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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 161

(x) An extremely rare Africa campaign service group of three awarded to Commander A. B. Crosse, R.D., Royal Naval Reserve, who witnessed active service in the Aro expedition 1901-02, whilst employed in the Southern Nigeria Marine Department

Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Aro 1901-02, S. Nigeria 1903 (Lieut. A. B. Crosse, R.N.R.), officially engraved naming in sloping capitals; British War Medal 1914-20 (Commr. A. B. Crosse, R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, E.VII.R., hallmarks for London 1909, the first with edge bruise and the last with worn gilt, otherwise generally very fine or better and likely a unique combination of awards (3)

Ex Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris, R.N. collection, Dix Noonan Webb, 12 February 1997 (Lot 413).

Arthur Bernard Crosse was born at Kessingland, Suffolk on 25 October 1868 and attended the training ship Conway before embarking on a career in the Mercantile Marine, initially as an apprentice in R. H. Leyland & Company.

Appointed a Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve in December 1885, he was advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in November 1892 on gaining his Board of Trade 1st Mate's Certificate; he also attended Gunnery and Torpedo courses at the training establishment Excellent and spent a year aboard H.M.S. Camperdown.

Having then held his first command under the auspices on the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the period 1897-1900, he took up an appointment in the Southern Nigeria Marine Department. It was in this capacity that he was actively employed in the Aro Expedition of November 1901 to March 1902 (Medal & clasp), when, as per his R.N.R. service record, he was engaged in transporting troops (T.N.A. ADM 240/10, refers). He is also believed to have participated in subsequent operations on the Nun River in Southern Nigeria in the period September-October 1903, in which year he was promoted to Lieutenant; clasp currently unconfirmed.

Crosse was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Commander in August 1909 and was awarded the Reserve Decoration (R.D.) in the following year. Recalled by the Nigerian Marine in the Great War, he added the British War Medal 1914-20 to his accolades, these also including the Board of Trade's silver medal for lifesaving issued to him for an act of gallantry in January 1896; sold with copied service record.


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Sold for
£2,600