Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Company Sergeant-Major Edward Crooks, Royal Garrison Artillery

Empress of India 1877, silver, privately named (E. Crooks. R.A.) complete with full neck cravat in its Adams, London case of issue; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (28530. By. Sgt. Maj: E. Crooks. 3/1st Bde. N. Ir: Div: R.A.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (C.S. Mjr: E. Crooks. R.G.A.) the latter two mounted as worn, extremely fine (3)
£600-800

M.S.M. with Annuity of £10, 14 February 1915; L.S. & G.C. G.O. 152 of 1883.

Edward Crooks was born in 1844 in Queen’s County, Ireland, and enlisted in 1865. Ten years later he was promoted to Battery Sergeant-Major. He served in India and Aden between 1869 and 1882, the balance of his 29 years’ service being in the U.K. His overseas stations included Poona, Kirkee, Calaba, Bombay and Amritsar. In the U.K. he was variously stationed at Sheerness, Portsmouth, Gosport, Cork, Aberdeen and Woolwich. His last eight years of service to 1894 were spent as Permanent Staff, Aberdeen Volunteer Artillery. He died on 17 December 1916, and is buried in Dublin with his wife who died on 1 April 1915, aged 69. See The Annuity M.S.M. by Ian McInness for a photograph of Crooks in uniform with his wife. He is presumed to be the father of Major J. J. Crooks, whose collection of predominantly Irish Militaria is now being offered (lots 364-500).