The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

Pair: Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel R. M. Crosse-Kelly, Royal Artillery

British War and Victory Medals (Major R. M. Crosse), nearly extremely fine (2) £150-200

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

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Reginald Meredith Crosse-Kelly was born in April 1883, a brother of Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Crosse, D.S.O. (see next Lot), and was educated at the United Services College, Devon. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in July 1901, he was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1904 and to Captain in July 1914.

Serving on the General Staff at the War Office and Home Forces from the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 until April 1917, he was advanced to Major in July 1916 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 30 March 1917 refers). He was next posted to France, where, while commanding 331 Siege Battery R.G.A., he was wounded in action at Passchendaele on 5 November 1917, suffering shell wounds to the head, arm and chest. As a result he was invalided to England and was subsequently awarded a war wound gratuity of £200 - the effects of his wounds were to afflict him in later years. For his wartime services he received the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1919.

After the War, Crosse served as a Staff Officer in China, where in December 1921 the G.O.C. wrote, ‘I agree to permit to retire Lt. Col. Crosse and to take up civil employment when he can render valuable secret intelligence to the General Officer Commanding China’. During the Second World War Crosse served with the Home Guard from October 1942 until February 1944, and he died in July 1947.

Lieutenant-Colonel Crosse had married Ethel Beatrice Bedingfeld, the elder daughter and co-heir of Brigadier-General Richard Makdougall Brisbane Francis Kelly, C.B., D.S.O., on 26 April 1915 at St. Luke’s Church, Chelsea, and in January 1937, Lieutenant-Colonel Crosse and his wife were permitted by Royal Warrant (London Gazette 26 January 1937 refers) to change their name to Crosse-Kelly and to bear the Arms of Kelly with his own family Arms.

Sold with original Royal Warrant scroll, complete with seals, granting the change of name and Arms, this in red leather case of issue, leather covering damaged and worn; together with original wedding invitation and order of service; telegram informing Mrs. Crosse that her husband had been wounded; Home Guard Certificate of Appreciation; photographs, newspaper clippings, diary extracts, letters and cards; and some Chinese water colours.