A First War Canadian Meritorious Service Medal Grouping

MSM First World War Group of Three, Regimental Sergeant-Major Warrant Officer 1st Class William F. Crowley, Corps Signal Company, Canadian Engineers British War Medal (500110 W.O. CL. 1. W.F. CROWLEY C.E.); Victory Medal (500110 W.O. CL. 1. W.F. CROWLEY C.E.); and Army Meritorious Service Medal, George V (500110 R.S. Mjr W.F. CROWLEY. CAN:E.). Naming is officially impressed. Unmounted, original ribbons, edge nicks on the BWM, scattered gilt wear on the VM, light contact, better than very fine. Footnote: William Francis Crowley was born on March 29, 1883 (as stated on his Attestation Paper, possibly March 29, 1877 according to another source), in Peterborough, Ontario, the son of David L. Crowley and Mark Crowley (nee Kenneally). He signed his Attestation Paper as a Sapper (500110), on June 9, 1915, in Calgary, Alberta, at the age of 32 (or 38, or 35 as notated on the reverse of the Attestation Paper), naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Mary Crowley of Peterborough, stating that he was in an Active Militia, that he had six years' previous service with the 57th Regiment, Peterborough Rangers and had served as a Sergeant in the 103rd Regiment, Calgary Rifles, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Electric Telephone Operator. His military service pay initially went to his mother, Mrs. Mary Crowley of Peterborough, which was later changed to Miss Agnes Crowley, also of Peterborough. Crowley sailed from Montreal, Quebec aboard the S.S. Hesperian on August 17, 1915, arriving in England shortly thereafter. He was appointed Lance Corporal on September 15, 1915, Acting Corporal on October 7, 1915 and Acting Sergeant on April 15, 1916. Crowley was posted to the Canadian Signal Depot, when he received his orders to proceed overseas to France with the Canadian Corps Signal Company, on April 24, 1916, arriving in the French theatre the next day. He was transferred to Headquarters and appointed Acting Colour Sergeant-Major on March 10, 1917, then promoted to Regimental Sergeant-Major Warrant Officer 1st Class, on June 1, 1917. Crowley was admitted to No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance on October 12, 1917 with a case of "Dermatitis" and after four days treatment, was discharged to duty on the 16th. Regimental Sergeant-Major William Francis Crowley, Corps Signal Company, Canadian Engineers was Mentioned in Despatches, the announcement appearing in the London Gazette of December 31, 1918. He proceeded to England on May 11, 1919 and was posted to "R" Wing at the Canadian Concentration Camp, for return to Canada. It was while he was posted to "R" Wing that Regimental Sergeant-Major William Francis Crowley, Corps Signal Company, Canadian Engineers was awarded the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the announcement appearing in the Fifth Supplement to the London Gazette 31370 of Friday, May 30, 1919, on Tuesday, June 3, 1919, page 6913. He embarked for Canada on June 6, 1919, from Southampton, England aboard His Majesty's Transport Olympic, arriving in Halifax on the 13th. Crowley was discharged upon demobilization at Dispersal Station "B", Military District No. 6 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 21, 1919. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 325652. He died on October 17, 1946, at the age of 63 (or 69) and is buried in Burnsland Cemetery in Calgary, Section G, Block 10, Lot 16.