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Auction: 323 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 767

Army Rifle Association Medal, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1920), the reverse engraved '2nd. Battn. The East Surey Regt. Best Shot of Sergts & Corpls 1921 Won by Sergt. T. Crowley', with ring suspension, edge bruising, nearly very fine, together with a photographic image of the recipient

Major Thomas Crowley served with the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment in Ireland, landing at Dublin in January 1921. 'The intensity of the strife in Ireland had increased since the 1st Battalion had left six months before. It had been unpleasant enough then, but by 1921 the Sinn Feiners were better organised and more militant. In May they began well-planned ambushes and bombing attacks on British Army lorries and armoured cars. Life for the troops was an endless succession of patrols, guards, curfews, and piquets, with occasional raids to try to capture "wanted" rebels. The first casualties were suffered by the Battalion on the 1st June 1921 when a Ford car, but lightly protected against enemy action, was ambushed and bombed by Sinn Feiners. Major J. Gurdon, M.C., who was in command, extricated his men, but Private Bucker was killed and Sergeant T. Crowley and two R.A.S.C. drivers were wounded.' (History of the East Surrey Regiment, D.S. Daniell refers).

In addition to winning the Best Shooting Medal, Crowley also trained the successful East Surrey Regimental Tug o' War Team. Advanced Company Sergeant Major, he was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1926, before being promoted Regimental Sergeant Major of the 6th Battalion. During the Second World War he commanded the 64th (Kingston) Battalion, Surrey Home Guard, with the rank of Major.

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