CRYSELL, Herbert


No.8374, Corporal, Herbert CRYSELL
Aged 26


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 22nd January 1916


Herbert Crysell was born in Stansfield in 1889 (Risbridge Q3-1889 4A:635), baptised in Stansfield on 7th September 1890, son of Charles and Mary Ann CRYSELL (née HIBBLE).

1891 census...Aged 1, he was at Clare Road, Denston with his father Charles CRYSELL [40] farm labourer born Stansfield; his mother Mary Ann [41]; brothers William [David W] [21], Arthur [18] and Walter [16] all farm labourers, Edward [12] and Charles [3] and sister Maud [7]. All were born in Stansfield. Brother George [10] was at Clare Road, Stansfield with his widower grandfather George HIBBLE [77] born Hawkedon; his aunt Harriett HIBBLE [39] born Stansfield; his great grandmother Mary BROWN [87] born Stansfield.

1901 census... Aged 11, he was at Clare Road, Stansfield with his parents; brothers Arthur and Edward (farm labourers), Charles (butcher's assistant) and sister Flora [9] born Stansfield. Brothers George [22] and Walter were visitors to the BOWERS family at 21 Victoria Road, Low Leyton, West Ham.

1911 census... Aged 21, a farm labourer, he was at Bridgeman's, Stansfield with his parents, sister Flora and nephew Victor [3]
2 of the 12 siblings had died.

His brother George died of his wounds, in hospital in Tooting, London in 1915 see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
During the 3rd week of January 1916 the miners were tunnelling in front of the Bluff and became aware that the Germans were counter-mining. On the night of the 21/22nd January 1916 there was a terrific explosion carrying away the SE front of the Bluff. No German counter attack followed and for a while no one was sure what had happened. Ammunition boxes had been hurled hundreds of yards, men in the trenches near the canal were buried several feet deep. The charge was estimated to have been in the order of six or seven tons of explosive and left a crater about 60 by 40 yards and 40 feet deep. Nearly 100 men were killed, buried alive or injured by the explosion.

CWGC figures put the deaths that day in the 2nd Suffolks as 44 and of them, 24 have no known grave.


The Bluff




photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Herbert Crysell is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres panel 21

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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