b. 28/12/1876 Devonport, Devon. d. 27/02/1965 Brighton, Sussex.
John James Crowe (1876-1965) was born on 28th December 1876 in the Female Garrison Hospital, Devonport, Devon. His birth was registered as Crow at Stoke Damerel. His father, also John James Crow, was born in March, Cambridgeshire. He had enlisted in the Royal South Lincolnshire Militia on 6th February 1861. He served in India from 1864 having moved to 104th Regiment. In 1871 he extended his service to complete 21 years. He transferred to 36th Regiment in August that year, and moved to Rawalpindi, where he remained until 1873. In November 1875, the Regiment returned to Britain where it was based at Raglan Barracks in Devonport. John married Caroline Elizabeth Turpin at Stoke Damerel Registry Office on 26th October 1876. John senior remained in the military, serving in India with the 48th Regiment from 1880-1881, then in Ireland. John eventually became a gamekeeper on the Woodrange Estate at Baltinglass, County Wicklow, owned by Colonel Robert Saunders CB JP DL. He would work there for 20 years, until the family returned to England in 1905. John junior had eleven siblings. John junior was educated at Baltinglass, County Wicklow, Ireland then worked as a footman in Dublin.
John J Crowe VC
On 1st July 1897, John enlisted with the Worcestershire Regiment in Dublin and was initially posted to Norton Barracks, Worcester. He was promoted to lance corporal in 1897, but relinquished it on joining 4th Battalion on 23rd February 1900. He was then promoted up to sergeant by the end of 1901. He married Margaret Ellen Langron at the Catholic Chapel of St James, Dublin on 3rd February 1902 and his family lived in the married quarters as he moved from post to post.
In 1914 Crowe’s family set up home in Brighton at 120 Upper Lewes Road and later at Dudley House, Dudley, Brighton. During the war Crowe’s parents lived at 28 Dorset Street, Reading, and each of their five sons all served. On 13th August 1914 Crowe’s battalion, the 3rd Worcestershires, with whom he had served for ten years, left Tidworth for France, reaching Rouen on 16th August. He was promoted warrant officer class II on 15th January 1915. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in April 1917. On 6th September 1917 he was promoted to regimental sergeant major. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 1st April 1918.
On the 14th April 1918 he transferred to the 2nd Worcestershire Battalion as acting adjutant. This was the same day as his VC action. On 14th April 1918 at Neuve Eglise, Belgium, when the enemy, having attacked a post in a village, broke past on the high ground and established a machine-gun and snipers, Second Lieutenant Crowe, with two NCOs and seven men twice engaged the enemy who on each occasion withdrew into the village, followed by the lieutenant firing on them. On the second occasion, taking only two men, he attacked two enemy machine-guns killing both gunners and several more of the enemy. The remainder withdrew, allowing him to capture the two guns. His actions during this incident resulted in Crowe being awarded the Victoria Cross.
Crowe was appointed Acting Captain on 26th May 1918, and received his VC from King George V at Blendecques, 40 miles north-east of St Omer, France on 6th August 1918. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre 1914-18 with Bronze Palm. Crowe finally retired from the Army in 1920, after 23 years of service. His penultimate job was Adjutant at the Folkestone disembarkation camp, followed by a spell of duty in Ireland. Crowe was an excellent shot and had won prizes at Bisley and in other shooting competitions.
On 23rd August 1919 a Victory Parade was held in the city of Worcester and Crowe was one of three VC holders who guarded a temporary cenotaph at Worcester Cathedral.
He later lived in Brighton and had four children. He held the job of school attendance officer for Brighton Corporation for 22 years, retiring in 1946 as the Children’s Care Enquiry Officer for Brighton Education Committee. He often used to help sell poppies and one of his pitches was Victoria Station in London. In 1925, his wife sued him for desertion, as the couple had lived apart for at least two years. The story appeared in the News of the World. From 1928, Crowe lived at 16 McWilliam Road in Brighton and became a keen gardener. His wife predeceased him in 1960 and he had a son, Jack, who lived in Australia, and three daughters. He died at the age of 88 at Brighton General Hospital on 27th February 1965. His funeral on 4th March 1965 was due to be at the Church of the Holy Cross, Woodingdean, Brighton. His funeral service was conducted by Reverend EV Tanner, who was the chaplain at Neuve Eglise on 14th April 1918. Sadly, many mourners were prevented from attending due to heavy snowfall, which also led to a late change of venue to Downs Crematorium. The service began 40 minutes late. His ashes were scattered in Section L of the Garden of Remembrance. He is commemorated with a seat at Woodingdean Community Centre in Brighton, on a wall plaque in Neuve Eglise, and with a VC commemorative stone at the Plymouth Hoe War Memorial, unveiled on 13th April 2018.
In addition to the VC he was awarded the 1914 Star with “Mons” clasp, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 with Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and French Croix de Guerre 1914-18 with Bronze Palm. His VC group was presented to the Worcestershire Regiment in 1971 and are currently in the Regimental Collection, which is currently in storage as the new home for the Regimental Museum is being created at The Commandery, Sidbury, Worcester (due to open in 2028).
LOCATION OF MEDAL: WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT COLLECTION.
BURIAL PLACE: DOWNS CREMATORIUM, BRIGHTON, SUSSEX. ASHES SCATTERED IN SECTION L, GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE.
Acknowledgement:
Sam Eedle – Crowe VC Memorial at Maire Bridge, Neuve Eglise, France.