Name
Thomas Cripps
15 November 1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/05/1916
16
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Boy 1st Class
J/41863
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Malaya."
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LYNESS ROYAL NAVAL CEMETERY
B. 33.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Pre War
Thomas Cripps was born in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead on 15 November 1899, the youngest son of George and Catherine Cripps and one of 10 children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 9 Fisheries Cottages, Boxmoor where his father was working as a bricklayer's labourer. They remained at the same address in 1911.
He was educated at Boxmoor School from 1904 and left in 1912 to start work for John Dickinson & Co at Apsley Mills. in the Book Binding Department.
The National Roll of the Great War gives his home address as 29 Weymouth Street, Apsley.
Wartime Service
Thomas was not old enough to enlist at the outbreak of war, but after his 15th birthday (the minimum age) he enlisted on 23 June 1915 into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class. After training at HMS Vivid I and Victory he joined the crew of the newly completed battleship HMS Malaya on 28 January 1916.
He was killed in action on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland. HMS Malaya was hit eight times and was badly damaged. Thomas was one of the 65 crew killed or wounded. His body was taken to the Orkney Islands where he was buried in the Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery on 6 June 1916.
Additional Information
Brother to George Cripps who was accidentally killed whilst serving in India with the Royal Engineers and died on 30 June 1919.
His mother received a pension of 10 shillings a week for life in respect of Thomas and his brother George.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com., hemelatwar.org., dacorumheritage.org.uk
