Charlie Crane received this temperance medal for three years of army service without drinking or smoking. A clasp added to these medals shows that a soldier completed an extra year without drinking. The Fidelity clasp usually attaches to the one-year medal, not this three-year award. We think it means Charlie stayed sober for four years.
Alcohol and the Army
The British Army did not give Charlie this temperance medal. Soldiers often received a daily alcohol ration before they went into battle. In the First World War, most British soldiers received cigarettes and tobacco as a gift from Princess Mary. The army knew cigarettes and alcohol kept up troops’ morale.
At the same time, drunk soldiers often caused problems. The army punished any soldier for drinking too much. A soldier could be demoted or lose pay. Officers also started looking for ways to stop soldiers from overdoing it. In the 19th century, officers created groups to encourage soldiers not to drink, called temperance societies.
Temperance Societies
Charlie belonged to the Royal Soldier’s Total Abstinence Association. British army officers in India founded the society in 1862. In 1867 the association started issuing medals like this one to soldiers. They also encouraged soldiers to play sport and try more ‘wholesome’ activities.
This token is the equivalent of an Alcoholics Anonymous coin today. The Royal Hampshire Regiment, one of the PWRR’s forebears, has a curious link to the founding of the AA.
We’re not sure when Charlie received this medal. He joined the army in 1908 as a drummer boy and left in 1933. In his discharge notes, his commanding officer writes that he is ‘sober’. Perhaps he stopped drinking towards the end of his army career.
