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- THE CONTINUING BIOGRAPHY OF E.P. CROSSEN
Ernest Perc (EP) Crossen is the colorful and urbane patriarch of the many descendants of Thomas Crossen, Sr., who came to the Cobourg area of Ontario from Comber, County Down, Ireland, about 1830 to farm. Now retired in Washington, D.C., Perc has had a distinguished career in Canadian and U.S. Investment counselling. Although he downplays his military activity, he also served with distinction as a fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and as an administrative officer of the U.S.A.F. in World War II.
Born 18 March 1894 on a rented farm near Sonya, Ontario, Perc broke away from the Crossen family tradition of farming. Recognizing his potential and drive, the principal of Lindsay Collegiate allowed him to enter studies there although work on the 200-acre Sunderland farm of his father, Robert John Crossen, had prevented him from getting full matriculation qualifications. Perc later entered Victoria College in Toronto to study classics following some well meaning advice whose validity he soon questioned. World War I had broken out and he signed up for training as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, then recruiting in Canada.
During World War I, Canadians made up about one quarter of the flying personnel of the RFC and 40 per cent of its strength on the Western Front. Like many other Canadians recruited, Perc took what little flying instruction he had in England, soloing in a fragile, kite-like Maurice Farman "Shorthorn" biplane after only four hours instruction. He crash-landed it safely, the first of several other crashes he had in the combat duties he was rushed off to in France.
In about 300 days of action Perc Crossen is credited with shooting down three enemy planes and two observation balloons. The combat reports of his exploits are part of the official records kept by the Canadian Government. His contribution is also recorded in CANADIAN AIRMEN AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR: THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE by S.F. Wise (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1981).
On one offensive patrol, for instance, an anti-aircraft fragment pierced Perc’s wing fuel-tank and lodged in the engine. The offending piece of shrapnel is one of his many operational souvenirs, which also include a piece of fabric from the Fokker triplane flown by Captain Manfred von Richthofen, shot down by another Canadian airman after the Red Baron had downed dozens of Allied aircraft. Ironically, Perc obtained this particular "souvenir" 21 April 1918 when he had to make an emergency landing at Bertangles Aerdrome, Somme, France, and found the Fokker had crash-landed with a dead German inside just before him. This was at the time the Germans were making their big push towards the Somme near Amiens and control of the air over the battlefield was vital. After another crash landing, again luckily behind his own lines, Perc was officially reported missing, believed dead. A welcome cable, countering the first tragic news, reached his family the day after the first.
Perc Crossen was sent to Ireland on rest leave just before the Armistice. He was only a few miles from "Crossen Hill" in Comber, County Down, where his Crossen Irish ancestors had farmed for generations. Specifically he was at an estate named Bally Edmond at Killowen and his hostess was a Lady Nugent with her family. For the young man raised on hard work on a farm in Ontario who had just gone through the hell of aerial combat of the Battle of the Somme it was veritable heaven. Perc did not know at this time it was from this area his people had emigrated to Cobourg, Ontario, in the early 1800’s to seek a better living.
Returning to Victoria College after peace came, Perc got his B.A. in 1921, being granted a year because of was service. He then went out to Macklin, Saskatchewan, to teach in a comprehensive, one-room, c
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1894 - 1993 (99 years)
. Margaret Marie CROSSEN, b. 29 Sep 1930, Toronto, Ontario 
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