Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.M. and Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Lieutenant W. E. Crewe, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who subsequently served with the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary 1920-21

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (A-157 Sjt: W. E. Crewe. 8/K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. W. E. Crewe.); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze palm on riband, good very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

M.M. London Gazette 14 December 1916.

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 6 January 1917.

William Ewart Crewe was born in Bath on 25 April 1887, and attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 14 August 1914. He served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 May 1915, as Signal Sergeant, and for his services on the Western Front was awarded the Military Medal and a Second Award Bar. He was commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant on 26 June 1918, and saw further service in the 25th Battalion, K.R.R.C., as Signal Officer, Headquarters Company. He was promoted Lieutenant on 26 December 1919, and served as Officer Commanding Troops at Audruicq, France, from 12 to 30 January 1920.

Upon relinquishing his commission, Crewe joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and served with them in Ireland throughout the Troubles 1920-21. In later life he served on the London Transport Board.

Sold with the recipient’s Commission Document; the recipient’s Officer’s Record of Service Book; two K.R.R.C. cap badges; three photographic glass plates; a photographic image of the recipient; and a historically interesting scrapbook with newspaper cuttings, photographs, and other memorabilia relating to the Troubles in Ireland 1920-21, completed with the recipient’s hand-written memoirs of the period, this last in slightly tatty condition.