John Crimmin
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2009) |
John Crimmin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 19 March 1859 Kilballyowen, Bruff, County Limerick |
| Died | 20 February 1945 (aged 85) Wells, Somerset |
| Buried | Wells Cemetery, Somerset |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service | Indian Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Bombay Medical Service, Indian Army |
| Battles / wars | Karen-Ni Expedition, Burma |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Colonel John Crimmin VC CB CIE VD (19 March 1859 – 20 February 1945) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He also served as the Hon. Physician to H.M. The King.
Details
[edit]He was 29 years old, and a Surgeon in the Bombay Medical Service, Indian Army during the Karen-Ni Expedition, Burma[1] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 January 1889, in the action near Lwekaw, Eastern Karenni, Burma (now Myanmar), a lieutenant and four men charged into a large body of the enemy and two men were wounded. Surgeon John Crimmin attended one of them under enemy fire and he then joined the firing line and helped in driving the enemy from small clumps of trees where they had taken shelter. Later while Surgeon Crimmin was attending a wounded man several of the enemy rushed out at him. He thrust his sword through one of them, attacked a second and a third dropped from the fire of a sepoy. The remainder fled.[2]
He continued to serve in the Bombay Medical Service, where he was listed as Health officer at the Port of Bombay in 1902.[3] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in the 1901 New Year Honours.[4] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 September 1902,[5] and later achieved the rank of colonel.
He died at Woodward House, Wells, Somerset, 20 February 1945.
References
[edit]- ^ Starling, PH (June 2009). "THE MEDICAL VICTORIA CROSSES" (PDF). RAMC Journal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2012.
- ^ "No. 25975". The London Gazette. 17 September 1889. p. 4989.
- ^ Hart′s army list, 1903
- ^ "No. 27261". The London Gazette. 1 January 1901. p. 2.
- ^ "No. 27516". The London Gazette. 16 January 1903. p. 313.
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
- Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
External links
[edit]- Location of grave and VC medal (Somerset)
- Colonel J. Crimmin
- 1859 births
- 1945 deaths
- Burials in Somerset
- Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- 19th-century Irish medical doctors
- Irish soldiers in the British Indian Army
- Military personnel from County Limerick
- Indian Medical Service officers
- Medical doctors from County Limerick
- People from Bruff
- British colonels