known as Lizzie, in 1891. Jacob Jnr was born in 1895 at Leadgate, Durham, Jessie and brother Thomas at Cornsey in 1898 and 1901 respectively. In 1901 they were living at Gillow Street, Cornsay Colliery, however, unfortunately Jacob Pester Crabb died March 9th 1905, aged 46 years, when Jacob Jnr was only 10 years of age, his effects in the sum of 535 pounds went to his widow Elizabeth.
Despite the loss of her husband Elizabeth managed to keep all her children in full time education. John (24) a qualified joiner emigrated to Canada, Lizzie at the age of 20 was a fully qualified elementary teacher employed by the County Council, Jacob (15), Jessie (13) and Thomas (10) were scholars. Jacob later studied at Bede Collage, Durham. In 1911 they were living at 30, Commercial Street, Cornsay Colliery.
Jacob Crabb, having received notice, abandoned his studies and enlisted at Durham, December 8th 1915 assigned as Rifleman C/12839 King’s Royal Rifles, he was posted to the 21st Battalion, joining his regiment at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, before being moved to Aldershot where the regiment was attached to the 124th Brigade, 41st Division for final training. Suffering from influenza he was hospitalised at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot, February 16th-23rd, passed fit he returned to his regiment where he was promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal, March 8th 1916. The regiment departed to France during the first week of May 1916 concentrating between Hazelbroek and Bailleul. Prior to the commencement of the Battles of the Somme he was confirmed Corporal, June 1st 1916. During the Battles of the Somme his battalion saw action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd and Transloy Ridge October 1st-18th 1916.
Corporal C/12839 Jacob Crabb King’s Royal Rifles was killed in action during the Battle of Transloy, October 10th 1916, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades, along with that of L/Corp 7485 J. Millar also of the 21st K.R.R. at map reference 57c. s. 5. c. 1. 3. marked with crosses bearing their military details. After the Armistice during the clearing of the battlefields their remains where exhumed by the 3rd Labour Corps and brought into Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Somme, France, for re-burial with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain. Corporal Crabb is at rest grave II. E. 2. At the time of his demise in 1916 he was 21 years of age and single. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
All monies owed to him were assigned to his mother of 30, Commercial Street, Cornsay and brother John of Ghost Pine Creek, Canada. Personal items received by his mother were 1 letter case, photos, post card & birth certificate. His sister Lizzie wrote to the Records Office Winchester, March 17th 1917 the following, transcribed including any grammatical and/or spelling mistakes, “Dear Sirs, We received the articles mentioned. They are not by any means all my brother possessions. He had a watch, silver match box, cigarette case, diary & money in his possession, I am, Yours faithfully E. Crabb.” December 15th 1917 they received an old wallet, a disc & letters. Whether the other items and money were ever retrieved is unknown.
Elizabeth Crabb nee Pearson of 30, Commercial Street, Cornsay died June 5th 1924. Administration Durham July 2nd to Lizzie Crabb spinster. Effects 293 pounds 5 shillings 3 pence. Lizzie died in 1956, registered in the district of Durham Northern. John Johnson Crabb who had emigrated to Canada in 1907 married Elsie also an English immigrant and had a daughter Irene born 1919 at Alberta. In 1921 they were living at No.308 Ghost Pine, Bow River, Alberta. John initially worked as a farmer having been granted a homestead, April 11th 1918 but in the census of 1940 is listed as a carpenter, their daughter was still unmarried and employed as a stenographer. Further details unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Eddie Castling & Andrew O’Sullivan have submitted the following:
CRABB, Jacob born 20/09/1895, the son of late Jacob Fester Crabb, a Police Constable. His mother was Elizabeth and he had 2 sisters and 2 brothers.
In 1908 he lived at 30 Commercial Street, Cornsay Colliery,
He was admitted to Durham Johnston School on 15/09/1908, aged 12, having previously attended Cornsay Colliery Board School.
He was a student at Bede College, Durham.
Enlisted 21st Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 08/12/1915 (Regtl No C/12839) and was promoted to Corporal on 08/03/1916.
Died 10/10/1916, aged 21.
Jacob Crabb is remembered at Cornsay on C116.01 at Quebec on Q2.06 and at Durham on D47.014 D47.025 D47.052 D47.127 and D47.141
