Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Major B. Croft, 28th London Regiment (The Artists Rifles), who was killed in action on 10 November 1918: he was virtually the last British Army Officer to be killed before the Armistice

1914 Star (Capt., 28/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); Coronation 1902; Coronation 1911; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1917, with related Memorial Plaque (Benjamin Croft), generally good very fine and a very rare combination of awards to a Great War casualty (7) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons.

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Benjamin Croft, who was born in January 1874, the son of J. Croft, J.P., was educated at Radley and London University. Qualifying as an accountant, he was appointed to the Board of Green Cloth at Buckingham Palace, in which capacity he was awarded his 1902 and 1911 Coronation Medals.

He had, meanwhile, served as a member of the Artists Rifles, and was commissioned in 1898. A keen all-round sportsman, Croft led the Battalion’s victorious bayonet team at Earls Court in 1914. Soon afterwards, he went to France, was advanced to Captain and was onetime attached to the 10th London Regiment.

As verified by the Battalion’s war diary, Croft died 24 hours before the Armistice - contrary to his entry in the C.W.G.C. register, he was not on attachment to the 10th Londons at this time:

‘10.11.18:
Battalion advanced in a N.E. direction and took up a line facing N.E. N. of the Mons-Maubeurge Road at 9.30 hours. While 188th Brigade passed through Asquillies (Battalion H.Q.) enemy shelled village with 5.9 howitzers causing some damage. At midday orders were received to relieve 56th Division on right. Battalion moved at 16.00 hours S. through Harvengt and took up line just E. of Harvengt.

Captain Croft, B., 2 Lieutenant King, H. W., killed; 2 Lieutenant Conway, F. H., wounded; O.Rs killed 2; wounded 25.

11.11.18:
Hostilities ceased at 11.00 hours.’

The following is extracted from The Regimental Roll of Honour and War Record of The Artists’ Rifles: 10 November 1918: ‘Just after they had gone, I got news by runner, that poor old Croft had been killed. It is no use trying to tell you what that meant to the Battalion, or to me personally. He had not been back with us very long after a prolonged absence, and I know he felt like coming home when he rejoined us at Brias. He was always like a ray of sunshine if there was anything doing. With him were two other good fellows. 2nd Lieutenant King and Sergeant Garbutt; also a Lancer with whom they were talking at the time; a stray shell fell in the sunken road and killed all four of them.’

A little over a fortnight earlier, Croft’s old C.O. had written to the War Office in the following terms:

‘Captain B. Croft, 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles) is a keen, smart, brave soldier, a good shot and excellent instructor, and commanded his company to my satisfaction. But in my opinion he has a curiously arrested mental development; in many ways his mind is that of a youth of eighteen. Everything is learnt and carried out exactly by the book. Should he be faced with a problem not laid down, I do not know how he would act ...’

Whether this confidential report was part of a review for Croft’s possible elevation to a Majority remains unknown, but justice was served by his posthumous promotion to that rank in December 1918 (w.e.f. March 1918), his T.D. being gazetted in the same month.

His widow, meanwhile, took receipt of his last effects, among them ‘Medal Ribbons’ and a copy of the New Testament.

And her gallant husband was interred in Harveng Churchyard, Mons, which place he had last been in 1914.

Sold with a copy of Memories of The Artists Rifles, by Colonel H. A. R. May, C.B., V.D., published 1929, in which Croft is pictured.