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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 54

A rare Second World War 'V-2 incident' B.E.M. group of three awarded to Leading Aircraftman P. Crowley, Royal Air Force Regiment

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., Military Division (1406476 L.A.C. Patrick Crowley, R.A.F. Rgt.), officially engraved naming, in its card box of issue; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, small edge bruise to the first, otherwise extremely fine (3)

B.E.M. London Gazette 27 April 1945:

'After the explosion of a bomb in January 1945, this airman, assisted by a Flight Sergeant, crawled beneath a huge piece of reinforced concrete which had fallen on top of an officer. The concrete was precariously supported by loose bricks and rubble and was in imminent danger of crushing Leading Aircraftman Crowley as he worked beneath it. Failing to extricate the officer at the first attempt, this airman made a further effort by burrowing under the concrete from the opposite side. The officer was later found to have died whilst the rescue attempts were being made and was extricated by a heavy rescue party, who cut through the concrete. Leading Aircraftman Crowley made persistent and gallant efforts to rescue the officer although he had set himself an impossible task. His services were outstanding, even amongst the acts of gallantry displayed in connection with this incident.'

Patrick Crowley was in Brighton, Sussex on 1 January 1909 and served briefly as a boy recruit in the Suffolk Regiment in 1925-26. Details of his subsequent pre-war employment remain unknown but we do have a record of his gallantry in rescuing a child from drowning:

'For having on 25 May 1937 gone to the rescue of a child who was in imminent danger of drowning in the Grand Union Canal at Paddington W., and whose life he gallantly saved' (Minutes of the Royal Humane Society Committee meeting held in London, 13 July 1937, refer).

Crowley was awarded the Society's Honorary Testimonial inscribed on parchment.

In May 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force and was trained as a ground gunner on Bofors, his early postings including the Anti-Aircraft Flights at Northolt and Hendon. Having then been enrolled in the newly founded R.A.F. Regiment in early 1942, he remained employed in the U.K. in various 'Defence Flights' and was serving in No. 2727 L.A.A. Squadron at R.A.F. Stapleford Tawney in Essex by late 1944.

On 20 November 1944, the base was hit by a V-2 rocket, which left a 60-foot crater on the airfield. A second V-2 hit occurred on 23 January 1945, causing much greater devastation, killing 17 personnel and wounding another 50. It was on this occasion that Crowley won his B.E.M. No. 2727 L.A.A. Squadron's O.R.B. takes up story:

'At 1545 on Tuesday 23 January 1945, a V2 descended on the Station and completely destroyed the Main Stores and No. 2 Hanger. Many casualties were sustained by Station H.Q. and No. 2839 Squadron personnel. 1251997 Cpl. Thomas and 1305243 L.A.C. Wilson were at the time delivering equipment to the Main Stores; they were both injured and admitted to St. Margaret's Hospital, and the 51cwt. Truck in use at the time was completely destroyed.

At the time of the incident, gun drill was in progress in No. 1 Hanger, under the direction of Flight Lieutenant Nuttall, and in spite of the fact both sides of the hanger were blown out and much glass fell from the roof, no casualties were sustained.

Realising the explosion had occurred in the vicinity of No. 2 hanger, Flight Lieutenant Nuttall immediately proceeded there with all available personnel and commenced rescue work.

The actions of the following personnel were brought to the notice of Higher Authority, with a view to special recognition: Flight Lieutenant E. W. Nuttall; 1355031 Flight Sergeant Mullins; 1406476 L.A.C. Crowley and 1355137 L.A.C. Rudge.'

Of those named, Flight Lieutenant Nuttall was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 June 1945, refers), and Crowley awarded the B.E.M.

He served briefly in No. 2769 Squadron from September 1945 and was released from the Service at No. 1 R.A.F. Regiment Depot in February 1946. He died in Manchester in May 1959.

Sold with the following original documentation:

(i)
Buckingham forwarding message for the B.E.M. in the name of 'Leading Aircraftman Patrick Crowley, B.E.M., Royal Air Force Regiment'; together with a congratulatory letter from Air Marshal Sir Roderic Hill, K.C.B., M.C., A.F.C., dated 12 May 1945.

(ii)
Royal Humane Society's Honorary Testimonial, inscribed on parchment; as per above act of gallantry in May 1937, in its red scroll box.

(iii)
Old stamped copies of his birth and death certificates and an 'In memoriam' card.



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Sold for
£580