Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Cruys family group:

William Cruys, Master at Arms, Royal Navy, late Royal Marines
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (William Cruys); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (William Cruys, Mas. at Arms, H.M.S. Queen 27 Yrs.); St. Jean d’Acre 1840, bronze

William H. Cruys, Boatswain, Royal Navy, who won the Sardinian Medal for Bravery with the Naval Brigade at Sebastopol
New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated, 1845 to 1846 (W. H. Cruys, A.B. H.M.S. Osprey); Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Wm. H. Cruys, Cap. Mn. Top H.M.S. Albion) contemporary engraved naming; Al Valore Militare, Spedizione D’Oriente 1855-1856 (Mr Wm. Cruys, Boatswain Nl. Be.); Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed, contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine and rare (7) £3000-3500

Only 11 New Zealand medals issued to H.M.S. Osprey, all for 1845 to 1846. The Al Valore Militare is one of only 50 awarded to officers and men of the Royal Navy or Royal Marines for the Crimea (30 R.N., 20 R.M.).

William Cruys was born at Millbrook, Cornwall, and joined in the Royal Marines in about 1822. He served as a Sergeant aboard the Stromboli at Syria. After 21 years service in the Marines he transferred to the Royal Navy as a Ship’s Corporal in March 1843, a not uncommon occurrence for a marine N.C.O. to transfer to the Naval disciplinary arm at that time. He served for a further 10 years 3 months, mostly as Master at Arms, and received his L.S. & G.C. medal for 27 years service in May 1849. He was discharged from Albion on 26 July 1854, but signed on again in February 1859, for a short period as an Able Seaman but soon to be Master at Arms again. William Cruys was discharged ashore for the last time in November 1861, having a total service of 34 years 144 days, and getting on for 60 years old.

William H. Cruys, believed to be the son of William Cruys above, is variously stated to have been born at Portsmouth or Plymouth, in about 1825-26, and also served aboard the Stromboli at Syria, as a Boy 2nd class, aged 14 years in October 1840. He served during the first Maori war in 1845-46, as an Able Seaman aboard the Osprey, and after further service in the Racer, joined the Albion as Captain of the Main Top in February 1851. In later musters he was advanced to Chief Boatswain’s Mate, and at the time of his Sardinian award had become Boatswain. This rare award was at the recommendation of Sir Stephen Lushington, Captain, H.M.S. Albion, Commanding the Naval Brigade, for ‘particularly praisworthy’ conduct and was also recommended by Rear Admiral Keppel.