Selected Biographies

Cris(s)ell, Albert Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 31.8.1886.  Parents: William Cris(s)ell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser and Rat Catcher) and Martha [née Cook].  Family Connections: Brother to Amos Cris(s)ell [b1882] and Frank William Cris(s)ell [b1890]; also, cousin of George Cris(s)ell [b1875], Edgar Cris(s)ell [b1877], David Cris(s)ell [b1879], Alfred Cris(s)ell [b1883] and Peter Cris(s)ell [b1885].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891 and 1901), possibly in Military Barracks in South Africa (1911), The Haven, Silfield Road, Wymondham, Norfolk (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891 and 1939).  Service Record: Albert is recorded as a Driver serving with the Army Service Corps stationed in South Africa in 1911. Although no definitive record has been found, he may also have served as Dvr.T/24281 with a Horse Transport Company in the Army Service Corps during the First World War.  Died: Norwich, Norfolk in 1958.[1]

Cris(s)ell, Alfred Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk 29.12.1883.  Parents: Joseph Henry Cris(s)ell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser) and Fanny [née Wheeler].  Family Connections: Brother to George Crissell [b1875], Edgar Crisell [b1877], David Crissell [b1880] and Peter Crissell [b1885]; also, cousin of Amos Cris(s)ell [b1882], Albert Cris(s)ell [b1886], Frank William Cris(s)ell [b1890].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891 to 1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901), Roadman (1939).  Married: Daisy Ellen Murrells in 1906.  Service Record: Before 1903 Alfred was a volunteer with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  He attested in 1903 as Dvr.T/20668 with the Horse Transport Section of the Army Service Corps, being posted first to France from 20.9.1914 to 6.1.1916 with N^o. 3 Company, Lahore Divisional Train, ASC, and secondly to Mesopotamia from 24.9.1916 to 7.12.1918.  He later transferred to 430^th [Horse Transport] Company, 54^th Divisional Train, ASC, then to 163^rd [18^th Auxiliary HT] Company, and was serving with 666^th [HT] Company at his discharge in March 1920.  His army career was spent as a Mule Transport Driver.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1960.[2]

Cris(s)ell, Amos Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 25.4.1882.  Parents: William Cris(s)ell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser and Rat Catcher) and Martha [née Cook].  Family Connections: Brother to Albert Cris(s)ell [b1886] and Frank William Cris(s)ell [b1890]; also, cousin of George Cris(s)ell [b1875], Edgar Cris(s)ell [b1877], David Cris(s)ell [b1879], Alfred Cris(s)ell [b1883] and Peter Cris(s)ell [b1885].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891 to 1911), Thorpes Farm, Upper Street, Stanstead [1916], 6 Post Office Lane, Fair Green, Glemsford, Suffolk (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891 and 1901), Rat Catcher (1911), Road Labourer (1939).  Married: Maggie Goody in 1918.  Service Record: Amos was conscripted on 17.11.1916 as Pte.376219 with 25^th Provisional Battalion, transferring as Pte.376219 to 27^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, being discharged on 31.7.1917 as ‘no longer physically fit for War Service’.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1951.[3]

Cris(s)ell, David Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 3.5.1879.  Parents: Joseph Henry Cris(s)ell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser) and Fanny [née Wheeler].  Family Connections: Brother to George Cris(s)ell [b1875], Edgar Cris(s)ell [b1877], Alfred Cris(s)ell [b1883] and Peter Cris(s)ell [b1885]; also, cousin of Amos Cris(s)ell [b1882], Albert Cris(s)ell [b1886], Frank William Cris(s)ell [b1890].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891 and 1901), 20 Martins Rise, Long Melford [1965].  Occupation: Hay Trusser (1901), Gamekeeper and Tree Feller on the Kentwell Hall estate [1916].  Married: Kate Emma Bradnam in 1902.  Service Record: David was conscripted on 11.5.1916 as Dvr.177738 with N^o. 3 Section, 66^th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery.  At the West Suffolk Appeal Tribunal in July 1916, he appealed the decision made at the Melford Military Service Tribunal reapplied for exemption from conscription, on the grounds of ‘his wife’s precarious state of health’.  He was allowed temporary exemption until 6 July.  He was posted to France from 3.3.1917 to 26.5.1919, renumbered as Dvr.720146 and discharged in July 1919.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 19.6.1965.[4]

Cris(s)ell, Edgar Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 13.5.1877.  Parents: Joseph Henry Cris(s)ell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser) and Fanny [née Wheeler].  Family Connections: Brother to George Cris(s)ell [b1875], David Cris(s)ell [b1879], Alfred Cris(s)ell [b1883] and Peter Cris(s)ell [b1885]; also, cousin of Amos Cris(s)ell [b1882], Albert Cris(s)ell [b1886], Frank William Cris(s)ell [b1890].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1881 and 1891), Marsh Cottage, Acton, Suffolk (1911), Farm Cottage, Combs Lane, Gipping, Suffolk (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891), Hay Trusser [1895], Farm Foreman (1911), Retired Market Gardener (1939).  Married: Mary Ann Lumley in 1902.  Service Record: Edgar enlisted in 1895 as Pte.4134 with 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to South Africa from 1899 to 1902, seeing action during the Second Anglo-Boer War, receiving his discharge in 1907.  It is not known if Edgar saw service during the First World War as no extant record has been found.  Died: Hastings, Sussex in 1957.[5]

Cris(s)ell, Frank William Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 20.6.1890.  Parents: William Crissell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser and Rat Catcher) and Martha [née Cook].  Family Connections: Brother to Amos Cris(s)ell [b1882] and Albert Cris(s)ell [b1886]; also, son-in-law of Albert Edwin Bevan [b1872], and cousin of George Cris(s)ell [b1875], Edgar Cris(s)ell [b1877], David Cris(s)ell [b1879], Alfred Cris(s)ell [b1883] and Peter Cris(s)ell [b1885].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891 to 1911), living with Ada Ellen Pettit (Sister) in Station Road, Long Melford [1917], George and Dragon, Hall Street, Long Melford [1939].  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Help in a Public House (1939).  Married: Elsie Rosetta Bevan in 1932.  Service Record: Frank enlisted on 7.9.1914 as Pte.4966 with 8^th [Service] Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, being posted to France from 27.7.1915 to 15.7.1916 as part of 55^th Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division.  He received a gunshot wound to his right foot on 9.6.1916 resulting in amputation; he was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged as ‘no longer physically fit for War Service’ on 23.11.1917.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1956.[6]

Crissell, Fred Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 30.3.1885.  Parents: Henry Crissell of Long Melford (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann Jane [née Chatters].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891 and 1901), Station Road, Long Melford (1911 to 1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901 and 1911), Ploughman and Horseman on Burtons Farm Long Melford [1916], Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Married: Olive Moss in 1909.  Service Record: Fred was conscripted on 10.12.1915 as Pte.Spts/5437 with 11^th [Service] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers [City of London] Regiment.  At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in May 1916 Fred’s employer, William Bigg of Burtons Farm, applied for his exemption. This application was summarily withdrawn.  He was posted to France from 26.9.1916 as part of 54^th Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division and seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916.  On 10.10.1916 Fred was transferred in the field to 10^th [Service] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, under the command of 37^th Division’s 111^th Brigade, taking part in the early stages of the Battle of Arras in 1917.  He returned to England on 27.4.1917 transferring as Pte.74459 to 53^rd [Protection] Company, Royal Defence Corps being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged due to wounds in July 1918.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1967.[7]

Cris(s)ell, George [mid] Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 28.1.1875.  Parents: Joseph Henry Cris(s)ell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser) and Fanny [née Wheeler].  Family Connections: Brother to Edgar Cris(s)ell [b1877], David Cris(s)ell [b1879], Alfred Cris(s)ell [b1883] and Peter Cris(s)ell [b1885]; also, cousin of Amos Cris(s)ell [b1882], Albert Cris(s)ell [b1886], Frank William Cris(s)ell [b1890].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891), 17 Gilderson Street, Woolwich, London [1902] to (1939).  Occupation: Shoeing Smith [1904], General Labourer (1939).  Married: Ellen Mahony in 1902.  Service Record: George enlisted in 1899 as Dvr.14322 with the Army Service Corps, posted to South Africa from 1899 to 1900 and seeing action during the Second Anglo-Boer War.  He was posted to France from 12.8.1914 to 27.12.1916 and was Mentioned in Despatches.  He was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged in June 1919, due to sickness.  Died: Woolwich, London on 30.4.1951.[8]

Cris(s)ell, Peter Ÿ Born: Stanstead, Suffolk on 27.5.1885.  Parents: Joseph Henry Cris(s)ell of Long Melford (Hay Trusser) and Fanny [née Wheeler].  Family Connections: Brother to George Cris(s)ell [b1875], Edgar Cris(s)ell [b1877], David Cris(s)ell [b1879] and Alfred Cris(s)ell [b1883]; also, cousin of Amos Cris(s)ell [b1882], Albert Cris(s)ell [b1886], Frank William Cris(s)ell [b1890].  Home: Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1891 and 1901), 15 Tower Street, London Fields, Hackney, London (1911), 11 Crawley Road, Hackney [1922] to [1959].  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901), Milkman (1911).  Married:  Maude Bailey in 1910.  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Peter may have attested as Pte.15800 with 9^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then he was posted to France from 31.8.1915 as part of 71^st Brigade, 24^th Division, and seeing action at the Battle of Loos in the autumn of 1915.  He transferred in February 1916 as Pte.3927 to 5^th Battalion, Suffolks and renumbered in 1917 as Pte.241307.  Peter was placed on the Army Reserve in April 1919.  Died: Hackney, London on 30.4.1959.[9]

Notes – [1] Recorded as Albert Crisell in the Baptism Register 21.8.1887, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [2] Recorded as Alfred Crisell in the Baptism Register 3.2.1884, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Melford Rural District in Suffolk.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  Recorded as Alfred Crissell on his Marriage, Death and Military records.  [3] Recorded as Amos Crisell in Baptism Register 15.10.1882, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].  Recorded as Amos Crissell on Marriage and Death records.  [4] Recorded as David Crisell in Baptism Register 31.8.1879, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  Recorded as David Crissell on the Marriage and Death Indices.  For the Appeal Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press Suffolk and Essex Free Press 19.7.1916.  Date of death from the National Probate Calendar and Military records.  [5] Recorded as Edgar Crisell in Baptism Register 26.8.1877, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  See also his Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1907.  Recorded as Edgar Crissell on Marriage, Death, and Military records.  [6] Recorded as William Frank Crisell in Baptism Register 27.7.1890, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  For detail of 8^th East Surrey’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2050/1-2].  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 277108] and Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329].  Recorded as Frank Crissell on Marriage and Military records.  [7] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford.  For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 3.5.1916.  For details of 10^th and 11^th Royal Fusiliers’ movements see War Diaries [WO 95/2532/1 and WO 95/2045/1].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 429508], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [8] Recorded as George Crisell in Baptism Register 26.12.1875, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  Recorded as George Crissell on Marriage and Military records.  For notification of being Mentioned in Despatches see London Gazette 29.12.1916.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: B228567], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  Date of death from the UK Burial and Cremation Index.  [9] Recorded as Peter Crisell in Baptism Register 7.2.1886, St James Church, Stanstead, Suffolk.  For details of 9^th Suffolks at Loos see War Diary [WO 95/1625/1] and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.120-26.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  Recorded as Peter Crissell on Marriage, Death and Military records.  Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.