Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Dearest Grandfather Walter Cripps. I only discovered by accident that you died (murdered by the Japanese) about 5 years ago when I went to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Mum (your only child, Lillian) had been told that you died in Changi. I cannot say for certain whether Nana Cripps actually knew what happened to you & chose not to tell your daughter. All I know now from my own research, that you were killed/murdered 4 weeks before the end of WW2. No one survived except for those who managed to survive by fleeing into the jungle on the death marches. Your daughter, Lillian, needed you very much but you were stolen. Lillian had 4 children: Cas, Jerome, Eugene & Amber. You have 4 great grand daughters: Nina Lillian, Laura & Isobel (Cas) & Angela Lillian (Amber). Thank God they found your remains & you were buried in Borneo. You produced 4 exceptionally clever grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren. The Japanese didn't kill us all in the end. Your wife Elizabeth struggled to raise Lillian on her own - for that we can thank the Japanese. However, it resulted in a strong line of highly resilient grandchildren & great grandchildren. Your father, Joseph Cripps, rode the Melbourne Cup winner in 1893 on the horse trained by his father, Joseph Cripps. So we all have done good. With much love, your great grand daughter, Amber & her only child, your great great grand daughter Angela Lillian (born 2 May 2003).