The Topley family: From firing at German Stukas to firing fast balls at Lord's
England bowler Reece Topley not only has a rich cricketing heritage but a family history of extraordinary military service too.
His grandfather Chief Petty Officer Thomas Aland Topley is quite the legend. Believed to be one of only five people awarded three Distinguished Service Medals, he received his second bar at Buckingham Palace on 13 May 1943.
His son Don Topley - Reece's father and himself an England professional - is proud that today his father's story is being told at Lord's Cricket Ground.
The exhibition on display this summer in the Pavilion celebrating CPO Topley's extraordinary Royal Navy career - and his love of cricket.
The exhibition marks 80 years since VE Day and VJ Day, and 85 years since the Battle of Dunkirk, where CPO Topley's brave actions led to him being awarded his second DSM.
Mr Topley said: "He was part of the beach party.
"I mean, it just defies trying to understand what he saw, what he did, how brave."
The London Gazette citation reads: "The King has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following reward for good services in the withdrawal of the Allied Armies from the beaches at Dunkirk."
Back to where they belong
For every generation born during and after the Second World War, it's common for someone in the family to have their grandparents' medals either on display, kept somewhere safe or, as in the case of Mr Topley, elsewhere in the world after being sold at auction when he was a teenager.
He said he never expected to see them again.
Until several decades later when Mr Topley posted a tweet paying tribute to his father, saying: "Thinking of you, dad. CPO Thomas Aland Topley RN DSM R2"
This simple action set off a domino effect that led to an incredibly emotional discovery.
His friend Andy McGarry, former Essex and Suffolk cricketer turned military medal auctioneer, was shocked by Mr Topley's tweet, almost to the point of disbelief.
Mr Topley said: "[Andy] contacted me and said 'Toppers, what do you mean DSM bar two?'.
"And I sensed he actually was sort of questioning me, [like] am I telling a porky pie?"
But after some research Mr McGarry conceded his friend wasn't fibbing, but it took another five years for the story to ramp up significantly.
In January 2025, a vast collection of more than 550 medals went up for auction from the collection of the late Jason Pilalas, a US Navy officer with a distinguished military career, turned multi-millionaire.
Among them was CPO Topley's medals, including the three DSMs and after a successful bid at auction the medals were back with the family at long last.
Mr Topley said: "It's wonderful we've got them back, but when we were bidding I didn't expect for us to have the chance to have them because I thought other people would be interested.
"I've got to give a lot of credit to my brother because he started doing a family tree."
"I think he did something naughty"
CPO Topley was a gunnery officer who served on several ships, such as HMS Ramillies, HMS Enterprise, HMS Valiant, HMS Cardiff, HMS Dido and HMS Persevere.
Like many Second World War veterans, the former senior non-commissioned officer lied about his age to join up in 1924, inspired by all who had served their country during the First World War.
Mr Topley said: "Dad joined very early at 15... and I think he did something naughty.
"He might have forged the documents to get in at his age and he was definitely keen to do it."
Before leaving the Royal Navy in 1949, after 25 years of service, CPO Topley saw action that led him to receive the Distinguished Service Medal three times, the second being during the evacuation at Dunkirk.
He was awarded his first Distinguished Service Medal for his brave actions during the Sino-Japanese Conflict on 6 September 1938.
On that day, he rescued refugees during an attack by the Japanese on HMS Sandpiper, a Royal Navy river gunboat stationed on the Yangtze River.
His third DSM was gained during the Second Battle of the Sirte in March 1942 for "gallantry, skill and seamanship in HMS Dido, in a brilliant action against strong enemy forces, which were driven off and severely damaged".
During the action on HMS Dido, CPO Topley proved himself yet again to be someone who faced the enemy head-on at the risk of his own life.
Mr Topley said: "He didn't miss a round firing at the Stukas.
"And turret A or turret B... had a direct hit, so dad, when there was opportunity, went to the other turret that had been hit to try and save people, and then the planes would come round and he would go back as quickly as possible."
The emotional bond forged during chaos
In May 1941, CPO Topley played a part in saving the life of Lord Louis Mountbatten who was a second cousin of King George VI, maternal uncle of the Duke of Edinburgh and would one become Chief of the Defence Staff.
Mr Topley said: "Lord Louis Mountbatten eventually commanded his own ship, HMS Kelly, and unfortunately it was sunk... with half the crew, and dad was on hand to help Mountbatten out of the water when HMS Kelly was sunk."
Once again, proving his bravery in the face of devastating loss and chaos.
Decades later, Mr Topley discovered just how much his father's time with the Royal meant to him, saying: "I only saw my father cry once and I'm not suggesting he was hard-nosed."
The Topley family were watching Grandstand together on the BBC when the programme was interrupted with the news that Lord Louis Mountbatten had been murdered near the fishing village of Mullaghmore in the Irish Republic.
This news moved CPO Topley to tears.
Mr Topley said: "I'm led to believe, if you served with Lord Louis Mountbatten, he was a magnificent sailor, commander of a ship, he treated his crew particularly well."
A legacy enshrined in history
The late CPO Topley was a man of honour who served his country with courage and was recognised as such.
His family, who now have their own careers to be proud of, look back at his accomplishments with pride and awe.
Nearly 35 years after his death in August 1990, CPO Topley's legacy lives on and now Lord's is paying its respects to him – the father and grandfather of men whose shared passion for cricket has helped them forge their own successful careers.
But, as Mr Topley says: "Reece plays in World Cups in India in front of 130,000 people.
"Of course that's pressure, [but it] might be a little bit different with a Stuka [dive] bomber coming at you."
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