NAM.2001-07-147-1-1

Army Temperance Association Medal, India, six months of abstinence, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 1889 (c). Cross urdee with an initial ‘C’ enclosing the numeral ‘6’, to denote a serviceman’s six month’s of abstention from alcohol. The arms of the cross bear the initials ‘A’, ‘T’, and ‘A’, for Army Temperance Association and the year ‘1889’. The medal has a suspension ring and a loop for ribbon suspension. This award is sometimes known as the ‘Crookshank Medal’ or ‘Crookshank Cross’, reflected in the inclusion of the letter ‘C’ in the design. The medal was originally linked to the illustrator George Cruickshank who produced caricatures relating to the theme of temperance but actually refers to Colonel Arthur Chichester William Crookshank who was President of the Soldiers' Total Abstinence Association. He died of wounds received during the Hazara Expedition on 24 October 1888. From a Temperance Medal group awarded to Maj F H Keeler, T.D and RSM. J Dray, M.S.M., The Buffs Regiment. From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum.