Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War O.B.E., ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Crosby, 1st Battalion and 5th Battalion (Territorial Force), Lincolnshire Regiment, who was awarded the M.C. for conspicuous gallantry at Hooge in August 1915 while a temporary Captain attached to the 2nd Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment; he was also twice mentioned in despatches and received a trio of foreign awards.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military Division) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (2. Lieut: R. D. Crosby. Linc: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. R. D. Crosby); Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, with bronze palm on ribbon, enamel damage to wreath; Japan, Empire, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fifth Class breast badge, silver and enamel; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, mounted court-style as worn and housed in a Garrard, London, case, traces of lacquer, very fine (8) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment.

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Provenance: Christie’s, November 1988.

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919:
‘Valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in France’.

M.C. London Gazette 6 September 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry on 9th August, 1915 at Hooge, when he held his trench under exceptionally heavy shell fire for nearly 24 hours in spite of very heavy casualties’.

Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, London Gazette 6 February 1922.

Belgian Croix de Guerre, London Gazette 24 October 1919.

Reginald Douglas Crosby was born on 18 May 1892 in Caistor, Lincolnshire, the son of Harry and Alice Crosby and the eldest grandson of James Crosby, Esq., a widely respected Bristol journalist. He joined the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment (Territorial Force) in 1911, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment on 14 August 1914, and attached to the Sherwood Foresters. He was promoted temporary Captain on 7 September 1914 and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 November 1914 with the 2nd Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, with which unit he was serving when his conspicuous gallantry at Hooge in August 1915 resulted in the award of the Military Cross. His name was also brought to notice in Field Marshal French’s despatch of 15 October 1915 (London Gazette 1 January 1916) and Field Marshall Haig’s despatch relating to the period 25 February 1918 to 17 September 1918 (London Gazette 20 December 1918)

For his services during the Great War he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire as well as being awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown, Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure 5th Class and Belgian Croix de Guerre.

After the war he remained with the Lincolnshire Regiment as Captain of the Reserve of Officers and died in 1929 while still Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the 5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment.

Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.