Basil Crockett
Encyclopedia
Colonel Basil Edwin Crockett, DSO
, 1877–1939 was the son of Edwin Arthur Brassey Crockett (1834–1915), and a Colonel in the British Army.
Educated at Wellington
, he commissioned into the 17th Lancers
and attended Staff College in Poona, India, before serving on the Northwest Frontier
and with the Gordon Highlanders during the Boer War, where he received the Queen's South Africa Medal
bearing the clasps for South Arica 1901, South Afria 1902, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and Cape Colony. Crockett had a life-long passion for the motor car, and bought a new car every year of his life from about 1900; this passion was shared by his wife Jessie Shelia Sinclair-Thomson whom he married in Bombay Cathedral in 1902; for their honeymoon Crockett and his new wife undertook the perilous motor journey from Bombay to Madras, the first time this had been made.
After a spell with the Leicestershire Regiment, a transfer Crockett made so he could concentrate on his passion for fox hunting
, but subsequently regretted, he left the army in 1914, only to immediately rejoin on the outbreak of World War I
, whereupon he was given command of the 11th Hampshire Regiment, a command Crockett, as essentially a cavalry officer, initially resented.
Far from being a "hands-off" commander, Crockett lived with his men on the front line, for much of the War, commanding bravely the section of front at Loos
. He was mentioned in dispatches
no less than eight times for gallant conduct, the final time being on 8 November 1918, just three days before the end of the War. He was awrded the Distinguished Service Order
with two bars at the end of the War.
He died in 1939, somewhat impecunious, having invested his family's money in an ill-advised motor industry venture with an American partner whom subsequently disappeared. He was survived by his wife and two sons: Colonel Anthony John Sinclair Crockett RM
(1916–1999), OBE, ADC
; and John Crockett
, (1918–1987) artist and TV and film director.
b. Basil Edwin, D.S.O., Colonel, 11th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, of Longdown Cottage, Lower Bourne, Farnham, b. 14 Jul 1877, educ Wellington, m. 27 Dec 1910 at Bombay Cathedral, Jessie Sheila, twin dau of William Sinclair Thompson, M.D., Physician to H.M. Queen Victoria, and his wife Jessie, only dau of George Addison Cox, J.P., of Invertrossachs, Perthshire. See COX – Burke’s Family Records 1897. He d. 13 Oct 1936, she d. 23 Aug 1959 and they were both buried at Crofton having had issue: 2 sons.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, 1877–1939 was the son of Edwin Arthur Brassey Crockett (1834–1915), and a Colonel in the British Army.
Educated at Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, he commissioned into the 17th Lancers
17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
and attended Staff College in Poona, India, before serving on the Northwest Frontier
Northwest Frontier
North West Frontier is a 1959 British adventure film starring Kenneth More and Lauren Bacall. The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay by Robin Estridge and also features Wilfrid Hyde-White, Herbert Lom and I. S...
and with the Gordon Highlanders during the Boer War, where he received the Queen's South Africa Medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
bearing the clasps for South Arica 1901, South Afria 1902, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and Cape Colony. Crockett had a life-long passion for the motor car, and bought a new car every year of his life from about 1900; this passion was shared by his wife Jessie Shelia Sinclair-Thomson whom he married in Bombay Cathedral in 1902; for their honeymoon Crockett and his new wife undertook the perilous motor journey from Bombay to Madras, the first time this had been made.
After a spell with the Leicestershire Regiment, a transfer Crockett made so he could concentrate on his passion for fox hunting
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
, but subsequently regretted, he left the army in 1914, only to immediately rejoin on the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, whereupon he was given command of the 11th Hampshire Regiment, a command Crockett, as essentially a cavalry officer, initially resented.
Far from being a "hands-off" commander, Crockett lived with his men on the front line, for much of the War, commanding bravely the section of front at Loos
Loos
Loos may refer to:Places* Loos, Nord, France* Loos-en-Gohelle, France* Loos Islands, also known as Îles de Los, Guinea* Loos, British Columbia, Canada* Los, SwedenPeople*Loos Other...
. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
no less than eight times for gallant conduct, the final time being on 8 November 1918, just three days before the end of the War. He was awrded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
with two bars at the end of the War.
He died in 1939, somewhat impecunious, having invested his family's money in an ill-advised motor industry venture with an American partner whom subsequently disappeared. He was survived by his wife and two sons: Colonel Anthony John Sinclair Crockett RM
RM
RM may refer to:-People and titles:* Radioman, a former rank of the U.S. Navy* Resident Magistrate* Returned Missionary, a phrase used by Mormons to refer to young men and women who have served as full-time missionaries...
(1916–1999), OBE, ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
; and John Crockett
John Crockett (director)
John Angus Basil Crockett was a stage and television director. He was the second son of Colonel Basil Crockett DSO.He directed the Doctor Who story The Aztecs in 1964, one of the most highly regarded of the black and white stories...
, (1918–1987) artist and TV and film director.
b. Basil Edwin, D.S.O., Colonel, 11th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, of Longdown Cottage, Lower Bourne, Farnham, b. 14 Jul 1877, educ Wellington, m. 27 Dec 1910 at Bombay Cathedral, Jessie Sheila, twin dau of William Sinclair Thompson, M.D., Physician to H.M. Queen Victoria, and his wife Jessie, only dau of George Addison Cox, J.P., of Invertrossachs, Perthshire. See COX – Burke’s Family Records 1897. He d. 13 Oct 1936, she d. 23 Aug 1959 and they were both buried at Crofton having had issue: 2 sons.