b. 19/03/1859 Kilballyowen, County Limerick, Ireland. d. 20/02/1945 Wells, Somerset.
John Crimmin (1859-1945) was born on the 19th March 1859 in Dublin, Ireland. He studied medicine and became a LRCP, LRCS and DPH in Ireland, before entering the Indian Army Medical Service in 1882. He served in Burma between 1886-1889, with the Karene Field Force as Senior Medical Officer, and was mentioned in despatches (15th November 1889), received the Medal and clasp, and was awarded the Victoria Cross on 17th September 1889.
John Crimmin VC CB CIE VD
On 1st January 1889, in the action near Lwekaw, Eastern Karenni, Burma, a Lieutenant and four men charged into a large body of the enemy and two men were wounded. Surgeon John Crimmin ran out and attended to one of the men under heavy 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, Crimmin was attending another wounded man, when the enemy charged at him. He used his sword to kill the first man to reach him, attacked the second, whilst a sepoy shot the third man. This caused the rest of the men to flee.
Crimmin received his medal later in 1889, from the Commander in Chief Bombay, the Duke of Connaught in India. He was promoted to Major in 1894, and Lieutenant Colonel in 1902, and was created CIE in 1901. He was Civil Surgeon at Rutnagberry, and Health Officer for the Port of Bombay. He was created a CB in 1913, and promoted to Colonel in October that year. He later became Assistant Director of Medical Services, Kohat Brigade, India.
Following his retirement, Crimmin lived in Somerset, and died on 20th February 1945 in Wells. He was buried in Wells Cemetery. The location of his medals is not known.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: WELLS CEMETERY, WELLS, SOMERSET.
SECTION F-D-3, GRAVE 274
