Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War 1942 Malta convoys D.S.C. and immediate 1944 Scheldt Estuary E-Boat action Bar group of seven attributed to Rear-Admiral G. C. Crowley, Royal Navy, a distinguished destroyer captain who added the C.B. to his accolades on his retirement in 1968

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1943’ and privately engraved, ‘Lieut. G. C. Crowley, R.N.’, and the reverse of the Bar officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; U.N. Korea 1950-54, mounted court-style as worn, together with a set of related tunic ribands, generally good very fine (7) £1600-1800

C.B. London Gazette 8 June 1968.

D.S.C. London Gazette 1 January 1943.

Bar to D.S.C. London Gazette 10 April 1945:

‘For gallantry, skill and leadership in an engagement with enemy E Boats whilst serving in H.M. Ships Walpole, Curzon and Torrington, and the light Coastal Forces.’

The original recommendation states:

‘H.M.S. Walpole has had several encounters with E Boats during the last five months and in every case Lieutenant-Commander Crowley had handled and fought his ship with marked ability.

The engagement on the night of 22-23 December 1944 was a fitting climax to the series: on this occasion the Walpole was so placed that two separate groups of E Boats came into her patrol zone, both groups were very roughly treated and it was due largely to Crowley’s sound appreciations, as well as to his skilful and determined handling that one E Boat was destroyed, another almost certainly destroyed and several damaged.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 11 May 1946:

‘For distinguished services during the War in the Far East.’

George Clement Crowley, who was born in June 1916, was educated at Pangbourne College and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in H.M.S. Frobisher in 1933. Appointed a Midshipman in September 1934, he served on the China Station and in New Zealand in the period leading up to the outbreak of hostilities, gaining advancement to Lieutenant in October 1938.

Joining the newly commissioned destroyer H.M.A.S. Nestor in early 1941, he remained similarly employed up until her loss to an Italian bomber off Crete in June 1942, a period encompassing extensive active service in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Far East.

Having participated in the pursuit of the Bismarck in May 1941, Nestor was ordered to the Mediterranean on the Malta run and, on 15 December 1941, hunted down and destroyed the U-127 off Cape St. Vincent. Ordered to the Far East in the new year, she escorted the carrier Indomitable to Malaya and joined the British Eastern Fleet at Colombo.

Then in May 1942 Nestor was ordered back to the Mediterranean and it was in the course of Malta convoy Operation “Vigorous” in the following month that she met her end, falling victim to an Italian bomber off Crete on the 15th - four of her complement were killed and although Javelin attempted to take her in tow she had to be scuttled on the following day. Crowley was awarded the D.S.C.

In September 1943, and having been advanced to Lieutenant-Commander, he was appointed to the command of the destroyer Walpole, in which capacity he was present in operations off Normandy in the summer of 1944 and, as cited above, involved in several successful engagements with E Boats, not least the action of 22-23 December. He was awarded a Bar to his D.S.C., and was still commanding Walpole on the occasion she was mined off Flushing on 6 January 1945 - two of her complement were killed and the ship declared a constructive total loss.

Crowley ended the War back out in the Far East in command of the destroyer Tenacious, in which capacity he served in Task Force 37 in the Pacific, and was mentioned in despatches.

Post-war, and having attended the R.N. Staff Course in 1947, Crowley’s seagoing appointments included command of the cruiser Newfoundland 1953-55 and service as Captain (D.) of the 7th Destroyer Squadron 1959-61. Advanced to Rear-Admiral in 1966, his final appointment was as Director-General of Naval Personnel Services, and he was awarded the C.B. on his retirement in 1968; sold with copied research, including Crowley’s Captain’s Report for the night action of 22-23 December 1944.