An Ulsterman's 'Fighting Irish' World War's and 'Malabar Campaign' medal group of 8: Sergeant James McCrea, The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) late Royal Lancashire Regiment

- British War (22239 Pte. J. McCrea. R. Lanc. R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (22239 Pte. J. McCrea. R. Lanc. R.)
- IGS 1908-35 Medal GV Royal Mint clasp 'Malabar 1921-22' (394068 Tpr. J. McCrea. The Bays.)
- Defence Medal
- War Medals
- Jubilee Medal 1935. Indented (No. 394068 Tpr. J. McCrea The Queens Bays)
- Military LSGC. GV issue with 'Regular Army' bar (394068 Tpr. J. McCrea. The Bays.)
- Military Meritorious Service Medal. GVI second issue (394068 Sjt. J. McCrea. The Bays.)
- British War (22239 Pte. J. McCrea. R. Lanc. R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (22239 Pte. J. McCrea. R. Lanc. R.)
- IGS 1908-35 Medal GV first type silver issue with clasp 'Malabar 1921-22' (394068 Tpr. J. McCrea. The Bays.)
- Defence Medal
- War Medals
- Jubilee Medal 1935. Indented (No. 394068 Tpr. J. McCrea The Queens Bays)
- Military LSGC. GV issue with 'Regular Army' bar (394068 Tpr. J. McCrea. The Bays.)
- Military Meritorious Service Medal. GVI second issue (394068 Sjt. J. McCrea. The Bays.)

Medals and clasp verification: All medals and clasps verified as entitled in the recipients service papers and per the below following referenced sources:

- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1417
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/1417
- IGS 1908-35 with Malabar clasp: WO 100/I21/487, the medal roll compiled and signed at Sialkot Cantonment, Punjab, British India, 08/09/2024
- Defence Medal: 3 Years Home Service confirmed per extant service record showing army service for duration of WW2 1939-1945
- War Medals: 28 Days uniformed service 1939-45 service papers confirming service for duration of WW2 1939-45
- Jubilee Medal 1935: Confirmed awarded per the 'King's Silver Jubilee 1935 Medal' roll wherein he is shown as Trooper 'The Bays'
- Military LSGC. GV issue with 'Regular Army' bar: Army Order 115 of 1935
- Military Meritorious Service Medal. GVI second issue: Published in Army Order of date 24 June 1953

M.S.M. awarded 24 June 1953.

James Alexander McCrea was born at Lisburn, Ireland on 13 July 1887 and was a labourer working at Andersontown, Belfast, upon his joining the Royal Lancaster Regiment on 28 February 1918. The medal rolls show that James served variously in France with the 11th, 8th and 1/4th Battalions of the Loyal North Lancaster Regiment, in France from 22 March 1917, and likely participated in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on 31 July 1917 when the unit attacked Wieltje. Later that year they also served in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge and at Cambrai before the year was out. They were in the First Defence of Givenchy in April 1918 and McCrea was demobilised in October 1919

He re-enlisted into the 6th Dragoon Guards in March 1920 and thereafter transferred to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays), serving with that unit in India from February 1921-January 1927. Just one Squadron of his unit was present in Malabar (Medal & clasp).

Made Lance-Corporal by March 1931 and awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1935, he went to the Cavalry Depot at Catterick in 1938. Posted to the 51st Training Regiment (Light Tanks) in September 1939, he served at home during the Second World War and was discharged in November 1953, having some 33 years and 222 days service to his name

Sold together with a large & heavy hard-copy set of recipients service papers

The medals sometime mounted for display, and now with soiled ribands

Condition: GVF

Code: 24338