He was the eldest, and heir apparent, of nine children born to the former Louisa Margaret McKerrall,[1] and Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, 4th Baronet (1847–1935), who went bankrupt in 1881.

[6] He served in the Second Boer War in South Africa from 1899 to 1900, and was twice wounded in action and twice recommended for the Victoria Cross for acts of immense bravery.

[5] Claude was a member of a very sporting family and was a successful polo player, he was selected for the Hurlingham Club team that traveled to compete in America in 1910.

He was found dead early in the morning by the roadside at King's Cliffe in Northamptonshire, with a gunshot wound to the head and a revolver with him.

"[14] The physician and coroner concluded that a temporary madness may have been caused by recent case of severe influenza and concussions from repeated heavy falls whilst playing polo.