Bob Crisp
A South African fast bowler whose wartime heroics and explosive cricket career made him a figure of immense courage on and off the field.
1911–1994 (age 83)·South African cricketer·Birthday: May 28·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bob Crisp was a man who lived at a ferocious pace, both as a cricketer and a soldier. Born in South Africa, his right-arm fast bowling was raw and rapid, earning him a spot on the 1935 tour of England. While his Test record was modest, his first-class career was formidable, terrorizing county batsmen for Worcestershire with his speed. His true legacy, however, was written in the deserts of North Africa during World War II. As a tank commander in the British Army, he was awarded the Military Cross for bravery, reportedly destroying multiple enemy tanks in a single engagement. After the war, he turned to writing and journalism, authoring a vivid memoir of his combat experiences. Crisp's life was a relentless pursuit of action, leaving a mark defined by sporting fire and martial valor.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bob was born in 1911, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1911
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1911Born
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1916Started school
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Became a teenager
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1927Could drive
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1929Could vote
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Turned 21
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1941Turned 30
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 40
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 50
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 60
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 70
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 80
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Died at 83
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
Key Achievements
- He is the only bowler in first-class cricket history to have taken four wickets in four balls on two separate occasions.
- He captured 276 first-class wickets at an impressive average of 19.88.
- He was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry as a tank commander in the Second World War.
- He played nine Test matches for South Africa between 1935 and 1936.
Did You Know?
He authored a well-regarded war memoir titled 'The Gods Were Neutral'.
He worked as a sports journalist for the News Chronicle in London after his playing days.
He served in the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment during WWII.
“I bowled fast because I didn't know any other way.”
