Royal Army Ordnance Corps (Depot)
Isaac Spruce Cripps was born at Elkstone in 1882 to James and Mary Cripps. Isaac was a twin; his brother being Benjamin Raynor. There were two other brothers and a sister in the family.
At the time of the 1891 Census the family had moved from Elkstone to Castle Street Gloucester; Isaac was nine years old at this time.
By the 1901 Census the family had moved from Gloucester to Vicarage Street, Painswick and Isaac was working as a Pin Factory Painter. Isaac also played rugby for the local Painswick team.
The 1911 Census reports that Isaac and his twin brother Benjamin were living as lodgers in George Road, Birmingham and both brothers were employed in a factory as enamellers.
Between 1911and 1913 Isaac met Gertrude Mabel Parsons who was living at The Orchard Villas, King’s Stanley with her parents and brothers and sisters. Gertrude was employed in one of the local mills as a Woollen Cloth Worker.
Isaac and Gertrude were married in 1913 and set up home in the King’s Stanley area. They had two children, Cyril Leslie (born 9 November 1913) and Stanley Gordon (born 14 November 1916).
Unfortunately it appears that no service records have survived for Isaac, but we do know he joined the Ordnance Corps, who carried out vital work suppling the front line soldiers.
According to the Medal Rolls Index Isaac was awarded two campaign medals; the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Isaac died on 21 February 1919, aged 37, according to the family, from pneumonia which he contracted while serving in the Army. A recently released Pension Record Card confirms the cause of death was ‘influenza and lobal pneumonia’ and his burial register entry notes that death occurred whilst he was on leave. His address was probably Middleyard, King’s Stanley.
Isaac had a military funeral on 26 February 1919 and is buried in Selsley (All Saints) Churchyard, where a standard CWGC headstone marks his grave.
Isaac pictured with his Painswick Rugby Club team: front row on the left
Researched by David Earle February 2021