Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare ‘Aro Expedition’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Colour Sergeant C. Crowley, Royal Munster Fusiliers, attached Southern Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (Clr-: Serjt: C. Crowley. S. Nigeria Regt.); Ashanti 1900 (Sgt. C. Crowley. W.A.F.F.) high relief bust; Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Aro 1901-1902, S. Nigeria 1902-03 (Clr-:Serjt: C. Crowley. S. Nigeria Regt.); Coronation 1902, bronze, the three named medals officially impressed, together with a Royal Munster Fusiliers cap badge, heavy contact marks, therefore nearly very fine (4) £4,000-£6,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Warwick Cary.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 12 September 1902:
‘In recognition of gallant conduct during the Aro Expedition’.

7 D.C.M.s awarded for the Aro Expedition - 4 to British N.C.O.s and 3 to Native Officers.

Cornelius Crowley was born in 1869 in County Cork, Ireland. Stating himself to be a labourer and already belonging to the 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifles, he attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Tralee on 19 August 1887. Promoted Sergeant on 8 September 1893, he re-engaged for the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Dum-Dum on the 25 August 1897 for such term as shall complete 21 years service.

Crowley was selected for service with the Ashanti Field Force on 5 September 1900 and was posted to join the West Africa Frontier Force (Medal). Next attached to the Southern Nigeria Regiment, W.A.F.F., he served in 1901-02 in Southern Nigeria, with the Aro Expedition, in No. 3 Column under the command of Major W. C. G. Heneker, Connaught Rangers.

The Aro Expedition
A report on the operations of the Aro Field Force is given in the despatch of Commissioner R. Moor, published in the London Gazette of 12 September 1902, starting with with its goals:
‘The objects of the expedition were:
a) To abolish the slave trade which was actively carried on throughout the entire territories belonging to, and dominated by the Aro tribe.
b) To abolish the fetish of the Aros known as “Long Juju,” which, by superstition and fraud caused many evils amongst the Ibo tribes generally, and to all the outlying tribes of the entire protectorate, who continually appealed to it. While this Juju existed it was impossible to establish effective government in the territories.
c) To open up the whole of the Ibo country lying between the Cross River and the Niger to civilisation and trade of collecting the natural products of their country and developing it to the best advantage.
d) To introduce a currency in lieu of slaves, brass rods, and other forms of native currency that existed in the territories, and which from their nature and cumbersomeness were opposed to advance in any direction.
e) Finally, to establish throughout the territories a labour market to take the place of slavery.
A few days before the operations commenced a most deplorable massacre of some 400 men, women and children, mostly women and children, was carried out in the hinterland of the Opobo district, at a town called Obegu. The Aros had long threatened to attack the tribes friendly to the government, and though the people of Obegu had been warned to keep careful watch, they were unfortunately caught napping by a conglomerate force of the various sections of the Aro tribe, together with other Ibos unfriendly to them, and their town was destroyed with the slaughter of the people above mentioned. This gave another object and duty to the Field Force, viz., that of capturing and bringing to justice the natives responsible for this bloodthirsty massacre, in the carrying out of which one section of the Aro tribe alone, the Abams, who were great head hunters, are reported to have obtained 200 heads.
I am able to state with certainty that the objects of the expedition detailed in paragraph 2 of this despatch have been effectively carried out in so far as could be done by military operations. The slave trade has been abolished, the evil fetish of the Aro tribe has been broken, the entire colony has been opened up, and the natives are already beginning to engage in legitimate trade in place of the traffic in human beings, and a currency of British coinage has been introduced which the natives are now gladly accepting in lieu of slaves, brass rods, manillas etc.’

Crowley was slightly wounded during the Aro Expedition, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and was Mentioned in Despatches. (Medal and clasp). An enclosure within Commissioner Moor’s Aro despatch, given by Lieutenant-Colonel A. F. Montanaro, providing more of the military particulars of the expedition, brings to notice Crowley’s endeavours during the expedition: ‘Colour Sergeant C. Crowley, Infantry Battalion, Southern Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force. Did general excellent work.’

Following the Aro Expedition, Crowley saw further active service in Southern Nigeria 1902-03 in assorted punitive operations against local tribesmen which took place again under the command of Colonels Heneker and Montanaro. (clasp) Completing his service in West Africa, he returned to the Royal Munster Fusiliers Regimental Depot on 20 August 1903, serving with the 2nd and 5th Battalions until discharged on 25 June 1906.

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