Army Rifle Association Medal, rev. inscribed, ‘2nd Battn. The East Surrey Regt. Best Shot of Sergts, & Corpls. 1921, won by Sergt. T. Crowley’, silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1920, edge bruise, otherwise very fine £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

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6133250 Thomas Crowley enlisted into the East Surrey Regiment in March 1916 and served for thirty years in the same Regiment. In January 1921 the Battalion was posted to Ireland, mainly based in Dublin but with two companies on detachment at Drogheda. On 1 June 1921 Crowley was wounded when a lightly armoured Ford car in which he was patrolling was ambushed and bombed by Irish rebels in Dorset Street, Dublin. The car was manned by Major J. Gurdon, M.C., three other members of the Battalion and two R.A.S.C. drivers. Gurdon, who was in command, extricated his men but Private Bucker was killed and Sergeant Crowley and two R.A.S.C. drivers were wounded. In the same year Crowley won his shooting medal and also trained the successful East Surrey Regimental Tug of War Team. He subsequently became R.S.M. of the 6th Battalion. In the Second World War he rose to the rank of Major in the Home Guard and commanded the 64th Surrey (Kingston) Battalion Home Guard. He died at his home in Kingston-on-Thames on the 10th October 1950 and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery. Sold with a copied photograph of the recipient as R.S.M. of the 6th Battalion wearing medals

Note: Included is a photo and negative of Thomas Crowley in uniform when he was RSM of the 6th Battalion wearing his medals.