QSA (4 Clasps), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Army LS&GC Medal Group of Five – Sergeant Major J. Croxon, 3rd Hussars / 18th Hussars

A Boer war and first world war long service medal group of five awarded to Sergeant Major James Croxon, 3rd Hussars and 18th Hussars. 

Queen’s South Africa Medal (4 Clasps – Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902) named to 3664 Serjt: J. Croxon. 3rd Hussars. 
1914-15 Star named to 6273 Sjt. Mjr. J. Croxon, 18th. Hrs. 
British War Medal named to 6273 W.O.Cl.1. J. Croxon. 18-Hrs. 
WW1 Victory Medal named to 6273 W.O.Cl.1. J. Croxon. 18-Hrs. 
George V Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal named to 10882 Sq. S. Mjr: J. Croxon. 18/Hrs. 

The medals are in good condition. 

James Croxon was born on 16 August 1877 in Paddington, London and attested to the 3rd (The
King’s Own) Hussars on 24 February 1896. As was common for the era, he falsified his age,
claiming to be born on 24 February 1877.

Sailing for India with the regiment on 12 September 1898, Croxon was appointed Lance Corporal
28 August 1898, Corporal 29 January 1899, Lance Sergeant 18 January 1901, and Sergeant 24
February 1902. He received his 2nd class certificate of education on 20 September 1900 and
qualified as an assistant cavalry pioneer instructor on 11 November 1905. 

Croxon sailed with his regiment for South Africa on 23 December 1901 (a medical record reports
this as 13 December) and served during the last few months of the Boer War. While there, the 3rd
Hussars were engaged in numerous “drives” to capture enemy combatants still on the veld. For
this service, Croxon received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps. The medal roll
lists only three clasps but his service record additionally lists “1901”. At best, Croxon’s
qualification for this fourth clasp would have consisted of only a few days.

A 4 September 1902 medical board reported that Croxon was missing several teeth caused by
“hard biscuits” (!) and recommended that he be invalid home. Consequently, Croxon sailed for
England and transferred to the 18th (Princess of Wales’s Own) Hussars (retitled the 18th (Queen
Mary’s Own) Hussars in 1910) on 24 February 1903. While serving with the 18th, Croxon
became the regimental heavyweight boxing champion.

Croxon was promoted Squadron Sergeant Major on 11 November 1911 and was posted to the
Northern Cavalry Depot on 26 January 1914. Croxon was recommended for the Long Service
and Good Conduct Medal on 1 July 1914, this being published in Army Order 412 dated October
1914.

Croxon was still serving with the Northern Cavalry Depot at the outbreak of World War I,
remaining with them until the 18th Hussars’ RSM, Frederick William Meyer, was sent home after
completing 21 years of service. (Meyer was discharged in 1916.) Croxon sailed for France on 30
January 1915 and rejoined the 18th Hussars, being appointed their Acting Regimental Sergeant
Major on 1 February 1915. The regiment’s War Diary does not record replacements arriving in
late January, but does record 17 men arriving on 15 February, although none are mentioned by
name. As was common for the era, other ranks rarely are mentioned in the War Diary or
regimental history (The Memoirs of the 18th (Queen Mary’s Own) Royal Hussars, 1906 – 1922).
The few who were mentioned typically were those who received decorations. Croxon was
confirmed as the 18th Hussars Regimental Sergeant Major on 10 March 1915.

Although the frontline had stagnated by the time Croxon arrived, the 18th Hussars were involved
in several battles while unmounted during 1915, first serving in the trenches at Zillebeke on 28
February, suffering a total of 35 casualties during their few days at the front. Throughout 1915
and 1916, the 18th frequently were called up to support the French or British infantry, suffering
their heaviest casualties on 13 May 1915 while defending against a German shelling attack during
2nd Ypres with 21 killed, 109 wounded, and 24 missing. Most of these missing were declared as
killed in action after the war. This represented a significant loss for a regiment with an
establishment of 696 officers and men.

Croxon appears to have been a satisfactory RSM during this period; there is nothing in his record,
the regimental history, or the war diary to indicate otherwise. Still, having served more than 20
years with the colours, Croxon was past the time when soldiers typically retired. With the
regiment experiencing a quiet summer, Croxon was reduced in rank to Squadron Sergeant Major
on 27 June 1916, assigned to a reserve regiment, and sent home on 25 July 1916. (His
replacement was five years younger.) Croxon served at home with the No. 5 Cavalry Depot
before retiring on 19 February 1919.

Regiment: 3rd Hussars / 18th Hussars