Hello all, Just finished re-reading Brazen Chariots after being spurred to it by a discussion on twitter. What was Crisp's wartime career after Op Crusader? I only have scant details and some vague recollections which may or may not be true. If you search online of course you'll find a wikipedia article and obits. There is a story reported that Montogomery prevented him being awarded a VC because of his insubordination. That could only presumably(?) have been in the desert and I wonder (if it's true) if that has anything to do with the battle of Alam Halfa - the last mention of Crisp in the index of Taming the Panzers is of him leading a pursuit column. Another poster here, Susan Smethurst, some time ago said that her father was his 2 I/C on D-Day. Did he actually serve through to the end of the war? One other thing - I vaguely recall (for what little that's worth) Crisp being busted down in the ranks or reprimanded for going AWOL and on a drunken bender in Alexandria. But I don't know where I read that or if it's verifiable. Sorry, to be specific, he was a cricketer and playing until at least 1938 according to wikipedia. "He toured Ceylon and Malaya with Sir Julien Cahn's XI in the 1936–37 season, taking six wickets in the first-class match against Ceylon, before returning to England once more in 1938 to take 44 wickets for Worcestershire including a spell of 5/0." And in the desert he was in 3RTR - unless he was transferred to another regiment after. I think this R J S Crisp might be someone else. I don't think 3RTR's Crisp reached Major before 1942. Wikipedia *does* list a middle name of James but no mention of a second middle name. Bob Crisp - Wikipedia
Still think Chariots one of the better 'armoured memoirs'. Though I seem to rate all of those schlocky-covered 50s/60s memoirs more highly than most. Something impressively immediate about them. The sort of chaps who had a real urge to get something out there about their experiences.
One has to forgive the covers! I agree... I suppose Crisp was keeping a diary, had a very good memory, or inserted some details (the dialogue?) but it's very good for being such a focused book - not on his entire career but just one month in 1941.
If nothing else, it brought home for me the immediacy of 'small' tactical armoured actions. Don't think I really understood how 'light' tanks could play the game before reading it.
two results from the British Newspaper archive (second appears to be mash up of the first) which may be connected, sorry I don't have a sub to view full article. .. TANK MAJOR TRANSFERRED JOHANNESBURG, Sunday.— Major Bob Crisp, D. 5.0., M.C., and mentioned in despatches, has been transferred to the South African Army from the Royal Tank Corps, He has been in the Middle East since 1940 and has been ... Published: Monday 15 March 1943 Newspaper: Belfast News-Letter .. Tasks with Namur Many houses have been Major Bob Crisp has been damaged, telegraph and tele- transferred to the' South phone lines cut, and great African Army frpm ,the Royal damage done to crops by a Tank Corps. fie: has been in ,violent storm which ... Published: Monday 15 March 1943 Newspaper: Aberdeen Evening Express https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1943-01-01/1943-12-31?basicsearch=bob crisp royal tank regiment&exactsearch=false&retrievecountrycounts=false
From a family tree Robert James Crisp 1911–1994 BIRTH 28 05 1911 • Calcutta, West Bengal, India DEATH 03 03 1994 • Colchester, Essex, England Military 1939 • London, England 3rd Royal Tank Regiment Commissioned Officer sent to Alexandria to serve in desert Military 00 06 1940 Commissioned as second lieutenant. Military 15/02/1941 • Nottingham Evening Post Major R Crisp receives another award DSO famous Transvaal fast bowler and all round cricketer has been awarded ... 770 words p.4 Military 01 05 1941 • Port Said, Ash Sharqiyah, Egypt Reinstated as Captain Bob Crisp with 3rd Battalion Royal Tank Regiment arrived from Greece/Crete. (Italians in Sollum, Afrika Korps and Rommel surround Tobruk). Military September 1941 • Beni Yusef Captain Crisp, Second in Command of 'C' squadron with American 'Honey' tanks under C.O. Bunny Ewins. Part of Eighth Army: 4th armoured brigade operational unit. Each of 3 tank regiments has a troop of 25 pounder guns of the Royal Horse Artillery, a detach Medical October 1941 • 15th General Hospital, Nile opposite Gezira Island Diagnosis: Jaundice 'eating boiled chicken and rice watching full-sailed dhows go by. Military October 1941 • Cairo-Fayoum Road, Libyan Egyptian frontier Each of 3 tank regiments has a troop of 25 pounder guns of the Royal Horse Artillery, a detachment of Scots Guards and anti-tank and anti-aircraft units led by Brig. Alec Gatehouse DSO, MC. Military November 1941 • Sidi Rezegh airfield, Libya Eighth army Matruh Stakes Mission November 1941 • Bardia Operation Crusader Campaign: destroy German-Italian forces in Africa. Randolph Churchill: Bob Crisp South African fast bowler, got first hat trick by knocking out 3 enemy tanks with three shots'. Military 15/12/1941 • Liverpool Daily Post Merseyside Escape from German tank after an all night trek rejoined his unit Capt. R.J. (Bob) Crisp RTR South African cricketer and DSO ... 349 words p.3 Medical December 1941 • Tobruk Hospital Operation by Professor Smith to remove shrapnel from head from enemy shell The next is a marriage in 1946 but there are a couple of references to newspaper articles which I dont have access to TD
That's really interesting, both for the transfer to the South African Army (so not in 3RTR in Northwest Europe?) and... Major as early as February 1941 and then busted down?
This bio with quotes from his son states Bob Crisp was demoted three times. His head injuries prevented him from bowling again, so maybe were also connected to his transfer to South African Forces, or perhaps Monty took the chance to transfer an officer he reguarded as a maverick. The Spin | The life of the most extraordinary man to play Test cricket There are several recomendations for awards for Bob in the TNA catalouge.
A couple of other details in Taming the Panzers: June 1940, a 2nd Lieutenant, in charge of 10 new Dingos January 1941, he was a (2nd?) lieutenant in the recce troop (I assume with the Dingos) and at the southwest outskirts of Tobruk. Maybe he gives a summary of his pre-Greece experience in his book on the Greek campaign, which I still haven't read.
Tankie-historian Gareth Davies on Twitter said: "He moved to 1RTR. / His last appearance in the 3 RTR WD is Feb 43. By the end of the year he was heading back to the UK from Italy with the First. He was wounded in Normandy in Jul 44." That would contradict the South African bit...
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35994/supplement/1916/data.pdf War Subs. Capt. R. J. Crisp, D.S.O. (134979), relinquishes his commn. on appt. to U.D.F. 6th Mar. 1943 and is granted the hon. rank of Maj. His other LG entries don't suggest anything untoward regarding demotion or being "busted down" just acting or temporary ranks, which might account for the misunderstanding. e.g. his M.C. entry https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35934/supplement/1175/data.pdf Lieutenant (temporary Captain) (acting Major) Robert James Crisp, D.S.O. (134979), Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps
Where U.D.F. means "Union Defense Force" of South Africa. That's interesting and a bit confusing? If he continued to serve in RTR I wonder how that worked. Loaned out? CANLOAN is an obvious precedent, if not in tank units.
Chris, It's clear from the London Gazette that he relinquished his commission in the RAC in March 43 to join the UDF. Where is your Tankie-historian getting this info from By the end of the year he was heading back to the UK from Italy with the First.
It seems his sons never finished the book they were writing but published a collection of his later articles about life on Crete. My Father – In Focus: Peter Crisp on his father Robert Crisp, author of Zen and the Art of Donkey Maintenance An interesting book still to be written. Scott
Crisp's medal were on the auction during 2006. Whole collection was described as Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1942’; Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1943’ and privately engraved ‘Major R. J. Crisp, R. Tank Rgt.’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, these last six engraved naming “Boots-style”, ‘Major R. J. Crisp, R. Tank Rgt.’, mounted as worn, good very fine and better Link From "Battles with Panzers: Monty's Tank Battalions 1 RTR & 2 RTR at War" by Patrick Delaforce: Bob Crisp, who had won a Distinguished Service Order and a Military Cross with 3 RTR in Greece and the desert, took command of 'A' Squadron (and failed to get on with Carver!) ... Fletcher's 'The Saint' were all knocked out, incurring eight casualties including Major 'Bob' Crisp DSO From "Out of Step: Memoirs of a Field Marshal" by Michael Carver Barry O'Sullivan's place in command of A Squadron was taken by the South African cricketer Bob Crisp, who had a high and well-deserved reputation for bravery with 3rd Royal Tanks in Greece and in the desert So my guess is that he served with 1st RTR in Italy and NWE until he was wounded.
For the sake of tidiness, here are the three gallantry recommendations held at the National Archives. All sorts of crossings out on the citations in terms of which award should be granted on each occasion:
Hi again, I'm rereading Brazen Chariots as I am going to have a "tank experience day" with a Stuart tomorrow. I believe it's one of the formerly Brazilian tanks now owned by the Ontario Regiment Museum. In particular since its publication I wonder if any additional material has come to light which corroborates or contradicts Crisp's account of firing away alone(!) at oncoming German tanks on the west side of Sidi Rezegh on Day 5. Even with the references Crisp provides. Hoping Andreas will know.
I can have a look at the various documents, but I suspect it will end up just one of those things lost, like tears in the rain. It's technically not impossible I think. All the best Andreas
One thing in Crisp's account which now rings wrong is his description of an efficient stop, fire and move procedure. He mentions having a loader, but unless I'm VERY much mistaken the Stuart had no loader other than the commander. And I was in a Stuart on Saturday and I don't see how you could fit a third man in the turret.
