Private John (Jack) Crummett
60944 Machine Gun Corps
Killed in Action 27th May 1918, aged 27
Lived at 1 Hinton Street
Commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France
St Peters Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express12/6/1915 - 26/6/1918

John Crummett was born in Burnley the son of James and Annie Crummett of 6 Burns Street He was married and lived at 211 Briercliffe Road. He enlisted in Nelson as Private 28456 in the East Lancashire Regiment (previously serving in the 18th Hussars) and later served as Private 60944 in the 8th Battalion in the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).

Six Burnley Soldier Brothers ( Burnley Express of June 12 1915 )

Mrs Crummett, who is well known as a wardrobe dealer on the Burnley Market Place, has six soldier sons at present serving in the Army. Private John Crummett, who is in the 18th Hussars, has been on service at the front and has had six weeks in Glasgow Hospital suffering from a leg injury and poisoning from the fumes of German shells. Private Harry Crummett, who is an A.S.C. driver, went through the Boer War, and has been on active service in the present campaign, and has had his jaw broken. The other brothers and their regiments are:_ Sergeant James Crummett, of the A.V.C., Private William Crummett of the M.T., A.S.C., Private George Crummett of the 1/5th East Lancashire and Privae Ernest Crummett of the County Palatine Asrtillery.”

The Burnley Express of June 26 1918 reported;-

“In June 1915 we published a photograph of Mrs Crummett a well known Burnley wardrobe dealer and her 6 serving sons. One of the sons has made the supreme sacrifice. This is 60944 Private Jack Crummett who lived at the time of his enlistment at 211 Briercliffe Road and whose wife now lives at 1 Hinton Street. Private Crummett of the Machine Gun Corps was killed on May 27th, an officer informing his wife in the following terms- “ He formed a member of a party which was hastily gathered together to repair a breach in the British line. The work that they were given to do was very gallantly achieved, but, I am sorry to say only at the sacrifice of their lives. You have at least the satisfaction of knowing that it was for no vain purpose that he gave his life and also the consolation that he was killed instantaneously. I send to you with this message the deepest sympathy of my brother officers and myself, as well as that of his comrades. He had not been with this company long but had proved himself a very capable and proficient soldier. The unfortunate soldier was in the 18th Hussars originally and spent six weeks in a Glasgow hospital through a leg injury and gas poisoning from the fumes of German shell. He was eventually discharged and joined up again in August 1916 going again to France last Easter. He was a conductor on the Corporation trams and attended St Peter’s Church. Three brothers are in France, a fourth in the Manchester hospital through wounds and the fifth is in London.”

Burnley Tram Conductor. One Of Six Soldier Brothers Reported Killed. ( Burnley News of June 29th 1918 )

In a letter to Mrs Crummett who lives at 1 Hinton Street, Burnley, conveying the sad news of the death of her husband Private Jack Crummett (60944), M.G.C. etc.”

Notes

John Crummett was christened at St Peter’s Church on 8/10/90 the son of James and Annie Crummett of 6 Burns Street. His father’s occupation was Collier.
John Crummett was admitted to St Peter’s Infant School on 31/7/95. His date of birth was 4/1/89. His father was James Crummett and he lived at 40 Bridge Street.. He was again admitted on 10/5/98 from Fulledge Weslyan School and lived at 40 Bridge Street.
John Crummett was admitted to St Peter’s Junior School on 127/99 from the Infant School. His date of birth was given as 7/7/90. His father was James Crummett and he lived at 40 Bridge Street..

Wedding on 24/12/12 at St Peter’s Church. John Crummett, aged 22 bachelor, collier of 40 Bridge Street, son of James Crummett, fishmonger, married Eleanor Maud Latham, aged 20 spinster of 171 Oxford Road daughter of George Latham, Collier. Witnesses were James Crummett and Edith Alice Whalley.

Hi Andrew,

I came across your website by chance this evening and was amazed to see a photograph of my great, great uncle Private John Crummett. John Crummett's parents, James Crummett (1851-1938) and Annie Shackelton (1854-1925) are my great, great grandparents. My great grandad is Private John Crummett's brother, William (1886-1962).

If you have any more information on the Crummett family in Burnley, I would be absolutely delighted to hear from you. I am interested in my family's history and in fact have information on the Crummett line dating back to 1791. It would appear that James Crummett (1851-1938) moved to Burnley from Attleborough, Norfolk and married Annie Shackelton who was local to Burnley. I presume this was because of the the industrial revolution and the decline of employment in agriculture. My great grandad William (1996-1962) married a lady called
Eva Osborne who was the daughter of Samuel Osborne (coal dealer) who I understand was "big" in Burnley loca politics (Labour Party) but have never been able to find out any information about this.


Denise Psaila
Malta

denmar@maltanet.net