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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 244

An M.S.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant J. McCrea, The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards), who served with the only Squadron of his unit in Malabar

British War and Victory Medals (22239 Pte. J. McCrea. R. Lanc. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Malabar 1921-22 (394068 Tpr. J. McCrea. The Bays.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935 (No. 394068 Tpr. J. McCrea The Queens Bays), privately impressed naming; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., Regular Army (394068 Tpr. J. McCrea. The Bays.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R. (394068 Sjt. J. McCrea. The Bays.), traces of adhesive to reverses, very fine and a good combination (8)

M.S.M. awarded 24 June 1953.

James Alexander McCrea was born at Lisburn, Ireland on 13 July 1887 and was a labourer working at Andersontown, Belfast upon his joining the Royal Lancaster Regiment on 28 February 1918. He served with the 1/4th Battalion in France from 22 March 1917 and would surely have participated in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on 31 July 1917 when the unit attacked Wieltje. Later that year they also served in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge and at Cambrai before the year was out. They were in the First Defence of Givenchy in April 1918 and McCrea was demobilised in October 1919.

He re-enlisted into the 6th Dragoon Guards in March 1920 and thereafter transferred to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays), serving with that unit in India from February 1921-January 1927. Just one Squadron of his unit was present in Malabar (Medal & clasp).

Made Lance-Corporal by March 1931 and awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1935, he went to the Cavalry Depot at Catterick in 1938. Posted to the 51st Training Regiment (Light Tanks) in September 1939, he served at home during the Second World War and was discharged in November 1953, having some 33 years and 222 days service to his name; sold together with copied service record.

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Sold for
£700

Starting price
£320