The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A Great War D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Crosse, Royal Army Service Corps, who also won a “mention” for operations in Archangel in 1919

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. W. C. Crosse, A.S.C.); 1914 Star (Major W. C. Crosse, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. W. C. Crosse), mounted as worn, together with a set of miniature dress medals (the Q.S.A. with differing clasps), the obverse centre of the D.S.O. slightly recessed, otherwise generally good very fine (10) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

View
Collection

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

Whitworth Charles Crosse, who was born in Plymouth, Devon in June 1879, the son of a Lieutenant in the 97th Regiment and a brother of Lieutenant-Colonel R. M. Crosse-Kelly (see previous Lot), was originally commissioned in the West India Regiment in August 1899, but transferred to the Army Service Corps early in the following year, and witnessed active service out in South Africa from October 1900 until March 1902 (Queen’s Medal & 5 clasps).

Advanced to Major on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Crosse first went out to France in 7th Divisional Train that October, but it was for his services in 17th Divisional Train from June 1916 that he was awarded his D.S.O. and a brace of “mentions” (London Gazettes 29 May 1917 and 25 May 1918 refer); and for subsequent services in the Archangel operations of July-September 1919, he won another “mention” (London Gazette 3 February 1920 refers).

Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1921, Crosse was placed on the Retired List in April 1925, and died in October 1948; sold with copied service record.