The story of the
Chrimes, Crimes, Chrymes and Crymes
surnames
War Memorials - British Commonwealth
Introduction
In the UK there is a tradition of each town or village placing in public view the names of its residents who have died in war service. These memorials can take the form of a stone cross on its own site, or plaques located within churches or other public buildings. This practice was particularly common after the end of World War One, and many such memorials were later modified to include the names of those lost in World War Two. There are also memorial cemeteries within the home countries of those who have died in military service, as well as within the conflict zones throughout the world.
There are 17 British-born, 1 Canadian-born and 1 United States-born servicemen with the surname CRIMES, CRYMES or CHRIMES commemorated on this
webpage. Their names are found on 19 UK and 12 mainland Europe (and beyond) memorials.
In some cases a person's death is recorded at a memorial cemetery in mainland Europe (or beyond) and on one or more
memorials in the UK, at or near to where that person lived. One person in this research is
commemorated on six memorials.
This relatively small sample of war memorials displays a considerable variety of design:
- from a simple wooden plaque within a small church, to a dedicated cemetery of 37 acres.
- from a small cross in the corner of a village, to monumental structures which dominate the landscape.
There are two sources of information for British Commonwealth war memorials which surpass all others:
Other sources worthy of mention are:
British Servicemen named CRIMES or CHRIMES appear on the following 19 UK War Memorials, in alphabetical order of location. The names of those commemorated are taken from photographs of the memorial inscriptions where possible, but otherwise are taken from the Imperial War Museum (IWM) War Memorials Register. That register does not include personal information enabling the serviceman to be uniquely identified. However, although names were inscribed in different formats on different memorials and often with just initials, it has been possible, in all cases, to uniquely identify the commemorated individuals herein.
Location: Falls Road, Belfast BT12 6DE Northern Ireland
This section of the large Belfast City Cemetery is administered by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission (CWGC). It accommodates 296 graves of servicemen who died in World War One and
274 graves of servicemen who died in World War Two.
Includes:
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This section of the large Belfast City Cemetery is administered by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission (CWGC). It accommodates 296 graves of servicemen who died in World War One and
274 graves of servicemen who died in World War Two.
Includes:
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Location: St. Mary Church, Stamford Road, Bowdon, Manchester WA14 2TW England
Within the church, a brass plate mounted on marble commemorates the loss of 59 men in World War One.
The inscription reads: "IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE GALLANT MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN
THE GREAT WAR 1914-18".
IWM reference: © WMR-45223 Includes:
*See also Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
† The attribution of this name on the memorial to Hugh Archibald CRIMES is not certain, but some
factors make it plausible: |
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Within the church, a brass plate mounted on marble commemorates the loss of 59 men in World War One.
The inscription reads: "IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE GALLANT MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN
THE GREAT WAR 1914-18".
IWM reference: © WMR-45223 Includes:
*See also Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
† The attribution of this name on the memorial to Hugh Archibald CRIMES is not certain, but some
factors make it plausible: |
Location: Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0JB England
Brookwood is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom, covering approximately 37 acres.
It accommodates 1,601 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 3,476 from the Second World War.
Includes:
*See also Bowdon, St. Mary Church |
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Brookwood is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom, covering approximately 37 acres.
It accommodates 1,601 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 3,476 from the Second World War.
Includes:
*See also Bowdon, St. Mary Church |
Location: Overleigh Cemetery, Overleigh Road, Chester CH4 7HL England
This small section of the large Overleigh Cemetery is administered by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission (CWGC). It accommodates 23 graves of servicemen who died in World War One.
Includes:
*See also Chester, War Memorial |
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This small section of the large Overleigh Cemetery is administered by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission (CWGC). It accommodates 23 graves of servicemen who died in World War One.
Includes:
*See also Chester, War Memorial |
Location: St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Grosvenor Street, Chester, CH1 2BN, England
Within the church is a plaque dedicated to "the men associated with the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18."
IWM reference: WMR 18170 Includes:
*See also Chester, War Memorial | Ypres (Menin Gate), Belgium
The referenced website includes a Guided Tour of the church, which includes the Memorial to the
Fallen of the Great War. |
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Within the church is a plaque dedicated to "the men associated with the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18."
IWM reference: WMR 18170 Includes:
*See also Chester, War Memorial | Ypres (Menin Gate), Belgium
The referenced website includes a Guided Tour of the church, which includes the Memorial to the
Fallen of the Great War. |
Location: Chester Cathedral, St. Werburgh Street, Chester, Cheshire, England
Location: Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester, Cheshire CH1 2HJ England
This is an unusual arrangement whereby a stone memorial has been erected without the names of those commemorated,
but instead referring to a separate memorial erected elsewhere, which has the names of those
commemorated. |
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This is an unusual arrangement whereby a stone memorial has been erected without the names of those commemorated,
but instead referring to a separate memorial erected elsewhere, which has the names of those
commemorated. |
IWM reference (Cathedral): © WMR-9873
IWM reference (Town Hall): © WMR-9870
Other Source reference - Cathedral War Memorial: War Memorials Online
Other Source reference - Town Hall War Memorial: War Memorials Online
Includes:
Name as inscribed | Identification | Regiment |
L.CPL. JOHN CRIMES | John CRIMES* (1884-1914) | Loyal North Lanc's |
PTE. WILLIAM S. CRIMES | William Stanley CRIMES† (1897-1917) | Cheshire |
*See also Chester, St. Francis Church | Ypres (Menin Gate), Belgium
†See also Chester, Overleigh Cemetery
Location: All Saints Church, Church Lawton, Cheshire, ST7 3DD England
From the little information available, the church porch appears to be part of the memorial, with a tablet inside the porch bearing the names of 18 men who died in World War One. The inscription includes: "THIS PORCH WAS ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR"
IWM reference: © WMR-42762 Includes:
*See also Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church | London, Barclays Bank | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Talke, St. Martin Church | Thiepval Memorial, France |
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From the little information available, the church porch appears to be part of the memorial, with a tablet inside the porch bearing the names of 18 men who died in World War One. The inscription includes: "THIS PORCH WAS ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR"
IWM reference: © WMR-42762 Includes:
*See also Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church | London, Barclays Bank | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Talke, St. Martin Church | Thiepval Memorial, France |
Location: Junction of Ainsworth Lane, Station Road and Kingsley Road, Crowton, Cheshire, England
This classic stone cross memorial commemorates the men of the village who were lost in World War
One (4 names) and World War Two (2 names).
IWM reference: © WMR-72337 Includes:
*See also Aubers Ridge British Cemetery, France |
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This classic stone cross memorial commemorates the men of the village who were lost in World War
One (4 names) and World War Two (2 names).
IWM reference: © WMR-72337 Includes:
*See also Aubers Ridge British Cemetery, France |
Location: Adjacent St. Paul Church, Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4PA England
This imposing roadside memorial in stone and bronze commemorates servicemen lost in both World Wars.
IWM reference: © WMR-10699 Includes:
*See also Stockport, Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery | Belfast, Belfast City Cemetery |
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This imposing roadside memorial in stone and bronze commemorates servicemen lost in both World Wars.
IWM reference: © WMR-10699 Includes:
*See also Stockport, Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery | Belfast, Belfast City Cemetery |
Location: St. Thomas Church, The Avenue, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire ST7 1AG England
This marble plaque is mounted within the church.
IWM reference: © WMR-38319 Includes:
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | London, Barclays Bank | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Talke, St. Martin Church | Thiepval Memorial, France |
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This marble plaque is mounted within the church.
IWM reference: © WMR-38319 Includes:
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | London, Barclays Bank | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Talke, St. Martin Church | Thiepval Memorial, France |
Previous Location: Barclays Bank, 54 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9BQ England
This large commemorative plaque is now LOST. We are fortunate in having a photograph of it.
IWM reference: © WMR-58516 Includes:
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Talke, St. Martin Church | Thiepval Memorial, France |
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This large commemorative plaque is now LOST. We are fortunate in having a photograph of it.
IWM reference: © WMR-58516 Includes:
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Talke, St. Martin Church | Thiepval Memorial, France |
Location: Manchester Southern Cemetery, Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton M21 7GL Manchester England
Manchester Southern Cemetery contains burials of both wars, the majority of them scattered.
775 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War and 475 from the Second World War
are commemorated in the cemetery.
Includes:
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Manchester Southern Cemetery contains burials of both wars, the majority of them scattered.
775 Commonwealth casualties of the First World War and 475 from the Second World War
are commemorated in the cemetery.
Includes:
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Location: Newcastle under Lyme School, Mount Pleasant, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1DB England
From the little information available, the World War One memorial is a dedicatory wooden board placed on the gallery
of the school hall. A latin inscription translates as "Pupils to whom it fell to perish for their country".
91 names are inscribed.
There is a separate World War Two memorial which is a Cricket Pavilion with
dedicatory wooden board.
IWM reference: © WMR-38341
Source reference: Imperial War Museum
Includes:
Name as recorded | Identification |
Crimes, L G | Leonard Gordon CRIMES* (1892-1916) |
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church | London, Barclays Bank | Talke, St. Martin Church | Thiepval Memorial, France
Location: St Clement Church, Colman Gardens, Ordsall, Salford M5 3HE England
Large wooden plaques form part of an altarpeice within the church. There are sections for
World War One and World War Two, with commemorations for servicemen and for civilians.
IWM reference: © WMR-15932 Includes:
*See also Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Burma |
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Large wooden plaques form part of an altarpeice within the church. There are sections for
World War One and World War Two, with commemorations for servicemen and for civilians.
IWM reference: © WMR-15932 Includes:
*See also Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Burma |
Location: The Hoe, Plymouth, Devon, England
This memorial is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
It commemorates 7,251 sailors of the First World War and 15,933 of the Second World War, who are
without graves.
Includes:
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This memorial is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
It commemorates 7,251 sailors of the First World War and 15,933 of the Second World War, who are
without graves.
Includes:
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Location: Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, Cooper's Hill Lane, Englefield Green, Surrey TW20 0LB England
Runnymede Air Forces Memorial is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
It commemorates by name over 20,000 men and women of the air forces who
were lost in the Second World War and who have no known graves.
Includes:
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Runnymede Air Forces Memorial is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
It commemorates by name over 20,000 men and women of the air forces who
were lost in the Second World War and who have no known graves.
Includes:
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Location: Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, Wellington Road South, Stockport SK3 8AB England
This imposing building is based on classical architecture and includes a memorial hall where there are large
plaques commemorating the sacrifice of servicemen and civilians in World War One, World War Two and later conflicts.
IWM reference: © WMR-2794 Includes:
*See also Heaton Moor, Heaton Moor Road | Belfast, Belfast City Cemetery |
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This imposing building is based on classical architecture and includes a memorial hall where there are large
plaques commemorating the sacrifice of servicemen and civilians in World War One, World War Two and later conflicts.
IWM reference: © WMR-2794 Includes:
*See also Heaton Moor, Heaton Moor Road | Belfast, Belfast City Cemetery |
Location: St. Martin Church, Crown Bank, Talke, Staffordshire ST7 1PU England
From the little information available, the memorial comprises carved wooden panels, installed in the chancel of the church. The memorial includes the names of 101 men who were lost in World War One.
IWM reference: © WMR-13529 Includes:
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church | London, Barclays Bank | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Thiepval Memorial, France |
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From the little information available, the memorial comprises carved wooden panels, installed in the chancel of the church. The memorial includes the names of 101 men who were lost in World War One.
IWM reference: © WMR-13529 Includes:
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church | London, Barclays Bank | Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Thiepval Memorial, France |
Location: St Cleopas Church, Beresford Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool L8 4SG England
A large wooden plaque within the church is inscribed:
"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR. 1914 ROLL OF HONOUR 1919 OLD BOYS OF ST. CLEOPAS DAY SCHOOL".
199 names are listed.
No photographs are available.
IWM reference: © WMR-15691
Source reference: Imperial War Museum
Includes:
Name as recorded | Identification |
Crimes, Henry | Henry CRIMES* (1889-1917) |
*See also Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
The following 12 war memorials are in Mainland Europe and beyond, at or near to the battlefields where British Commonwealth servicemen died. These memorials are administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Each entry in this list includes a link to the relevant page of the CWGC website, where comprehensive details of the memorial, it's location, and photographs will be found. Searching the CWGC website for servicemen's names will reveal not only the form of name used on the memorial inscription, but also rank, regiment, service number and often personal information such as parents' names enabling the serviceman to be confidently identified.
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
W CHRIMES | Wilfred CHRIMES* (1899-1918) |
*See also Crowton, War Memorial
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
RICHARD GORDON CRIMES | Richard Gordon CRIMES (1921 Canada -1944) |
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
WILLIAM CRIMES | William CRIMES (1896-1918) |
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
SMITH EDWARD CRYMES | Smith Edward CRYMES (1908-1942) |
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
GEORGE EDWARD CHRIMES | George Edward CHRIMES (1878-1915) |
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
C CRIMES | Charles CRIMES (1885-1918) |
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
T CHRIMES | Thomas CHRIMES (1892-1916) |
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
JOHN CRIMES | John CRIMES (1887-1918) |
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
THOMAS WILLIAM CRIMES | Thomas William CRIMES*(1916-1943) |
*See also Ordsall, St. Clement Church
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
LEONARD GORDON CRIMES | Leonard Gordon CRIMES*(1892-1916) |
*See also Church Lawton, All Saints Church | London, Barclays Bank | Kidsgrove, St. Thomas Church
| Newcastle under Lyme, High School | Talke, St. Martin Church
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
HENRY CRIMES | Henry CRIMES* (1889-1917) |
*See also Toxteth Park, St. Cleopas Church
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage
Name as recorded | Identification |
JOHN CRIMES | John CRIMES* (1884-1914) |
*See also Chester, St. Francis Church | Chester War Memorial
David Chrimes December 2022
Updated January 2023 (Added Gander War Cemetery)