A Second War Period Memorial Cross to a Veteran of Three Wars

George VI (A-67774 PTE. A.F. CROSBY). Naming is officially engraved. Light contact, scattered surface wear, better than very fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, lightly soiled medal bed, case also better than very fine. Accompanied by his First and Second World War Index Cards, Attestation Papers, Service Records, Medical Records, Pay Records, Discharge Certificates and Statement of Service in the Canadian Armed Forces. Footnote: Arthur Francis "Frank" Crosby was born on January 16, 1881 (or 1882) in York, Yorkshire, England, the son of Matthew Crosby and Harriet Crosby. He attended Public School for seven years in England, achieving 5th Standard and left school at the age of 14 in 1896. He subsequently attended Horticultural Night School at the Backhouses in York, finishing in 1900. In all, he was employed as a Gardener from 1896 to 1916 and later immigrated to Canada. Although it is not acknowledged on his First and Second World War Attestation Paper, there is evidence that he served as a Private (2871) with the 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment during the Boer War and was entitled to both the Queen's South Africa and the King's South Africa medals. Crosby signed his CEF Attestation Paper as a Private (675991) with the 168th Infantry Battalion, on September 14, 1916, in Woodstock, Ontario, at the age of 35 (or 34, as there are two copies of his Attestation Paper on file with differing birth dates), naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mary Scott Crosby of Woodstock, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Fireman. He and hie wife had two children: Jesse Maud Crosby and David Young Crosby. The Battalion was raised in Oxford County, Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Woodstock under the authority of G.O. 151, December 2, 1915. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 1, 1916 aboard the S.S. Lapland, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.K. McMullen with a strength of 26 officers and 688 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 11th. Three weeks later, he was struck off strength to the 12th Reserve Battalion on December 5th, then transferred to the 4th Reserve Battalion on January 4, 1917. He was transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps on February 19th, then struck off strength of the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot on posting to its No. 2 District Headquarters in the French theatre, on September 12, 1917. Upon arrival in France, he was admitted to No. 39 General Hospital at Le Havre on September 12, 1917, and diagnosed "N.Y.D." (Not Yet Determined), which was later addended to "Mild Scabies". After four days treatment, he was discharged to No. 2 Rest Camp at Le Havre on the 16th and after recovering from his malady, joined No. 24 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps. By the Fall, he was posted to No. 2 District Headquarters, Canadian Forestry Corps on October 15, 1917. He was admitted to hospital onOctober 28th with an undisclosed illness and after one week, was discharged from hospital on November 4th, rejoining his unit, which was soon followed by a transfer to No. 34 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps on December 17, 1918, where he was promoted to Corporal the same day. Crosby returned to No. 24 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps on January 16, 1919 and was posted to No. 2 District Headquarters, Canadian Forestry Corps on January 29th. It was here during his medical examination that was conducted in February 1917, that it was noted that he had a history of asthma but there was "no evidence at present" that the asthma existed. He was soon posted to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park for return to Canada, embarking for home on March 15, 1919 aboard H.M.T. Royal George, arriving in Halifax on the 25th. Corporal Crosby was discharged upon demobilization on March 27, 1919, at No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario, credited with having served in Canada, Great Britain and France and entitled to wear the War Service Badge. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In between the World Wars, he was employed as a Gardener during the Summer months and employed with as a Machine Operator with Standard Tube in Woodstock, Ontario during the Winter months. Crosby served in Canada during the Second World War on the Home Front, signing his Attestation Paper with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (A-67774), on June 7, 1943, in Woodstock, Ontario, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Annie Crosbyof Hespeler, Ontario (as he had re-married between the wars), stating that he served during the First World War with the Canadian Forestry Corps from September 14, 1916 to March 27, 1919, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Gardener. His Attestation Paper stated his birth date as January 6, 1890, which would have made him 53 at the time of enlistment and not 61 or 62, as his CEF Attestation Paper birth dates would indicate. He was married to Annie Sill Crosby (nee Greenwood) and the couple had two sons: William Richard Crosby and Matthew Frank Crosby, both of which were in the Oxford Reserve. In his initial assessment report from the Department of National Defence Personnel Selection Board, it was noted that he was "A man of higher intelligence than the "M" score would indicate. Good conversationalist, stable and reliable. He has been enlisted with S-5 C.D. & M. School and should be a very useful man for that corps as the man in charge of gardens and grounds. He has been a gardener all his life." He was posted to No. 6 Special Employment "Duty" Platoon and assigned to S-5 Canadian Driving & Maintenance School. After thirty-two months' service, he was transferred to No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario, on February 16, 1946, in preparation for his discharge. It was noted that he had a "Physical Deformity" that made him suitable only for "light work", the examiner suggesting that he would be suitable as a "foreman in charge of groundsmen etc." Crosby was discharged upon demobilization "to return to civil life", on February 22, 1946 at No. 1 District Depot in London. He indicated that he would attempt to seek employment as a landscaper/gardener, as he had worked thirty-five years at Forestry and Landscape gardening and wished to work in the same field if his health would allow for it. For now, he would return to his former employment with Standard Tube, the examiner noting that that could happen "providing there is no heavy work involved in operating or feeding the machine over which he has control". Crosby was also encouraged to apply for a dual pension. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945, entitled to wear the War Service Badge. Crosby enjoyed boxing, personal hobbies and music (both vocal and instrumental). He was a member of the Woodstock Branch of the Canadian Legion and was known as "Bing" to his Legion comrades, along with playing in the Legion band. He regularly attended Church and sung in the Church choir, was a moderate drinker and a pipe smoker. While receiving treatment for General Carcinomatosis (Cancer) at Westminster Hospital in Woodstock, he died on December 8, 1947. He was buried in the Legion Plot, Grave 11 in the Anglican Cemetery in Woodstock, the grave unmarked. His Memorial Cross was forwarded to his wife, Annie, in June 1958, the government making a point that she receive the George VI version, and not the Elizabeth II version.