Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain A. L. Crommelin, Chinese Labour Corps, late King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was awarded the Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger Fifth Class, the only Australian born soldier to receive this distinction during the Great War

1914-15 Star (R-6231 Pte. A. L. Crommelin. K.R. Rif: C.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. A. L. Crommelin.) very fine (2) £100-£140

Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger, Fifth Class London Gazette 17 February 1920:
‘For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign.’

Arthur Lake Crommelin was born in Albury, New South Wales, Australia, on 6 May 1881 and having travelled to the U.K. attested as a Private in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 2 November 1914; on enlistment he stated that he was a Bushman and had previous service with the West Australian Infantry Volunteers and was discharged at his own request in 1903. He served with the K.R.R.C. during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 November 1914 (and therefore missed out on being awarded a 1914 Star by just one day) and was appointed Lance-Corporal on 8 December 1914.

Crommelin was subsequently commission temporary Second Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers, on 11 May 1915, and served with the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front from 23 March 1916, being appointed Transport Officer and Corps Salvage Officer. Promoted Staff Lieutenant and taken of the strength of the Battalion, presumably to serve at Headquarters, on 14 May 1917, he was subsequently posted to the 45th Company, Chinese Labour Corps, on 14 July 1917 and was promoted Captain on 1 November of that year, while commanding a Company. For his services during the Great War he was awarded the Chinese Order of the Striped Tiger, Fifth Class, the only Australian born soldier to have been awarded this distinction. He died in South Africa in 1945.

Sold with the recipient’s visiting card ‘Capt. A. L. Crommelin.’; and copied research.