CROSSMAN, PTE. LEWIS Regimental # 657872
Lewis Crossman (Kraseman) was born August 9, 1879 in London England. Prior to coming to Canada he spent 12 years in the British Royal Navy. His last active service date was October 20, 1905 on the ship Pembroke. His birthplace was listed as Shoreditch, London England – although other records suggest that he was born August 9, 1879 in Finsbury, Middlesex, England.
The record of service for Lewis Krasman, born August 9, 1879. Lewis served on ships such as the Cruiser Revenge, the Revenge, the Pembroke and Amphitrite
Sergeant Lewis Crossman
Based upon census and birth records, Lewis’ parents were Frederick Johan Heinrich Karl Kraseman, born July 12, 1851 in Tessin, Germany and Elizabeth Bennett, born September 1859 in Finsbury, England.
Lewis immigrated to Canada and on September 4, 1907 he married Eliza Louise Courvoisier in Croft Township. Lewis and Eliza lived at Poverty Bay for the first few years of their marriage, later moving to Dunchurch where they lived in the old Cheese Factory. In 1912 they bought an old homestead on the Balsam Road.
Lewis enlisted April 14, 1916 and was assigned to the 162nd Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force where he became a sergeant on April 26, 1916.
Lewis served in France having enlisted in Canada and initially sent to UK. He saw active service in the theatre of war from June 1917-October 1918 as part of what is called the 100 days Offensive.
Lewis was transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps (C.M.G. Corps) on March 19, 1918. On July 7, 1918 he was appointed Corporal and on August 20, he was confirmed in that role.
On October 1, 1918 Lewis suffered injuries including a concussion. He also suffered a knee injury. Lewis was in a fox hole but was hit by shrapnel and ended the war in hospital.
October 1, 1918 marked the end of the Battle of the Canal du Nord as part of the 100 days Offensive. The day's gains represented an advance of about a kilometer and a half, the only achievement of significance being the gain of the high ground east of Tilloy. The 1st Canadian Division itself suffered more than 1,000 casualties. In five days of fighting, the Canadian Corps had captured more than 7,000 prisoners and 205 guns.
Lewis’ shrapnel wounds were not considered grounds for being invalided, but the concussion was considered serious enough to warrant being ‘invalided’.
On October 19, 1918 he relinquished his role as Corporal as a result of being invalided to England.
The official record of Lewis' transfer to the CMG Corps, appointment as Corporal, being wounded and hospitalized, and relinquishing his role as Corporal
Additional details regarding Lewis' WWI service are presented below:
We close the story of Lewis Crossman with the picture of three of his children:
At left, Richard 'Dick' Bert ad Lewis Crossman
