James McIntosh (1887-1921)

Royal Dublin Fusiliers and Irish Republican Army

In June 1921, less than one month before the Irish War of Independence Truce came into effect, Dún Laoghaire was the scene of a shooting which resulted in the death of an IRA man, heartache for his fiancée and the subsequent naming of a housing estate in Kill of the Grange, Dún Laoghaire. At that time, the Royal Marine Hotel, on Gresham Terrace off Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire was a regular haunt for the British Military and Auxiliaries.

On Sunday evening the 19^th June 1921, at about 9.45pm, a group of men raided the hotel in search of a Commander Gregory, a District Inspector with the Royal Irish Constabulary who apparently was staying in Room 62 on an upstairs floor.

Two members of the military, having finished dinner were getting their coats and hats in the hall before leaving the hotel, when confronted by one of the raiders who had remained in the hall. James McIntosh, a member of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA, holding a Colt automatic pistol in his hand ordered the men to ‘put your bloody hands up’. They responded by drawing their pistols and firing a total of three shots, hitting McIntosh, who in turn fired two shots and then staggered out of the hotel.

On hearing the shots from the hall below, the men upstairs searching for Commander Gregory fled the scene. McIntosh made his way on to Marine Road where he collapsed. A crowd gathered around him, some of which helped to carry him to the nearby St. Michael’s Hospital.

On admission to St. Michael’s Hospital, Dr. P. Walshe, the House Surgeon, examined McIntosh and found that one gunshot wound was in the right breast, passing through the right lung and coming out from the right side, another through the right arm and the third through the right side of the abdomen passing through the kidney and bowel, emerging from the back near the spine. McIntosh refused to be operated on and died at 12.45pm on Wednesday the 22^nd of June of General Peritonitis. He was 34 years old.

James McIntosh was born to Edward and Mary McIntosh, in Maryborough (now Portlaoise), County Laois on the 26^th of February 1887. By his mid 20s he was employed as a butcher in Dún Laoghaire where he also lodged with Michael and Kate Keogh at 53 Patrick Street.In September 1914 he joined the British Army where he served with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers attaining the rank of Lance Sergeant. He served in France and his service medals include the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His specialist military qualification was Musketry and Drill Instruction. During his service he suffered from bronchitis, gas poisoning and an injury to his eyelid and nose. He was discharged from the army to the reserves in February 1920 with an army pension.

Two days following the death of James McIntosh, a Military Court of Inquiry was held in St. Michael’s Hospital. There were no legal representatives or members of the public present and the press were refused admission. Dr. P. Walsh was among the nine witnesses who gave evidence which also included Edward McIntosh, who identified the body as that of his son James, confirming that his son lived at 53 Patrick Street and was employed in Dún Laoghaire as a butcher. Another witness was Katie Mooney, the fiancée of James McIntosh. She was born Catherine, to Laurence and Ellen Mooney of 20 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire. She was also known as Kitty. In her evidence to the inquiry she stated that she was with James in Dún Laoghaire from 8pm that evening. He left her on Marine Road intending to rejoin her shortly after. She walked on slowly to her home. She did not see him again until she was told of the shooting soon after and then went to the hospital accompanied by a police constable. Katie also informed the inquiry that she and James were to be married six weeks later. Having considered all the evidence, the court concluded that James McIntosh died from General Peritonitis following gunshot wounds inflicted by two of the witnesses, in self defence, - being Justifiable Homicide.

On the 26^th June, his funeral started from St. Michael’s Hospital headed by a corps of cyclists and members of Cumann na mBan, bearing wreaths. The chief mourners were James’s parents, Edward and Mary, his brothers George and Edward, his sisters, Emily, Bessie, Cissie, Alice, Mrs. Bridget Brennan and her husband Richard Brennan. His fiancée, Kitty was accompanied by her father, Laurence Mooney and Patrick Mooney.

The cortege of several hundred traversed the streets of the town. On coming down Mulgrave Street to Georges Street it was met by a sizeable number of auxiliaries in the vicinity of St. Michael’s church. An Auxiliary officer approached and removed the tri-colour flag from the coffin. During the disturbance that ensued, a shop window was smashed and the flag was retrieved by a number of women.

When the procession resumed it proceeded to Deansgrange Cemetery via Temple Hill, Blackrock. It was followed by the Auxiliaries who searched a number of young men along the way, arresting at least five, including Dr. Walshe of St. Michael’s Hospital. However, on arrival at the cemetery the Auxiliaries did not proceed beyond the gates. In the presence of several thousand people at the cemetery, the tri-colour draped coffin was carried between a guard of honour to the cemetery chapel where prayers were recited. It was then lowered in its final resting place in the Republican plot and a three volley salute was fired over the grave. Final prayers were said by a number of clergymen including, the Right Rev. Monsignor Murphy of Maryborough, County Laois; Rev. J. Coyle Parish Priest of Leighlinbridge, County Carlow; Rev. P. O’Byrne C.C., Rev. Louis Potter C.C., Rev. John Cahill C.C. and Rev. John Marnane, all of Dún Laoghaire; Rev. V. Steen and Rev. Fr. Power, Chaplain to the cemetery. After the grave was closed Councillor Sean O’hUadhaigh delivered a short address.

 

The Republican Plot Roll of Honour, Deansgrange Cemetery,

on which James McIntosh’s name is inscribed.

On July 5th, at the monthly meeting of the Urban District Council of Dún Laoghaire, a vote of condolence: ‘That this council beg to convey their sincere sympathy to the family of the late Lieutenant James McIntosh of the 6th Battalion of the Dublin Brigade of the I.R.A., and to place on record their admiration of his heroic virtues and soldierly death’, was proposed by Councillor Sean O’hUadhaigh and seconded Councillor P.J. O’Hanlon. It was declared carried with the members of the council and officer’s present, rising in their places.

Four days later the terms of the truce were signed, coming into effect on the 11th July 1921.

Around the time of the death of James McIntosh, some of his comrades composed an eight verse poem, which was sang to the melody of ‘The Felons of our Land’, the following are the first, sixth, seventh and eighth verses:

 

Fond memories linger o’er the past, a friend we loved has died,

A hero and a comrade true, we speak his name with pride,

James McIntosh he gave his life to free his native shore,

God grant him peace his comrades pray, they now can do no more.

 

T’was on the 22^nd June, this Irish hero died,

His mother brave and reconciled was standing by his side,

She came from Portlaoighise in Laois and proud that place should be,

As we are proud of McIntosh in Dún Laoghaire by the sea.

 

We buried him, his company paraded on that day,

O’er fifty wreaths were carried by his comrades all the way,

Though Black and Tans opened the hearse and tried to seize our flag

from women brave our tricolour the British failed to drag.

 

We carried out the funeral, in spite of black and tan,

with military honours too for this great Irishman,

The firing party and last post and colours proved to all,

that Ireland honours McIntosh who answered Ireland’s Call.

Eighteen months after his death, in a letter to the Minister for Home Affairs (Kevin O’Higgins) dated 14^th December 1922, Kitty Mooney sought an allowance from the Irish Free State in consideration of James’s death.

She explained that in preparation for their marriage which was due to take place in the first week of ­­August 1921, she had given up her job at Messrs. Galligan and Son, Caterers and Confectioners, of 115 Georges Street Upper, Dún Laoghaire, where she earned 20 shillings a week.

She had also incurred expenses of ₤40.00 for clothes etc. Her application was turned down by the Minister of Finance (William T. Cosgrave) who expressed regret that her case was not one in which a claim could be entertained. An application was also made three times by her to the White Cross, but again, to no avail.

The opening lines of Kitty Mooneys claim for an allowance

The founding of the Fianna Fail party five years after the death of James McIntosh saw the subsequent honouring of him, when the local Fianna Fail Cumann in his home town was established and named the ‘James McIntosh Cumann’ in memory of their fallen patriot.

In the early 1960s, Dublin County Council was identifying land for the purpose of building houses for the working classes. Kitty Mooney was the owner of an area of land off Pottery Road in the townland of Kill of the Grange about 4 kilometres from Dún Laoghaire. On the 31^st of December 1963 she signed an agreement for the sale of her land to Dublin County Council for the sum of ₤17,500 (€22,220).

Building Contractors, Hannon Brothers Ltd., of Fairview, Dublin commenced the building of the 110 two storey houses and eight flats in 1967, for the agreed sum of ₤271,515.9s.8d (€344,752). In 1968, the first council tenants moved into their new homes in the estate, which was duly named ‘McIntosh Park’.

Kitty Mooney never married, she was living at 18 Clarinda Park East, Dún Laoghaire, when she died in October 1983 at the age of 93 years, in St. Michael’s Hospital, 62 years after the death of her beloved James. She is buried in St. Patrick’s section of Deansgrange Cemetery in Dublin.

Many thanks for the time, assistance and material received from:

Paul Baillie, Research at KEW London; Bridget McCormack and Mary White, Laois County Library; Colm McQuinn and Charles Fitzsimons, Fingal County Archives; Tim Carey, Heritage Officer, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; Wynn Brennan, John Ireland and Councillor Jerry Lodge, Portlaoise; Maeve Melon, Liam Dodd and Conor Dodd, Dún Laoghaire. Mary Murphy (nee Lodge), Swords, Co. Dublin; The staff of the Property Registration Authority, Dún Laoghaire Central Library; and Dublin City Library and Archive.

 

This article was first published as ‘James McIntosh and the Naming of McIntosh Park’ in the Dún Laoghaire Journal, No. 23 (2014)

The 5 December 1915 Visit to Bray Co. Wicklow by Lt. Michael O’Leary, V.C.

On Sunday 5 December 1915 a visitor to the townof Bray, Co. Wicklow, for a massive recruiting drive was Lt. Michael O’Leary, V.C., born in Inchigeela, Macroom, Co. Cork, in 1888, who, as a Lance-Corporal with the Irish Guards, was awarded the Victoria Cross for heroism at Cruinchy, south of Bethune on the La Bassée canal on 1 February that year for his role in recapturing trenches lost the previous day during which he prevented the Germans deploying a machine gun against the attacking troops, killing five Germans manning a barricade which blocked his advance, then shooting three members of the machine gun crew including the officer in charge, after which the remaining two surrendered to him. Promoted immediately to the rank of sergeant, he was later commissioned into the Connaught Rangers and ended the war with the rank of major. During the Second World War he served with the Middlesex Regiment and the Army Pioneer Corps – he died in London on 2 August 1961 and was buried in Mill Hill Cemetery, London.

The Bray recruiting meeting took place on the Esplanade with the balcony of the Royal Marine Station Hotel [The Ocean Grill & Bar now occupies this site] being used as the speaker’s platform. The first speaker was Mr. James M. Magee, J.P., Chairman of the Bray Urban District Council, who in his speech reminded everyone that it would great a disaster for Ireland if the Germans won the war. He also urged that all the Irish regiments should be filled with Irishmen and not by people from others parts of the [United] Kingdom. He concluded by urging all those of military age to join Irish regiments.

He was followed by Mr. Martin Langton, J.P., and Judge Breeton Barry who made stirring speeches and whose comments were greeted with the same great applause that had greeted Mr. Magee’s speech.

Star speaker was Lt. Michael O’Leary, V.C., whose entry on the speaker’s platform was heralded with a trumpet fanfare after which he then proceeded to make the following patriotic speech:-

“I do not like to be made a fuss of as I only did my duty as a soldier should do. I am proud of the honour of giving such services to my King and his country. I have come down to Bray to appeal to the young men of military to come forward and help in this great struggle. I see hundreds of men before be this afternoon who should have on the uniform that I am wearing. If the Germans landed in Bray they would carry out the same outrages that they had committed in France and Belgium. I have come back after spending fourteen months in the trenches and I appeal to the ladies to make the men come forward and don the khaki. There are thousands of young men in Ireland measuring out tape and calico in shops. Is that men’s work? It is ladies’ work and they should be boycotted. I appeal to you to join Irish regiments to you. In my new regiment, the Connaught Rangers, we have nine hundred Englishmen, and if we have to get other nationalities to fill these gaps in our regiments it will be a great shame. We do not want Englishmen, Scotsmen, or Welshmen to fill up the gaps in Irish regiments. We want Irishmen and Irishmen only. I see in front of me, my friend, Father O’Doherty, and I appeal to him to come forward and say a few words to the young men of Wicklow. Since I came back from the trenches I have been all over Connaught and various parts of Ireland, and I am told that there is an undercurrent in the country keeping young men back from joining up and defending their country. I appeal to you to come forward and join and appeal to the ladies not to walk with a man in civilian clothes   but to go with one who is in khaki as it up to the ladies to send the men forward to defend them from a German invasion.”

Rev. Fr. William Doherty, C.C., Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, then addressed the crowd:-

“One of the warmest personal friends of mine in this world is Lieutenant Michael O’Leary who has imposed on him the very difficult task of speaking at a public meeting. This is the first time in my life that I had ever addressed a public meeting except from the pulpit. Now, why am I here? I am sure that there are some Sinn Féiners in this assembly. They might ask me why I was not disgracing my collar, his cloth, or my Nationality by addressing a recruiting meeting. I am here to principally ask you to be true to your Church, to your Nationality, to your military traditions, and to come forward like men, put on the khaki, and go out and kill the savage Hun. I do not wish to see the German people crushed. We have no fight with the German people, but we wish to crush German militarism. What was the history of County Wicklow of ’98 when they were under the heel of British militarism that was as bad as the oppression of Prussian militarism? No one fought so well as the men of County Wicklow. I was in Newtountmountkennedy [Co.Wicklow] recently and was told by the priest there that there was not a boy to be had, for love or money, to do agricultural work. If a considerable number of men come forward from Bray, I will go with them to the front. I do not care as a Catholic priest whether I am killed or not but I will stand with them in the trenches, under shrapnel and shell fire and will die if necessary like Father Finn or Father Gwynn. This is not an idle boast. I am a Home Ruler; I am a Nationalist; I am an Irish Catholic priest, and God of Heaven knows that I will not mislead you for the world. What I am asking you to do is true. It behoves all of you to don the khaki and join the armies of England to do your bit as Michael O’Leary has done.”

Speeches were also made by Mr. O’Loughlin, Lieutenant Tredennick, Lieutenant Muirhead, Corporal Flood, South African Heavy Artillery, and Pte. Frere.

Bands which participated in the recruiting parade included the Pipers’ Band of the Dublin University O.T.C., the Pipers’ and Bugle Bands of the Royal College of Surgeons, and the Band of the 6^th Reserve of Cavalry.

Sources
The Bray & South Dublin Herald - Saturday 11 December 1915.

The Wicklow Newsletter - Saturday 11 December 1915.

The Wicklow People - Saturday 11 December 1915.

IRISH AND INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES BADGES

1958 - 2017 

This article describes and illustrates the badges of the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, 1958 – 2017. Pelerinage Militaire International, (PMI). Members of the Irish Defence Forces have participated in all of the annual international military pilgrimages since 1958. Retired members of the Defence Forces and civilians participate in the pilgrimage and these also wear the badges. The PMI badges are worn by all military personnel from all nations on their uniforms and only while in Lourdes. They are generally French made and of very good quality. In addition to the PMI badges, over the years unique Irish badges have been worn, these are also illustrated.

Between 1944 and 1957 various military groups from France and abroad came with their chaplains to Lourdes on pilgrimage. The first Irish military pilgrimage was in 1954. 1958 was the centenary year of the apparitions at the grotto in Lourdes. That year approximately 40,000 military personnel from eleven nations, including Ireland, came on pilgrimage to Lourdes from the 14 to 16 June. Nations that had been at war with each other only a few years previously came together to pray for reconciliation and peace.

 Taken from the ‘Irish Defence Forces in Lourdes’, printed by the Defence Forces Printing Press.

For the last several years during the month of May, two groups from the Defence Forces travel to Lourdes. The main body fly direct from Dublin and this includes the Army chaplains including the head chaplain, the cadets, a composite pipe band, members and retired members of the Defence forces and civilians and a large group of Civil Defence personnel from around the country. In addition, an overland group depart from Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork under the direction of the naval chaplain. This group travel via Rosslare, Cherbourg and various routes through Paris to Lourdes.

The pilgrimage begins on the Friday afternoon with a very colourful opening ceremony. This includes parades from approximately forty plus nations involving their military personnel, military bands and their flag bearing parties. There are lots of both national and international parades during the three days and also plenty of down time. The pilgrimage concludes on the Sunday afternoon with the Au Revoir ceremony, this is quite similar to the opening ceremony, lots of pomp and ceremony. I have found that participating in the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes is a most enjoyable experience.

In addition to the international badges, all those participating on the Irish Military pilgrimages have worn unique Irish badges over the years.

·         IRL1, a pocket fob type badge, was worn during 1994, 1995 and 1996.

·         IRL2 was worn on approximately three occasions before 2008 and three years after. It has not been issued for wear since 2011

·         IRL3 was produced for the 2008 pilgrimage only. This was a special occasion as it celebrated the centenary of the Lourdes apparitions and the fiftieth anniversary of the International Military Pilgrimage.

·         IRL4 was only worn by members of the Irish Defence Forces Pipe Band in 2011.

·         Doctor. This is only worn by doctors in Lourdes therefore during the military pilgrimage is worn by all military doctors

1958	1959	1960
1961	1962	1963
1964	1965	1966

 

1967	1968	1969
1970	1971	1972
15thPMI, 1973	1974	1975

 

1976	1977	20th PMI, 1978
1979	1980	1981
1982	25th PMI, 1983	1984

 

27th PMI, 1985	28th PMI, 1986	29th PMI, 1987
30th PMI, 1988	31st PMI, 1989	32nd PMI, 1990
33rd PMI, 1991	34th PMI, 1992	35th PMI, 1993

 

36th PMI, 1994	37th PMI, 1995	38th PMI, 1996
39th PMI, 1997	40th PMI, 1998	41st PMI, 1999
42nd PMI, 2000	43rd PMI, 2001	44th PMI, 2002

 

45th PMI, 2003	46th PMI, 2004	47th PMI, 2005
48th PMI, 2006	49th PMI, 2007	50th PMI, 2008
51st PMI, 2009	52nd PMI, 2010	53rd PMI, 2011

 

54th PMI, 2012	55th PMI, 2013	56th PMI, 2014
57th PMI, 2015	58th PMI, 2016	59th PMI, 2017

 

 

WANTED, International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes (PMI) badges for the following years, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1968, as per those illustrated in my this article. I will purchase or trade for same. I have some spare PMI badges. Please contact me for details. Tom O'Neill, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Postal address, St. Athan, College View, Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. 

IRL1	IRL2	IRL3
IRL4	Doctor

.

Acknowledgment:

I wish to thank my good friend and fellow MSOI member Mr Joe McDonnell for his assistance in clarifying the early badges. 

Family of Congo Military Casualty Invited to Visit Site of his Death

On Thursday September 15th 2011 during ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Trooper Patrick Mullins while on U.N. service in the Congo, the Government indicated that it is prepared to provide assistance to the family of Trooper Patrick Mullins, who was killed in the Congo in September 1961, and still officially recorded as “missing in action” to visit the location where it is believed that he met his death. Trooper Mullins, from Kilbehenny, Co. Limerick, was 18 when he left on United Nations service in the Congo in June 1961, as a member of the Armoured Car Group, 35th Bn ONUC. In September 1961 the armoured car, in which he was member of, was ambushed while on patrol in Elizabethville but his body was never recovered and currently Trooper Mullins remains one of Ireland’s two soldiers still classified as “missing in action”  

 

At the commemorative Mass in St. Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Co. Limerick, to mark the 50^th anniversary of his death, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, said that considerable research into the circumstances surrounding the death of Trooper Mullin’s death and the non-recovery of his body had been carried out by a Defence Forces research team from September 2006 to August 2009 and that it was regrettable that despite these exhaustive efforts, his body had never been located. He further stated that he was aware that members of Trooper Mullin’s family would welcome an opportunity to travel to Lubumbashi, formerly Elizabethville, to visit the location where Trooper Mullins died. He went on to state that the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces would be pleased to facilitate such a visit subject to the agreement of the United Nations and the prevailing conditions in the Congo at that time.

 

Family member of Trooper Mullins present at the Mass and the following unveiling of a limestone memorial to Trooper Mullins, dedicated by the Head Chaplain Monsignor Eoin Thynne, and commissioned by the Irish Defence Forces, included his bothers Patrick Mullins, Thomas Mullins, and sisters Mary Kent, Margaret Dwane and Nelly Kelly. According to Mary Kent, the day was “both a sad and happy occasion” and while all family members welcomed the unveiling of the memorial to their brother, they indicated that the fact that his body had never been recovered made his death more difficult to accept. “It’s been a long time since he died but its not final because we never knew where his body was and this makes it much harder” said Thomas Mullins. Denis Mullins said that he had fond memories of his youngest brother who loved sport, particularly football and hurling. For him it was “ a day of celebration as well as a day of sadness” and said that “it was of great comfort to his family to meet so many of his colleagues from the Defence Forces at the Mass and unveiling ceremony.”

 

Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lt. General Seán McCann accompanied Minister Shatter to the Mass and unveiling ceremony. Paying tribute to Trooper Mullins, Lt. General McCann said “Trooper Mullins made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace on what was our first armed peacekeeping mission abroad. Tragically his remains were never recovered despite exhaustive inquiries and it’s very fitting that we commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death and dedicate this monument to our fallen comrade.”  

 

Trooper Mullins was posthumously awarded the Defence Forces Military Star, the Defence Forces Peacekeepers Medal, the UN Medal (Congo) and the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold medal.

 

Military honours were rendered by a firing party. Trooper Mullin’s former colleagues and retired and serving members of the Defence Forces were amongst those in attendance. 

Obituary - Major Sean Murphy

It was sad to hear of the death of Major Sean Murphy who died on the 3^rd November last. He was not a member of the Medal Society but attended a number of functions in the Waterford/Wexford area and a nicer gentleman you could not meet.

He was born in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim on the 6^th June, 1932 and after joining the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers worked his way up through the ranks.

Our sympathy to his family. 

William John Allen. (Captain Willie)

World War I - "Untold Stories"

By Jessica Kelly Downey

100 years ago and for another 100 years before that, Richmond Barracks, was a British military barracks. Thousands of soldiers came through it on their way to fight in WW1. The year 2018, marked 100 years since the end of World War 1 (11th Nov 1918). Many stories are told of the terrifyingly huge numbers of men that never came home, but I wish to focus on one that survived, one that I knew nothing about myself. I chose to focus on my Mother's Paternal Grandfather, my great grandfather William John Allen. I started asking questions and doing some research, and some of the story is known to us, though a lot is still unknown.

William John Allen born on the 8^th March 1891 in Ballymooney, Donard, Co Wicklow. He was the youngest of nine children. He was educated in Sligo Grammar School, and we believe it may have been funded by his eldest brother, the Reverend John Allen. He enlisted in Royal Dublin Fusiliers on the 23^rd of Nov 1914, in Dublin, aged 23 years, as an undergraduate from Trinity College, where he was studying engineering in 1913/14. Private 17217, based at Naas, Co. Kildare. He trained on the Curragh initially, and then his Division moved to Basingstoke in May 1915 for further training.

They landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey, on the 9^th of August 1915, with the reserves (the rest of the 7^th battalion had landed on the 7^th of August). He was with D Company "The Toffs in the Toughs", and with the 30^th brigade. D Company was under the command of Commander Captain Poole Hickman. Second in command was Captain R.P. Tobin. The platoon officers were 2^nd Lieutenants H. Lecky, C.J. Hamilton and A.G. Crichton.

The 10^th Irish division withdrew from Gallipoli on September the 29th 1915 and moved to Mudros. Then they went to Salonika between the 5^th & the 10^th of October 1915. William is not on the list of 79 men who survived "D" company to leave Suvla on Sept 29th. (What happened? was he injured and left early?)

In 1915, as a private with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, William saw the horrors of trench warfare at Suvla bay in Gallipoli, Turkey. He was wounded and lost a leg during the war, but we are not sure which leg it was (he was always in trousers). We don’t know exactly how or where he lost it either, though Suvla bay is a good bet. He ended up being treated in the Infirmary in Newcastle, and there are pictures in his Photo album of a few of the nurses who looked after him while he was there. He kept a Photograph album which detailed some of his time in service, from 1915 up to the mid 1920’s.

He was very skilled with his hands at woodwork, and he used to make jigsaws for the children, knit socks and mend shoes himself. There is a wooden plaque that he carved with vines and flowers, which holds his brother's death penny, which was on display at home. My uncles still have many of his tools, badges, buttons, bayonet, holster, prayer book, wallet and cigarette cases.

He was discharged in consequence from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, having been granted a commission in H M forces on 8^th Dec 1915 in Naas, Co Kildare - 2nd Lieutenant 15^th Kings Liverpool regiment. Apparently one of his duties in the regiment was disciplining unruly soldiers.

In 1916, while William was a part of the 15^th Kings Liverpool regiment, his 29 year old brother Francis, who was in a South African Regiment, was sent to the Somme in France and was killed in action on the 18^th of July at the Battle of Delville Wood. During my research I found a letter written from Francis to William, about 6 weeks before his death, and it is clear the two brothers were very close.

William transferred to RFC in Nov 1917 and was a full Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps by 1918. He was classified as a Technical Lieutenant by the 1st of April 1918. It would appear from Photographs that he had, that William was an aerial photographer in the RFC/RAF.

After the war ended, he was stationed for some time in North Africa, and it would appear that he was involved in the clean-up operations, Transport and Logistics. He married my Great Grand Mother (Sarah Cooke) on the 24^th of June 1925 in Sandymount Methodist Church, and he wore his full RAF uniform. He started to purchase a farm (90 acres) while still in the RAF in 1926 (“Glen Heste”, Manor Kilbride, Co Wicklow).

On his official paperwork it states that he was to be discharged on or before the 14^th of Feb 1927. He was discharged on the 15^th of Feb 1927.

He had two children. Francis was born in May 1927, and Millicent was born in September 1929. His wife Sarah died from Breast Cancer in 1936, and he sold the farm in 1938 and moved to Dublin.

When he died on the 25^th of May 1958, he was living at Sunnyslope, Castleknock, Co Dublin, where he ran a successful market gardening venture. He is interred in St Brigid’s Church of Ireland churchyard Castleknock.

Although we do not have his medals, we know that he was awarded three, the 1915 star, the War Medal and the Victory Medal. We only have the certificate saying which ones he was due, but we think another branch of the family may have them. We hope to get his medals eventually. A lot of soldiers would have had these medals. He didn’t have any for bravery, he was just an ordinary soldier and stories aren’t usually told about ordinary soldiers.

The Cold War 1949 – 1981

Irish Badges and Insignia

By David J. Murnaghan

 The Cold War with its arsenal of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) was a severe threat. It was only madness that saved the world for major destruction namely Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). MAD ensured that each side was fully aware that if it launched the first ICBM nuclear bomb attack the other side had time to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike with disastrous consequences for all. Notwithstanding this, most nations put in place civil defence measures to protect their people.

On the establishment of the Irish Civil Defence there were no uniforms available. Volunteers were issued with a Civil Defence (CD) lapel badge. The badge had a harp in the centre set in black enamel, around this in a green enamel band were the words ‘Cosaint Sibailta Civil Defence’.

When uniforms were introduced in Ireland, a cloth version of the lapel badge was issued. This was worn on the beret and on the breast pocked of the battle dress type of blue uniform. Initially, there was no rank structure, only two grades, the volunteer and the instructor. The instructor wore a cloth instructor’s badge on the lower arm. This was a letter ‘T’ on a circular green background. The ‘T’ in Irish script was the first letter of the Irish word for instructor.

As the CD Service developed additional cloth badges were introduced. When volunteer officers were appointed, silver rank markings worn on the shoulder epaulettes were issued, one bar for a third officer, two for a second officer, three for a first officer and a diamond for a commander. To assist the volunteer officers, Leaders and Assistant Leaders were appointed, they wore two and one red stripes on the right upper arm respectively. The full-time officers on the staff of the Local Authorities who were appointed Civil Defence Officer and Assistant Civil Defence Officers did not wear uniforms. In Dublin there were four Assistant Civil Defence Officers, they were Commandants on secondment from the Irish Army and wore their army uniforms. The country was divided into eight Civil Defence Regions. Eight army Commandants were appointed as regional officers.

The Civil Defence was divided into six services, Headquarters, Warden, Rescue, Casualty, Auxiliary Fire Service and Welfare. On the uniform, each service wore its service name on the arm at shoulder level in its own colour, brown, green, black, white, red and blue. Army type steel helmets were issued in the colours of the various CD services. On the lower arm small yellow bars on a green background were worn as service bars, one for three year, two for five years and so on.

Some years into the Cold War, the Civil Defence Officers (CDOs), who were members of the Local Authority staff, were issued with the same uniform as the volunteers, their rank marking being three diamonds. At this time there were Assistant Civil Defence Officers (ACDOs) appointed by some Local Authorities, their rank marking being two diamonds. These Local Authority CDOs and ACDOs wore caps. The CDO’s cap had a gold stripe on the peak to distinguish it from the ACDO’s which had none.

On the end of the Cold War the main role of Civil Defence in protection against the threat of nuclear war was gone. So, Civil Defence was reprogrammed, some of the insignia and badges were changed; the service stripes on the arm were replaced by county flashes. The volunteer officers’ rank insignia were changed from silver to gold diamonds and bars. The International Civil Defence Badge, a blue triangle on an orange background was now worn on the right arm and on the left arm a tricolour with the word Ireland was worn by those who had been abroad officially. The Civil Defence now became a second line support to the regular emergency services. It also took on a role in supporting local communities. Thus it was reformed and continues its public service, but that is another story.

 

International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes 1958 – 2018: Irish Participation

David J. Murnaghan.

Franz Werfel¹, a Jewish Viennese novelist and poet, during World War Two had to flee with his wife from their homeland to evade arrest by the Nazis. Eventually, they found sanctuary in France at Lourdes in June 1940. He became acquainted with the wondrous history of the girl Bernadette Soubirous and the healings of Lourdes. He vowed that if he escaped from his desperate situation, he would put off all other tasks and sing the song of Bernadette. He fulfilled this promise by writing the novel The Song of Bernadette in 1941 and this was turned into the famous film in 1943 which won four Academy Awards.

Lourdes² is a place of reconciliation, where following World War Two, the French and German armies came to pray together. This was the seed that grew into the annual Military Pilgrimages of the present time. Between 1944 and 1957, various military groups from France and Germany and some other countries that had previously been at war with each other, travelled with their chaplains on their own pilgrimages to Lourdes. The first Irish Military Pilgrimage took place in 1954.

Several Popes encouraged the idea of a collective pilgrimage for military personnel from all countries. So, in June 1958, the centenary year of the apparitions at the Grotto, 40,000 troops from 11 countries including Ireland gathered to pray in Lourdes. This was the start of the International Military Pilgrimage (IMP). Since then, the armed services from more than 50 countries have made the journey to Lourdes.

It was in 1993 that Monsignor Ray Field, the Head Chaplain to the Forces, invited the Irish Civil Defence to join with the Defence Forces on the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Every year the organizers of the PMI (the abbreviation in French for The International Military Pilgrimage) issue a pilgrims badge. Some of these are beautifully designed and are really treasured as a special memento of that year’s military pilgrimage. Comdt Thomas O’Neill³ has published an article with illustrations of most of these special badges.

However, this article will concentrate on the special badges issued by the Military Chaplaincy and by Civil Defence.

In the picture: bottom left is the Irish Badge which was issued to military pilgrims for some years. This shows Our Lady with St. Bernadette in front of the Basilicas with a Celtic Cross in the background. In the bottom right a special Irish Badge, for the year 2008 is shown, this commemorates the first fifty years of the Military Pilgrimage, in all of which the Defence Forces participated. This shows a smaller image of Our Lady with St.Bernadette surrounded with symbols, the badge of the Defence Force Chaplains, a bird in flight and a candle. Candles play a major part in the Torch Light Procession that takes place each evening in Rosary Square. In top left is the badge issued by the Military Chaplaincy to those who attended 10 annual military pilgrimages. Top right shows a Civil Defence Badge also commemorating the first 50 years of the Military Pilgrimage, even though Civil Defence only started attending in 1993. This shows the lettering PMI below the standard CD emblem of a blue triangle on a square orange background.

Civil Defence issued a medal for its members who had attended 3 military pilgrimages and was first awarded in 2005.The obverse shows the standard Civil Defence badge with central harp and title⁴, which appears on all but one of the CD medals⁵. The reverse shows the view from Rosary Square looking towards the Basilicas. The ribbon has two elements in the design, the first being Our Lady’s blue and white to represent Our Lady of Lourdes and the second being red and green, the colours of the Lourdes town crest. The pattern is of blue on the edges with white in the center. The centre white is lined with narrow lines of red and green. A gold thread runs down the centre of the medal on the white section of the ribbon.

 

 

References.

1)     The Song of Bernadette, Franz Werfel, Hamish Hamilton London, First published in English 1942.

2)     A Decade of Memories (Military Pilgrimage Lourdes), David Murnaghan, An Cosantoir, July/August 2003.

3)     Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes Badges, Tom 0’Neill, 60 Military Pilgrimages to Lourdes 1958 - 2018, p21-32, Chaplaincy Service to Defence Forces, 2018.

4)     Civil Defence Medal for 50 Years Service, David J. Murnaghan, MSOI  Journal, No.97, December 2015.

5)     Civil Defence Service Medal, Eamonn O’Toole, MSOI Journal, No.42, November 1997.

A Man of Adventure - John Maurice Barnett

 Darrell McKinley

Genealogical Background

John Maurice Barnett was born on 27^th March 1898 at St. Leonards on Sea, England, the eldest son of John Gemmill Barnett and Susan Maria Marsh.

John Gemmill Barnett was born on 29^th March 1862 in Deesa, India, the second son of John Milford Barnett and Mary Elizabeth Catherine Johnston. He was educated at Lurgan College, County Armagh, and Heversham Grammar School in Kendal, Cumbria. He married Susan Maria Marsh in Belfast on 1^st Mar 1894. She was the eldest daughter of John Marsh and Antoinette Eliza Jackson of Glenlyon, Holywood, County Down. They began their family in Argentina where they had travelled as John was a representative of Lloyds. In England the family lived at Biddenham, near Bedford.

John Milford Barnett was born on 28^th September 1830 in Belfast, son of Richard Barnett and Sarah Milford. Having been educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and Edinburgh University, he was commissioned into the 26^th Bombay Native Infantry as an Assistant Surgeon in 1853. He married Mary Elizabeth Catherine Johnston in Middlesex on 14^th October 1859. She was the daughter of John Johnston and Agnes Gemmill of Ashley Lodge, Ballymacarrett, County Down. Upon retirement he had many varied interests including philanthropic, temperance and charitable organisations.

His Life

Turning our attention back to John Maurice, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 16th August 1916, his Irish antecedents perhaps guiding his path towards a fine Irish regiment. He served with the 1st Battalion from April 1917 and was wounded by a gun shot to his left knee in June of that same year. The 1st Battalion of the Inniskillings were part of the 87th Brigade, 29th Division, but were transferred to the 36th (Ulster) Division on 5th February 1918. Having been promoted to Lieutenant, Barnett was transferred to the 16th (2nd County Down) Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles around this time, a fact borne out by his medal index card. This battalion was raised in Lurgan in 1914 and served as a pioneer unit throughout WW1. For his services he was awarded the British War and Victory Medals. Having survived the Great War, John needed a new direction, and again Ireland would feature heavily in his choice.

At this time Ireland was in turmoil with the War of Independence raging across the country. The Royal Irish Constabulary, as the police force tasked with the enforcement of law and prevention of crime, was suffering through the murders and intimidation of its members by the Irish Republican Army and numbers were falling. Ireland was becoming ungovernable with constant attacks by the IRA becoming more daring and frequent. Amongst the actions, taken by the British government, to reinforce the beleaguered force, was the creation of several units drawn from ex military personnel. There were many unemployed soldiers across the British Isles and re-employing them appeared to be a quick fix to reduce the attacks in Ireland. One of these new units was the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary. This was formed in July 1920 by Major General Henry Hugh Tudor and consisted of former officers from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and Merchant Navy. Their brief differed from the Royal Irish Constabulary duties as they were deployed in counter insurgency operations against the IRA. The results were often brutal and controversial, with many infamous incidents occurring when the two sides clashed, or when reprisals took place. It was in this bitter struggle that John would next see action.

Lieutenant Barnett joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary and was issued the service number 1067 becoming a Temporary Cadet with number 1 platoon, ‘I’ Company from 17th November 1920 based at Beggars Bush, Dublin. Just four days later Dublin would see bloodshed and mayhem as the IRA and the Auxiliaries both engaged in havoc on its streets. For brevity, and steering clear of political debate, the salient points of what happened next are summarised as follows.

Michael Collins had drawn up a plan to attack the British Intelligence services in Dublin by assassinating Army officers in dwellings across the city on the morning of Sunday 21st November 1920, thereby dealing a crushing blow to a serious threat to his organisation. Initially a list of nearly 50 targets had been drawn up but this was whittled down to somewhere in the region of 20. On that Sunday morning, IRA members forced their way into hotels, guest houses and dwellings and succeeded in killing 9 British Army officers. An RIC Sergeant and two Auxiliaries were also killed along with some civilians. Crown forces sprang into action searching for the gunmen. At Croke Park, a GAA match between Dublin and Tipperary was to take place that afternoon. Troops, Police, “Black and Tans” and Auxiliaries surrounded the ground intent on searching for the assassins. In the calamity that followed 14 persons were killed by gunfire and crush injuries amongst the spectators. ‘I’ company, of which Barnett was a member, was present during this controversial incident. The resulting outrage largely overshadowed the killings of the officers that morning.

T/Cadet Barnett was transferred to the Depot in March 1921 and then to ‘P’ Company based at Tubbercurry. He was later to be posted to ‘L’ Company in Cork. This was a particularly dangerous location with two of his colleagues being shot dead at Rathcoole just five days after his arrival. He re-engaged with the Auxiliaries on 2nd September 1921. One wonders how a battle hardened man living in a hostile environment coped with the stress of his work, perhaps alcohol played a part then as it would later in his life. For a reason unknown he was fined £3 by his Company Commander in December of that year, roughly 3 days pay. Further transfers back to ‘P’ Company and the Depot followed until he was discharged from the Auxiliaries upon the disbandment of the Force in January 1922.

Having survived another major conflict, and again in need of a new direction, John arrived in Melbourne, Australia in June 1922. He spent five years in the local Police before returning to England. He studied mining and obtained degrees at Camborne before plying his new found trade in Cornwall and the Persian Gulf. He had several motoring offences in the 1930s and one wonders whether he was partaking of liquor too frequently. However in 1936, Barnett spent two days “without rest” blasting a tunnel to rescue a dog that had been trapped 100 feet underground in a mine shaft. This daring rescue came to the attention of the Royal Society for the Prevention of cruelty to Animals who awarded him a Silver Medal for his exploits. Perhaps bored of life in the mines, Barnett turned his gaze skyward and took flying lessons at Brooklands Flying Club. He obtained his Flying certificate in a Tiger Moth, Gypsy Major on 17th March 1937. His address by now was Bissoe, Truro, Cornwall. He fell foul of the law again in 1939 when he was convicted of drink driving after being told his wedding was cancelled by the bride and her family.

The Second World War offered Barnett further opportunity to risk life and limb for ‘King and Country’. No doubt his Pioneer officer service in WW1 and mining credentials helped him obtain a commission in the Royal Engineers on 28th February 1940. He proceeded to France and was caught up in the retreat to Dunkirk. He was captured by the advancing German forces and imprisoned at Laufen prisoner of war camp, otherwise known as Oflag VIIC. Barnett wasn’t a model prisoner and escaped form this camp but was recaptured by the Germans. As an escaper and troublesome individual, he was sent to one of the best known Prisoner of war camps - Colditz. It was here that he associated with legendary names such as Pat Reid, MBE, MC and Airey Neave, DSO, OBE, MC, TD. Barnett was harbouring a secret that his captors couldn’t have known, for to have such knowledge would have surely imperilled his life; John Barnett was Jewish. He devised an escape plan so cunning it was almost comical. During his travels he had become interested in Yogi, and was able to raise and reduce his blood pressure by concentrated effort. He would often be examined by prison medics who also noted he was losing weight. What he was actually doing was filling socks tied to his legs with sand and each time he was weighed, he would remove some of it, thereby giving the appearance of losing weight! The German authorities were convinced he was badly ill and decided to repatriate him on 6th December 1944. In ‘Colditz Story’ by Pat Reid, Barnett’s ruse is mentioned although erroneously referred to as being a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, probably because of his love of sailing. The Jewish Virtual Library correctly identifies him as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and his method of escape. His feigned illness meant he was officially recorded as an escapee from Colditz! He was awarded the 1939 Star and War Medal.

John did marry in October 1949 to Georgina Margaret Arnold-Foster. Far from settling down to a quiet life he took to his other love, sailing. John and Georgina would frequently sail in all manner of craft, sometimes ill-suited to the conditions. Indeed, in 1952 whilst sailing off the Azores they ran into a bad storm and nearly lost their lives when their vessel was smashed to pieces as they were being rescued by the crew of a nearby steamer. This appears to be John’s final adventure for on 23^rd August 1954 he passed away in Sussex. Few men could claim to have witnessed or participated in two World Wars, participated in Ireland’s War of Independence, escaped from Colditz, and rescued a dog! He was a true man of adventure.

 

Sources:

www.irishgenealogy.ie

Family research from P Sheen

Research by D Grant

‘Tudor’s Toughs’ by Ernest McCall

Jewish Virtual Library

Br Med J 1913;1:262

Newspapers from www.findmypast.co.uk 

The New PSNI Service Medal

Colonel M 

I would like to start this article by thanking people who have encouraged me to collect medals. To encourage your fellow human is a sign of humility and leadership. I wrote my last article for this journal 30 years ago. At the time I lived on my own in Cork. I had long hair down to my shoulders and sported a large silver hooped earring. I had always been interested in medals and fell in with a couple of likely characters from around Cork. One was Tom O’Neill who at the time was helpful knowledgeable and encouraging with my modest medal collection. He encouraged me to write that article 30 years ago for the then-fledgling MSOI Journal. He probably didn’t realise at the time but in doing so he was one of the first people to give me encouragement and self-belief. Tom saw past the long-haired young fella, 30 years later I’m a retired British Army Lieutenant Colonel with a few medals of my own on my chest (but that’s another story). I’ve come a long way from that young person. The moral is, we should all encourage each other to get involved, but particularly young people, often the odd word can go a long way to build someone’s confidence. Everyone can achieve.

 

History

The Royal Ulster Constabulary GC had a Service Medal that was sanctioned in 1982 (but first issued in 1985) for 18 months of RUC service between 1971-2001. I’m not sure of the justification for the sanctioning of this Service Medal but logic would lead me to say that their job working as police within the sphere of terrorism in Northern Ireland was the justification for a Service Medal. With the changes from RUC GC to PSNI, the medal obviously ceased to be issued.

 

My personal involvement with the PSNI Service Medal started in 2004 when I knew a member of the newly appointed Policing Board and asked if he would raise the possibility of replacing the RUC GC Service Medal with a PSNI Service Medal. The very straight reply from the then Chief Constable Mr Hugh Orde was ‘No. The PSNI were travelling the road to normality in Policing’ so in short as there were no other UK Police Services with a distinct Service Medal the Chief Constable did not want to entertain the suggestion. For ten years his words rankled me. The PSNI has never been a Home Office directed constabulary, it has always been a ‘different’ organisation and as such, unlike other UK Constabularies. Examples of this would be, all of the PSNI Constables hold personal protection weapons due to the omnipresent terrorist threat. Numerous PSNI Police Stations used to have Constables ‘delivered’ by Army helicopters due to the existence and threat from terrorists whose stated aims were to kill them. The PSNI however much they tried to change were not and are not a ‘normal operating’ UK Constabulary they face a very different existence than Police in Liverpool, Brighton, Rhyl or Dundee.

 

Take-up

In July 2011, I spoke to Assistant Chief Constable Findlay and mentioned the obvious gap between the RUC GC and the PSNI when it came to a Service Medal. He informed me that the matter had recently been discussed internally about a ’10 year Service Medal’ to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the PSNI and that HR was ‘looking into it’. I immediately emailed the Head of PSNI HR with my suggestions and so my involvement started.

My design suggestion for the Service Medal was quite simple and in true PSNI style acknowledging all communities in Northern Ireland.

·         1^st Side: HM The Queen - within a half wreath of shamrocks (3 o’clock to 9 o’clock) with a scroll ‘PRO MUNERIS’ (‘for Service’ in Latin) at 6 o’clock

·         2^nd Side: PSNI Cap Star - within a half wreath of shamrocks (3 o’clock to 9 o’clock) with a scroll ‘PRO MUNERIS’ (‘for Service’ in Latin) at 6 o’clock

 

My thought process was that it could be worn either way Side 1 to the front or Side 2. Shamrocks as a symbol were obviously Irish but had also been used traditionally by the RIC and RUC throughout their uniforms and badges. The idea of using Latin was so neither Irish nor English appeared on the medal.

 

After submitting my ideas and a flurry of internal PSNI meetings the idea seemed to go cold until the NI Policing Board became involved. The Policing Board are an independent public body that holds the Chief Constable to account as well as having oversight of the PSNI as an organisation. It is composed of ten political members and nine independent members. From memory, the suggestion of a PSNI Service Medal was initially raised with a unanimous vote in support of the motion, and I believe the motion was raised a further two times each time it was universally agreed. However, when certain members of the Board left the building, they appeared to have a different unsupportive view when speaking to the press! This initially caused people to believe that the idea had indeed faltered before it had got out of the blocks but this was not so. After the passing of the motion by the NI Policing Board the NI Justice Ministry needed to rubber-stamp the Policing Board’s recommendations before the next hurdle.

 

Westminster Honours and Awards Committee

As the NI Justice Ministry had given the green light for a PSNI Service Medal the PSNI HR department swung into action and staffed the proposal submitting it to the Westminster Honours and Awards Committee. All UK awards are laid before the Honours and Awards Committee their role is to sanction the particular award before Royal approval is granted. In short, after several different papers were laid before the Honours and Awards Committee, they eventually gave their sanction for a PSNI Service Medal to ‘formally recognise the service provided by officers in the complex and challenging environment of Northern Ireland. It is proposed that police officers in Northern Ireland will be eligible for the medal when they have completed five years’ service since 25^th Feb 2009 i.e., the date that the threat was raised to severe or who have failed to complete the qualifying service due to injury or disability sustained as a result of the unique security situation in Northern Ireland in the execution of duty since 25 Feb 2009. This will be taken to include posthumous awards as well. It is interesting to note that simply serving in the PSNI was deemed not sufficient and that for a Service Medal to hold validity it had to be linked to the terrorist threat level being severe. The terrorist threat level was raised to severe on the 25^th of February 2009. Another interesting footnote is that if the threat level is lowered the medal will cease to be issued, with the grace period of one calendar year being taken into account for those at the four-year point.

 

Royal Mint Advisory Committee

The next step was in June 2017, the Royal Mint Advisory Committee at Buckingham Palace. Direction had been given to various designers to submit their designs for a PSNI Service Medal with given parameters. I was delighted that my initial proposals were the exact ‘given parameters’ for the designers. ‘PSNI badge as a prominent feature . . . shamrock is used . . . intertwined with the inscription . . . ‘Pro Muneris’

 

Several designs were submitted by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee and the PSNI Chief Constables team selected Design B1.

 

Royal Approval

The final approval was Her Majesty the Queen’s and she approved the PSNI Service Medal on 20 March 2019. It was a reality.

 

Ribbon Design

I originally suggested a central stripe of rifle/bottle green (as enshrined as the PSNI uniform colour in recommendation 154 of the Pattern Police Report) watering out to lime green (colour used in RUC GC ribbon, Falkland Islands Police Anniversary 1996 and various Overseas Territory Police Medals). However, when it came to an artist’s drawing of the ribbon the watering effect looked terrible so I went back to the drawing board. I looked at historical Irish Police medals and then used the 1903 Kings Visit RIC ribbon colour, St Patrick’s blue. My explanation was that St Patrick's blue was the national colour of Ireland and that this shade was also in use with the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick so was completely uncontentious as a colour but very favourable. It would also stand out on the dark green uniform if the ribbon alone was to be worn. My suggestion was St Patrick's blue ribbon with two vertical stripes of rifle/bottle green (I was conscious that the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service 12-year medal ribbon was dark green with a light blue stripe and the PSNI Service Medal needed to be very unconnected) However, the Chief Constables team selected the option of a St Patricks Blue ribbon with a singular vertical stripe of rifle green.

 

Medals Ordered

The first batch of medals was ordered from the Royal Mint in Feb 2020. Unfortunately, COVID 19 engulfed the world and production slowed in all goods including production at the Royal Mint. The Deputy Chief Constable was also concerned that the very nature of a PSNI Service Medal must not be mixed up and become a COVID Medal so a decision was made to carry on ordering medals, they are individually engraved with rank initials and surname (at the time of qualification) around the rim and come in a silk-lined Royal Mint presentation case. They were then stored centrally until the Deputy Chief Constable was happy to make the official announcement.

 

Announcement

 

On the 8^th December 2021 the Chief Constable Mr Simon Byrne QPM announced the issuing of the PSNI Service Medal. I had been promised credit for the design and ‘making it happen’ in the PSNI internal publication ‘Callsign’ magazine but at the last moment, this was changed to an online article on the internal PSNI website. There can’t be many people in the world of medal collecting that can state that they designed a government-issued medal and ribbon. There are presently only 20 odd medals issued by the UK Government. If it hadn’t been for one MSOI man’s encouragement 30 years ago and belief in a long-haired young person perhaps there would not be a PSNI Service Medal today. 

Three Sons Lost in the War

by Liam Dodd

Of the sorrow and suffering which has followed in the wake of the war, Ireland has had to bear a heavy share, for of her host of fighting sons who have answered the call to arms many are now no more. And as her lads rallied from the towns and villages of Ireland to the standard raised in such a righteous cause, those of Irish birth and descent who had found a home in other lands as nobly responded to the appeal of stricken Belgium. In the welter of war the Irish race has played a conspicuous part and on many a hard fought field the great traditions of the fighting race have been gloriously upheld by Irishmen serving in the different units both with the home and Colonial forces.

From THE DECNS AND MEDALS OF DENMARK by Lars Stevnsborg 1992

One of the rarer medals for service in the Gulf War of 1990-91 is the Danish Medal for Merit of the Defence Forces, instituted by Royal Decree of 27 November 1991. This medal, which would appear to be a standard issue for “all military and civilian personnel who have served in the cause of defence outside Denmark” is in silver, suspended from the usual five sided folded ribbon, red with two white stripes near each edge.

by James Scannell

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