The
following is from a page 1 article in the 30 May 1918 issue of
the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.
Norfolk
Casualties
Killed. Flight. Lieut.
Carlton Crysler, formerly of Delhi.
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The
following is from a page 1 article in the 30 May 1918 issue of
the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.
FLIGHT
LIEUTENANT CARLTON CRYSLER
The news received Simcoe
last week of the death of Flight Lieutenant Carlton Crysler, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Aquila Crysler, who until quite recently lived at
Delhi.
Lieutenant Crysler, who
was 19 years of age, concluded his studies at the Simcoe High
School in June, 1917, and entered the Royal Flying Corps as a
cadet.
He qualified with an
exceptionally high standing, going overseas in November, and when
killed had been in France two months.
One of his four sisters
has been overseas as a "sewing sister" for some time.
The other members of his family are now living at Welland. Mrs.
Fred W. Gray of Simcoe is an aunt.
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The
following is a partial transcript of apage 1 article in the 30 May 1918 issue of the
Waterford Star newspaper.
[Flight Lieutenant Carlton
Crysler] had been three months in France.
The news was received here
by telephone by his aunt Mrs. Fred W. Grey. He was an only
son.
One of his four sisters,
Miss Ferne, has served three years as a nursing sister,
one year with the Allied Flag Nurses at Bordeau,
then with an American Hospital in France
and at present at Taplow Buck's Hospital, England.
The others are Miss
Gertrude and Miss Pauline at home, and Mrs. Margaret Taylor of the
Bank of Hamilton staff at Delhi.
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The
following is from a page 1 article in the 27 Jun 1918 issue of
the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.
HOW A
NORFOLK AVIATOR
MET DEATH IN FRANCE
The following 22 May 1918
letter has been received by Mr. A. W. Crysler of Welland from
Major Charles E. Bryant, the officer commanding the squadron to
which his son, Flight Lieut. Carlton A. Crysler was attached when
killed in France.
Dear Mr. Crysler: -- It is
with the deepest of regret that I am writing to you to tell you of
your son's death in aerial combat on the 20th of May.
He and another pilot were
surprised by a superior number of the enemy, and your son was
evidently killed at the very start, before his pal could do
anything. He fell just inside our lines and is buried near the
village of Villers Brettoneaux, near Amiens, close to where he
fell.
He was a good lad and I
can ill afford to lose men of his type, cheery and keen and always
willing for a job.
Please accept my deepest
sympathy in your great loss. His personal kit and belongings have
been forwarded to you per Messrs. Cox and Co., and I hope you will
find everything in order.
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The
following is from a page 1 article in the 25 Jul 1918 issue of
the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.
Delhi
Airman's Gallant Battle
Lieut.
Carleton Crysler Died Gamely Fighting Three German Machines
Delhi, July 19 -- The
following letter was received by A. W. Crysler, telling the manner
in which his son, Lieut. Carleton Crysler, fought before meeting
his death.
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B.
E. F., June 13, 1918.
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Dear Sir, -- Since writing
to you I have received further details with regard to your son's
death, which I feel will fill you with pride to know he died game.
The Australian officers who
saw the fight from the ground gave me the following details:
Your son was seen fighting
three German planes, who, being 3 to 1, were naturally getting the
best of it.
Your son dived on one, and hit it with the undercarriage of his
machine, the German plane dropping like a house in flames on the
enemy lines.
He then continued to engage
the other two planes, but by this time his machine was on fire,
evidently hit in the petrol tank. He turned away to land in our
lines, but evidently the fire was too much for him and at 300 feet
he jumped out of the machine, being killed instantly.
He put up a gallant fight
and deserved to win through.
I shall always regret losing him, as he was a find lad. Believe
me,
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Yours
sincerely,
Chas. C. Bryant,
Major.
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The
following is from a page 8 article in the 27 May 1920 issue of
the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.
TO
THE MEMORY OF LIEUT. CARLTON CRYSLER
DA memorial service was
held in St. Alban's Church, Delhi, on Thursday evening, 20 May
1920, for the purpose of unveiling a memorial tablet to the memory
of the late Lieut. Carlton Crysler.
The memorial is a beautiful
tablet by Birke & Sons, Montreal, and is on bronze.
The service was fully
choral, and was in loving memory of one who was a devoted member
of St. Alban's choir.
The tablet was unveiled by
the Rev. Frank Leigh (who baptized Carlton), assisted by Lieut. A.
B. Wilson, and the sermon was preached by Rev. W. H. Snelgrove,
who was Carlton's first Sunday School teacher.
The Revs. A. B. Farney, T.B.
Howard, J. B. Holland and J. Chapman, together with choirs from
Tillsonburg, Norwich and Otterville, assisted with the
service, which was rendered in a beautiful manner, and was worthy
of the best that Delhi could do.
The Last Post was played by
Bugler T. E. Gingell.
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Carlton Crysler
Image from microfilm
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