Com-Central.net

bsmart · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:17 am Post subject: Major Robert Crisp

The author of Brazen Chariots I am re-reading it and began wondering about why he never wrote about his later experiences. In BC he mentions being penned up waiting to enter Normandy so it appears he contnued on active service. I found this very brief boiography online in a Cricket Article in The Independent of 20 August 2000

Take, for starters, Robert Crisp, the only bowler in history to have twice taken four wickets in four balls. He did so for Western Province in 1931-32 and 1933-34. Crisp was one of life's swashbucklers. Born in Calcutta, he was educated in Rhodesia and had just climbed Kilimanjaro when he was selected for South Africa's 1935 tour of England. Crisp was a tank commander in the Second World War, won the DSO, founded a minority black newspaper in South Africa, tried mink farming in England, became a journalist, lived in a Greek hut, walked round Crete and died at 82 with a copy of the Sporting Life in his lap having just lost a £20 bet.

He seems like an interesting character and I have always wondered why he didn't write about his later experiences (His earlier experiences in Greece are in The Gods Were Neutral which I keep meaning to find somewhere.

So given the wide experience of this group does anyone know any more about Crisp?

tankbarrell · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 56

Not much to add but I have an ex-1RTR Cromwell and I have had correspondance with a tank commander from the same troop. He told me that Major Crisp had received head wounds in the desert and sometimes needed further treatment whilst in Normandy. As a result, my tank moved up to sqdn HQ and he became temporary troop leader.

How severe Major Crisps wounds were and how often he needed treatment were not mentioned but it may partly explain a lack of memoir.

bsmart · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: Major Robert Crisp

Thanks for the input. Brazen Chariots was written (at least published) in 1957. The Gods Were Neutral in 1960. From the few references I've found (always emphasizing his connection with Cricket) it appears he had a productive, if eclectic career after the war. I had assumed he remained with 3RTR after the desert into Normandy but does your contact say he was with 1RTR?