Claude Champion de Crespigny
Encyclopedia
Capt. Claude Champion de Crespigny (b. 1873- d. May 18th 1910) was a British soldier, polo
player and son of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny 4th Baronet.
and went on to join the 2nd Life Guards in 1895. He served in South Africa from 1899 to 1900 and in West Africa in 1903. He was twice wounded in action and was twice recommended for the Victoria Cross
for acts of immense bravery. He was made a member of the Distinguished Service Order
in 1900 and became the Aide-de-Camp
to the Viceroy and Governor-General of India George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
.
Claude was a member of a very sporting family and was a successful polo
player, he was selected for the Hurlingham Club
team that traveled to compete in America in 1910.
On May 18th 1910 Claude committed suicide age 37, the physician and coroner concluded that a temporary madness may have been caused by influenza and repeated heavy falls whilst playing polo.
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
player and son of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny 4th Baronet.
Biography
Claude was educated at EtonEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and went on to join the 2nd Life Guards in 1895. He served in South Africa from 1899 to 1900 and in West Africa in 1903. He was twice wounded in action and was twice recommended for the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for acts of immense bravery. He was made a member of 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...
in 1900 and became the Aide-de-Camp
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...
to the Viceroy and Governor-General of India George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC , known as The Lord Curzon of Kedleston between 1898 and 1911 and as The Earl Curzon of Kedleston between 1911 and 1921, was a British Conservative statesman who was Viceroy of India and Foreign Secretary...
.
Claude was a member of a very sporting family and was a successful polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
player, he was selected for the Hurlingham Club
Hurlingham Club
The Hurlingham Club is an exclusive sports club in Fulham in southwest London, England. The club, founded in 1869, is situated by the River Thames in Fulham, West London, and has a Georgian clubhouse set in of grounds...
team that traveled to compete in America in 1910.
On May 18th 1910 Claude committed suicide age 37, the physician and coroner concluded that a temporary madness may have been caused by influenza and repeated heavy falls whilst playing polo.