On Easter Monday (April 13^th)  the Dublin North Inner City Project organized a 1916 Commemoration Event which began at Liberty Hall, Dublin, in the presence of over 200 people  where Tom Moran  of the Project  revealed  how Molly O’Reilly  carried messages for James Connolly  and was a  dispatch carrier  between Dublin City Hall,  the General Post office on Easter Monday 1916. Her daughter Constance Corcoran Crowley said that there was no family history of political activity/association until her mother got involved. The raising of the flag by Mollie O’Reilly in 1916 was then reacted when James Connolly-Heron, James Connolly’s great grandson, handed the flag to Susan Healy, a niece of Molly O’Reilly, who climbed up a ladder to raise the flag. Then crowd then marched to the General Post Office carrying a banner   ‘Honouring all women in the struggle for Irish freedom’ where wreaths were laid  in front of it  and   the Proclamation read by Aidan Ring,  whose 5 uncles took part in the Rising. Noirin Byrne, whose grandfather was a captain in the Citizens’ Army, urged the public to get behind the campaign for the establishment of a permanent memorial to the women of 1916, pointing out that only 13% of the members of the Dail were women some 93 years after the Rising. Calls were made for the protection and preservation of the national moment site Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street as flowers were laid outside No 16 which was the last headquarters of the GPO garrison before the leaders took the decision to surrender. Although the site has been declared a national monument, preservation campaigners believe that the Dublin City Council decision to grant planning permission for a retail and commercial development around the site could cause major damage to the building.

Terry Fagan of the North Inner City Folklore Project reminded participants that women such as Mary Florence Fitzpatrick, Nurse Elizabeth O’ Farrell, Winnie Carney along with other had been airbrushed out of history yet played key roles in the Rising.

It is understood that the Irish Receiver of Wrecks may soon place advertisements in the press to determine the legal owner of a small quantity of munitions recovered in September from the wreck of the RMS Lusitania by a dive team employed by Gregg Beamish the ship’s current owner.

10 .303 Remington rifle cartridges have been handed into the Cork Receiver of Wrecks and it will then fall on the Irish Customs and Excise Service under the Salvage and Wreck Act, 1993, to make the necessary inquiries to determine the ownership of this material and to place advertisements if required as part of this process. If, after a year the owner cannot be found, then the material will revert to the salvor, which in this case will be Gregg Beamis.

It is know that the RMS Lusitania was carrying 4297 x 1000 round boxes of .303 SAA from Remington Small Arms for delivery to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich as part of its cargo when it was sunk on 7 May 1915 with the loss of 1198 passengers and crew.

The RMS Lusitania, which lies in 300 feet of water 12 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, has been covered by a Irish Maritime Preservation Order since 1995 and Beamis had to engage the Irish State in a series of legal action over his right to dive on his property before he was granted a 5-year licence for a “forensic” expedition with the latest dive license permitting only a sample of munitions in the wreck or on the seabed to be recovered.

Book Review

Aspects of the military history of County Wicklow have been published piecemeal fashion  in a number of books and local history society publications down through the years  and this volume breaks new ground by providing the military history of the county during  the 3 key military events of Irish early 20th century military history – The 1916 Rising, the War of Independence 1919 to 1921 and the Civil War of 1922 to 1923  in one complete volume.
The excellent narrative first deals with the formation of the Irish Volunteers in the county following its establishment in Dublin during November 1913, the subsequent training and the quest for arms which climaxed with the July Howth and August 1914 Kilcoole gun running operations followed within 6 weeks by the outbreak of World War One and a split in the organisation in September 1914 following Redmond’s Woodenbridge speech  into the National  Volunteers and the Irish Volunteers.  
The Irish Volunteers continued training and what happened in 1916 is covered in details as members received orders, countermanding orders and then discovered that although the Rising had broken out in Dublin, the nationwide rising as originally planned did not take place arising confusion though there was limited action in Bray and Shankill. The accounts of those involved at that time are quoted from statements given to the Bureau of Military History which in recent years have only been released to researchers.
The book then progresses to the 3 year long War of Independence which began in 1919 and ended with the June 1921 Truce and the activities that happened in and around the county during this period, along with observations recorded at the time by many forming the basis of this section which also includes the reactions and attitudes of many local government bodies to it - the urban district councils of Bray, Wicklow and Arklow, Wicklow County Council and the various Boards of Guardians and other bodies. In this section there are stories of raids, escapes, ambushes, shootings, arrests, trials and courts martial of some of those arrested for their activities either members of the I.R.A. or Sinn Fein.
The final part of this excellent military history deals with the Civil War and has some unique photos of the former Bray Courthouse, now Bray Heritage Centre and Tourist Office, on fire as departing Republicans rendered it unusable for the advancing Free State Forces.
For ease of use this excellent military history is divided into 8 chapters –  ·          Chapter 1 covers the Irish Volunteers in County Wicklow ·          Chapter 2 looks at County Wicklow and the 1916 Rising ·          Chapter 3 deals with the Reorganisation that took place afterwards ·          Chapter 4 deals with the start of the War of Independence ·          Chapter 5 covers the period January 1921 to the Truce ·          Chapter 6 recalls the Republican Courts in Bray. ·          Chapter 7 covers Some British Intelligence Activities in the Dublin Brigade Area which encompassed County Wicklow. ·          Chapter 8 deals with the Civil War in County Wicklow.

There are also sections covering References used, a Bibliography, Appendices, including weapons used by both the IRA and the Crown, and a comprehensive index.

Excellently illustrated this book is an essential acquisition for anyone interested in the military history of County Wicklow from 1913 to 1923.

“Aspects of the War on Independence and Civil War in Wicklow, 1913 to 1923 “ by Henry Cairns  and Owen Gallagher, published by the Old Bray Society- €18 .
Copies available from the Town Hall Bookshop, 23 Florence Road, Bray. Co. Wicklow at €18  callers or at the post paid price of €20 / Stg £18.

On Easter Sunday (April 4th)   a 7 metre cannon from the RMS Laurentic,  recovered by the  Downings Divers sub aqua club  in 2007  after a three-year  salvage operation,   was unveiled  on the quayside of Downings, Co. Donegal  where it will serve  as a tourist attraction.

 

The RMS Laurentic was a 15,000 ton White Star liner converted into an   auxiliary merchant cruiser for the duration of World War One and sank one hour out from Buncranna, Co. Donegal on 25 January 1917 in 39 metres of water with the loss of 354 passengers and crew after it struck German naval mines in the vicinity of Malin Head following stopping off in Buncrana, Co. Donegal, to land some crew members showing signs of fever to receive medical attention.  At the time of her sinking the RMS Laurentic was en route from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with some 3211 bars of gold to purchase arms and munitions from the Canadian and U.S. governments. Between 1917 and 1924 all the gold bars except 20 were recovered from the sea bed and its believed that these bars valued up to £8M are unrecoverable as they are lying beyond reach beneath the wreck.

 

The Downings based diving team which raised the cannon, led by Kevin McShane, spent 3 years on preparatory dives, loosening the massive cannon from the bow deck and securing heavy lifting chains to a specially designed flotation bag.

 

Fine Gael Donegal County Council councillor Noel McBride persuaded Donegal County Council to contribute £7000 to the £13000 cost of converting the cannon into a tourist attraction.   

Further to the “Easter Rising” mementoes (MSOI Journal No. 60) came some jottings and notes belonging to Colonel John B. Jarvis. I include his typed notes possibly taken from an old fellow during his service at Limerick during the “troubles”.
“I was standing at an assize time in the street of Maryborough, near the hotel, when I heard the sound of horsemen rapidly approaching, and suddenly a body of forty men came sweeping round the corner at a sharp trot, scarcely giving me time to get out of the way. They drew up opposite the hotel, under the command of a Major Nicholson (then late of the Wicklow Militia) who was commandant of so much of the peace preservation force, as were then in the province of Leinster.  This officer wore a dark blue jacket, closely braided in front, with round, black silk cord, small black buttons, red cuffs and collar, red and gold lace girdle, and a tall beaver cap and feathers, with crescent, Turkish-shaped scimitar. Of the men, ten wore scarlet cloaks over their uniform, reaching down over their horses’ tails, brass helmets, and plumes “Waterloo” on the helmets. Ten were in hussar uniforms. with loose jackets slung over the shoulder, hussar saddles, with sheep-skins etc. Ten others were in uniform which I cannot now describe, but sitting behind them on pads were voltigeurs, with short rifles resting on the thigh. These voltigeurs were made to dismount and remount occasionally by their eccentric commander. This motley force was brought in for duty, attending upon the judges, escorting prisoners etc. They were mounted on splendid horses, to £100, as at that time the finest horses perhaps in the world were in this country.
This eccentric Major, with whom I was personally acquainted, attended with this favourite bodyguard, at most of the fairs, where faction-fights, resulting so often in loss of life, were frequent; and dashing in at the charge, the scarlet cloaks floating in the wind, caused the country people preparing for the fray to run in all directions. At other times I have seen him in a light chaise, with four horses and postillions, enter the town at a gallop, having two out-riders in front and two behind, with their rifles well in hand - one of which rifles I have to this day. At this time, besides a large body of foot police, there were from fifty to sixty men, styled “dragoon police” splendidly mounted (many of the horses first class hunters) with a regular bugler, stationed at Rathdowney, who occasionally traversed the roads, that the people might see they were ready for action if required.  
This poor eccentric commandant has long since passed away, and most probably all the “Waterloo Corps” attached to him. At this period adverted to be he had much influence with the government; and it is said they gave him the “Waterloo” helmets and scarlet cloaks, as well as hussar uniforms and appointments. With the former he hoped to frighten the people into obedience and fear of the law. He was ultimately displaced (high time for him) by a Major Powell, who became Inspector-General of Leinster, under the first Constabulary Act, and retiring subsequently, died Colonel of the 40^th Regiment.”
At the bottom of this screed is a rubbing of a badge consisting of a harp topped by a crown and surrounded by oakleaves.

Saint John Ambulance Association and Ireland

with Reference To Railways

Historically, the St. John Ambulance Association was established in Britain to foster First Aid skills and provide training facilities to achieve that end. Later, to enable those who received such training to put that training into practice, in serving the public, the St. John Ambulance Brigade was established. The St. John Ambulance Brigade in Ireland was established in 1903 as part of an existing English St. John District, later it became a District in its own right with the title St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland. Along with the Brigade, the Ambulance Association operated in Ireland to supervise First Aid training. After World War Two (‘the Emergency’ in Ireland) the St. John Ambulance Brigade became a stand-alone organisation governed by a newly formed Irish Council. So, ended its formal connection with Britain, although there remained a cordial supportive cooperation link between them. The role of the Ambulance Association was taken over by the Education Department of the newly formed Irish St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Against this background it is interesting to note that the St. John Ambulance Association continued to operate in Ireland, on a reduced scale and independently of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland.

From early times, the Association provided First Aid training for railway companies and major railway centres. For example, there was a manned First Aid post at Euston Station in London. This work was continued in Ireland by the Ambulance Association after it ceased to operate with the Irish St. John Ambulance Brigade. This Association in Ireland was part of the The London Midland and Scottish (LMS) Railways depot in Ireland which covered the main line from Euston to Holyhead and the Mail Boat to Dun Laoghaire. This St. John Ambulance Association Centre continued to operate after the amalgamation of the railways in Britain under the newly formed British Railways and later as British Rail. Railway workers in Ireland had their service recognised by the authorities.

It is interesting to refer to the British Railways Ambulance Booklet (BR.7001) which states:-

“Long Service Award –
Staff who have passed 15 first aid examinations of the St.John or St.Andrew’s Ambulance Association through the official Railways Ambulance Organisation are awarded a 15 years Long Service Efficiency Medal. Bars to the Medal in recognition of each subsequent five examinations are also awarded".

However, it appears that long serving British Rail First Aiders in Ireland may have been awarded a Service Plaque as an alternative to the Service Medal mentioned in BR.7001. This may have been due to the fact that the Railway First Aiders did not wear a formal uniform on which to wear the medal.

Dublin Battle of Britain Service

On Sunday September 19^th the Republic of Ireland branch of the Royal Air Force Association held its annual Battle of Britain Ecumenical in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. The Republic of Ireland branch of the Royal Air Force Association was established in 1948 and works exclusively for the welfare of ex-service personnel from the Republic of Ireland who served either at time of conflict or in peace time, including the present day, and their families. The organisation is always keen to meet new members, either ex-service personnel or members of the public who would like to support its fundraising efforts and they are invited to attend monthly social get-togethers in Dun Laoghaire. Further information available from Alan Harrison at 353 - 1- 837 9555 or Ronnie O'Connor at 353 - 87- 2544 2010.

Xth European Conference Phaleristic Societies

Dresden, 9^th to 12^th June, 2016.

The Medal Society of Ireland attended and took part in the European Conference of Phaleristic Societies for the first time ever this year and what a delightful event it turned out to be. The Conference was hosted by the Deutche Gesellshaft fur Ordenskunde under the able direction of their President Bernd Dobel.

A delegation of six people flew from Ireland to Dresden via Dusseldorf and arriving on the 8^th June and checking in at the Quality Hotel Plaza, which is located on Konigsbrucher Strasse immediately opposite the German Forces Museum, we were met and welcomed by our host and his charming partner Christel Druke and early the next morning set out on an expedition organised by some members of the British Delegation to the famous Schloss Colditz or Colditz Castle. I had grown up reading the books such as the Colditz storey and the Latter Days at Colditz by Captain P.R.Reid, whose father incidentally came from Co. Carlow. Colditz was what is called a Straflager or punishment camp intended as an escape proof prison for those who had attempted to escape from other establishments and were branded as incorrigible escapers. The Castle, which itself dates from the 11^th century, was liberated at the end of World War 2 by Lieutenant Colonel Shaughnessy of the United Sates 9^th Armoured Division, but not before 14 French, 10 Dutch and 9 British and 2 Poles made their escape during the course of the war. Our tour of the renowned Castle was very interesting, and well worth the visit.

On our return to our Hotel a meet and greet drinks reception had been organised and we were able to meet and talk to our fellow collectors.

The next morning, Friday 10^th, we were brought on a tour of the inner city of Dresden, visiting amongs other places the Frauenkirche and at 2pm we had a delightful lunch at the Pulverturm after which we visited the Old Green Vault and the Library of the Coin Cabinet where we saw an exhibition of DDR Medals which were explained by Dr. Grund. We had an excellent dinner at “Dresden 1900” which started at 6pm and lasted until 9pm.

The next morning, while the ladies of our party were brought on a boat trip on the River Elbe, and visited the Meissen Museum, we visited the German Forces Military Museum. Here, in a very spacious building, is housed a fine collection of uniforms, weapons and memorabilia. We were also given access to the storage areas where hundreds of uniforms and insignia are stored for future display. At 1pm we had a snack at the Café Zeitlos within the Museum complex and there was a short conference between the Presidents of the various medal societies. The MSOI being represented by our President Michael Denieffe. Short presentations were made by a few of the participants and a small exhibition of orders and decorations took place. At 7.30 pm a drink reception took place followed by a formal Gala dinner in the Ballroom after which short speeches were made by the Delegates.

On Sunday morning a small bourse or fair took place in the Hotel. There were very few British or Commonwealth medals for sale but many European Orders. The Conference concluded after the bourse at approximately 2pm.

Having decided to extend our stay in Dresden until the end of the week we explored the historic city of Dresden which had been so needlessly bombed in the closing stages of the war on the 13^th and 14^th February, 1945 and which is now being restored to something of its former glory in the thorough and meticulous manner which only the Germans can manage.

During the following days we took trips on the Elbe to Meissen and Schloss Pillnitz and there is no more pleasant way to travel than to sit on the deck of a paddle steamer in the sunshine being served cold pints of the local brew. We also visited Leipzig arriving by train at its Hauptbahnhof, the largest terminus in Europe. We also visited Berlin by rail and enjoyed a visit to the Brandenberg Tor and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and concluded with a walk around the Reichstag.

The next European Conference of Phaleristic Societies be held in Lisbon, Portugal. Those interested in going should contact the Committee. 

THE BOMBERS OF SUVLA BAY

Two young boys attended Saint Paul’s School in North King Street, Dublin, and prospered under the guidance of the headmaster, Mr Doak, and the Rector, Mr Haythornthwaite. They became good friends despite a five year age difference. George Lang, the elder of the two, lived at 72 North King Street where his father demonstrated his abilities as a bootmaker, a profession which George adopted on leaving school. His friend, Walter Pogue, on the other hand, became a clerk.

They both joined the 1^st City of Dublin Cadets soon after it was establishment on the 13^th of May 1911. This unit, under the command of Lord Powerscourt, was founded with the objective of training boys from an early age in order to provide young officers and N.C.O.s for the British Army.

When war broke out in August 1914 the City of Dublin Cadets, or at least those of them who were old enough to do so, joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers en-masse, and they were for the most part kept together to form ‘C’ Company of the 7^th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. The Dublin Pals, many of whom were part of the rugby fraternity, formed ‘D’ Company of the same Battalion, and both companies were to fight side by side in the forthcoming battles. George enlisted on the 9^th of September 1914 and Walter followed on the 10^th. Their respective regimental numbers were 13800 and 13832.

The 7^th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers was scheduled to form part of the 30^th Brigade of the 16^th (Irish) Division and the men, after some basic training at the Curragh Camp in County Kildare, moved to the Royal Barracks (now Collins Barracks) in Dublin on the 2^nd of February 1915, and then on to Basingstoke in Hampshire on the 30^th of April. They sailed from Devonport on the 9^th of July on board the ‘Alaunia’ bound for Gallipoli and after brief stops at Gibraltar and Malta they arrived at Alexandria on the 20^th of July. Their next port of call was on the island of Lemnos and then a landing at ‘C’ Beach, Suvla Bay on the 7^th of August. The battalion had at this time a strength of 29 officers and 915 other ranks. Those landing came under a heavy barrage of shrapnel fire which left one man dead and fourteen wounded. The Turks were initially taken by surprise by this landing and were driven back from Lala Baba and Ghazi Baba along the ridge of Karakol Dagh towards Kiretch Tepe Sirt ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies were in the first wave and joined in the attack and capture of Chocolate Hill (Yilgin Burnu), a 150 high hill in line with the southern side of Suvla Bay. Casualties here were 3 officers and 109 other ranks. George and Walter landed on the 9^th. The battalion was relieved on the night of the 12^th of August and was placed in reserve having at this stage lost three officers and one hundred and nine other ranks .The attack on the Green Knoll took place while they were out of the line but on the 15^th they were moved forward during the night to relieve the 6^th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. At 3-30 a.m. on the 16^th the Turks attacked in strength and succeeded in repelling two counter attacks. It was during this part of the battle that a situation arose where the 7^th Battalion dug in on one side of the sharp ridge and the Turks held positions on the inland side of the same ridge.

The Turks had a plentiful supply of bombs and began lobbing them over the ridge on to the Dublin Fusiliers causing terrible casualties. The battalion had no bombs to retaliate, and it was at this point that young George Lang and some others began catching the bombs and throwing them back. These actions saved a good many lives; as if the bombs had exploded they would have caused carnage. George’s luck did not hold out however, and a bomb he was about to throw back exploded blowing off his right hand and ending his career as a soldier after a mere seven days in a war zone.

He was not the only one engaged in this dangerous activity. Private A.E. Wilkin of ‘D’ Company caught and lobbed back five bombs, but the sixth exploded and blew him to pieces. For his bravery he was Mentioned in Despatches. Another soldier similarly engaged was Private Leonard Maurice Keysor of the 1^st Battalion (New South Wales) Australian Imperial Force. At Lone Pine on the 7-8^th of August he threw bombs, smothered them with his coat, and caught them in the air before throwing them back. For this he received Britain’s highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. George Lang, however, got no such recognition. Not even a thank you. For George the war was over.

His friend Walter Pogue was having his own difficulties. The Company commander had been killed during the landings and Lieutenant MacDermott had taken over command. A new officer, whose name was unknown to Pogue, took over command of the platoon, and when Pogue, who was suffering badly from dysentery, asked for permission to drop out during preparations for a counter attack, the new officer threatened to shoot him. Sergeant John Mahon, the platoon Sergeant intervened and, asked the officer on behalf of Pogue, the officer again refused the request and went down to Pogue with a revolver in his hand asking Pogue what was wrong with him. Pogue replied, ”Dysentery Sir”, and the officer again threatened to shoot him. He, however, fell out at the next stop and there were no repercussions.

Pogue was wounded on the 21^st of August by gunshot wound to the left thigh, and on the following day he received a further gunshot wound to the head. He was evacuated, but it now came to light that he was only sixteen years old, and not nineteen as he had stated on his enlistment papers. As a result of this he was dismissed from the army being under age.

Confusion now arose as to the address of his next of kin resulting in them not being informed of their son’s condition. The army had the address as 8 Sandymount Avenue, Sandymount instead of 8 Sallymount Avenue, Ranelagh. Four letters advising his parents of his being wounded, of his progress, and of his whereabouts went to the wrong address and it was months before his parents found out about his condition. The army wanted his father to supply his son with civilian clothes and the fare home, but the father, a chauffeur and servant, said that he had not got the money to pay for these. The army gave in and provided a plain suit and a travel warrant.

George Lang meantime was languishing in the County of London War Hospital in Epsom, Surrey. He wrote to his mother from here on the 12^th of September to advise her that he had been wounded and would be home shortly.

In April 1916 the Rising, or Easter Rebellion, took place in Dublin and one of the focal points was the North King Street area where heavy fighting occurred. It was also the scene of a major atrocity committed by the British Army. Fifteen civilians were murdered by members of the South Staffordshire Regiment. George lived at number 72 and his school, Saint Paul’s, was at number 115 North King Street. Bodies were found at numbers 27, 170, 172, and 177. George, however, survived both the war and the rebellion and died in 1961 at the age of sixty-eight. His old friend Walter Pogue wrote to Charles’ sister commiserating with her on the death of her brother. He at this time was living in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Walter’s medals along with much ephemera, including letters to his mother and from his friend were brought into the Knox Memorial Hall by a member of the public recently and sold to a dealer/collector. They are now lodged in a safe place and will be well looked after 

Private F. Fitzpatrick, 94th Foot and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Spink & Son

In the Spink and Son Auction of 19^th November 2009 the Medals of Private F. Fitzpatrick were listed as Lot 2. The Auction Estimate was £4,000-£6,000, with the lot selling for £6,500

The Q.S.A. to Victoria Cross Recipient Private F. Fitzpatrick, 94th Foot and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Mounted as Worn with a late 19th Century Victoria Cross named copy and Zulu War Medal

a) Victoria Cross, a late 19th Century period copy, reverse of suspension bar engraved ‘Private Francis Fitzpatrick 94th. Foot’, reverse of Cross engraved ‘28th. Novr. 1879’

b) South Africa 1877-79, one clasp, 1879 (V.C. Pte. Francis Fitzpatrick. 94th. Foot.), contemporarily and competently renamed in large serif capitals, ‘V.C.’ inscribed in Gothic script

c) Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, two clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (5268 Pte. F. Fitzpatrick. V.C. A. and S. Highrs:), ‘V.C.’ officially inscribed in Gothic script, contact marks, generally nearly very fine, mounted as worn (3)

`

V.C. London Gazette 24.2.1880 Private Fitzpatrick, 94th Foot (listed jointly with Private Flawn, 94th Foot)

 

‘In recognition of their gallant conduct during the attack on Sekukuni’s Town on the 28th November last, in carrying out of action Lieutenant Dewar, 1st Dragoon Guards, when badly wounded. At the time when he received his wound, Lieutenant Dewar had with him only Privates Flawn and Fitzpatrick, and six of the Native Contingent, and, being incapable of moving without assistance, the natives proceeded to carry him down the hill, when about thirty of the enemy appeared in pursuit about 40 yards in the rear, whereupon the men of the Native Contingent deserted Lieutenant Dewar, who must have been killed but for the devoted gallantry of Privates Flawn and Fitzpatrick, who carried him alternately, one covering the retreat and firing on the enemy.’ 

5268 Private Francis Fitzpatrick, V.C., born Tullycorbet, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, 1859; served with the 94th Foot during the Basuto War, November to December 1879, including the capture of Sekukuni’s Town, 28.11.1879
The Attack on Sekukuni’s Town In November 1879 a force of approximately 1400 Imperial troops from the 21st, 80th, and 94th Foot, some 800 Colonials, and several thousand native levies under the command of General Sir Garnet Wolseley was assembled to attack the reputedly impregnable stronghold of the Basuto Chief Sekukuni. At 6:00 a.m. on the 28th November they launched a three-pronged attack, with the 94^th Foot in the centre. Wolseley gave permission for his Staff to join in the attack:

‘The infantrymen with fixed bayonets charged. Thousands of knees pounding in unison had the sound of roaring surf. It seemed in harmony with the fusillades, the screams and yells, and the skirls of pipers - the very breath of battle. The pipers stood at the foot of the hill beating the ground with their feet while playing with fiendish energy’.

Within three hours the whole town of approximately 3,000 huts had been captured; however, Sekukuni himself had managed to escape, although he was captured four days later. British casualties were 13 killed and 35 wounded. For their gallantry in saving the life of Lieutenant Dewar, Privates Flawn and Fitzpatrick were awarded the Victoria Cross, two of six given for the Basuto War. Both were presented with their Crosses by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel P.R. Anstruther, at Lydenburg, Transvaal, on the 17th September 1880. Fitzpatrick served throughout the 1st Boer War, 1880-81; he returned to England, 1882, and was discharged in May 1888. He later married a girl from Glasgow, and re-enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for the 2nd Boer War. He died in Glasgow, July 1933, aged 73, and is buried in an unmarked grave in St. Kentigern’s Cemetery, Glasgow. Private Fitzpatrick’s original Victoria Cross and South Africa 1877-79 medal were lost in action against the Boers at Bronkers Spruit in 1881, and an official replacement was sent out to him in June 1881. The original Cross was subsequently found in the effects of a soldier in his rifle company who had been killed, and returned to the recipient, with the replacement being returned to the War Office (various correspondence included with Lot refers). At some stage Private Fitzpatrick sold his original V.C pair, and it was later bought by Lieutenant-Colonel H.F.N. Jourdain, Connaught Rangers, at Sotheby’s for £42-0-0 on the 21st June 1906 [It is highly unlikely that Fitzpatrick was the vendor, as he probably sold the pair many years previously]. After selling his original group of two, he used to wear this second group of three on visits to the pubs in Belfast with his nephew, who after his death inherited them, and later sold them to a dealer in Belfast. His original Victoria Cross and South Africa 1877-79 medal are now held by the National Army Museum. The Victoria Cross and South Africa Medal awarded to Private Thomas Flawn were sold in Spink’s first ever Medal Auction, 8.12.1983.

World War One Medals

David J. Murnaghan

 

The most recognised medals of World War One are the 1914 and 1914-1915 Stars, the British War Medal 1914-1920 and the Victory Medal 1914-1919. In this article it is intended to concentrate on other WWl medals, some not so well known.

 

Victory Medals.

Thirteen Nations in addition to Britain issued Victory Medals. They were also known as the Allied War Medal. All these Victory Medals had the same double rainbow ribbon as the British Medal. Their obverses had different versions of the standing figure of Victory. The reverses carried designs specific to the country of origin. The USA was the only country to issue campaign clasps for its Victory Medal.

Mercantile Marine War Medal.

The Mercantile Marine War Medal in bronze was awarded by the Board of Trade to those who had sailed through a war or danger zone. The obverse carried the head of King George V. The reverse showed a ship passing through a stormy sea, in the background were a sailing boat and a sinking submarine. The ribbon of green and red with a central narrow white strip represented the port and starboard lights of a vessel.

 

British Red Cross Society War Medal.

Members of the British Red Cross Society who undertook Red Cross war work and did not receive any British War Medals were issued with a special medal by their Society. This bronze-gilt medal had a plain white ribbon. The obverse had a Geneva Cross with laurel wreath and the words "British Red Cross Society: for war service: 1914-1918". The reverse carried the words "Inter/Arma/Caritas".

 

Silver War Badge.

To those who suffered injury and were invalided out of the army, a Silver War Badge was awarded. The war circular badge had the Royal monogram with the words "For King and Empire + Services Rendered+". These numbered badges also prevented an invalided soldier in civilian clothes being given 'white feathers' as a possible draft dodger.

 

References.

 

Medal Yearbooks, Editor John W. Mussell. Token Publishing, Devon UK

 

Wexford Drowning Rescue

James Scannell 

 On Monday June 8^th 1936 hundreds of passengers on board the Rosslare - Fishgaurd mailboat RMS St. Andrew berthed in Rosslare witnessed the rescue of a young sailor Edward McEvoy who fell 20 feet into the harbour water between the ship and the pier it was standing at. No-one saw McEvoy fall into the water but a railway porter William Halligan, Cawdor Street, Rosslare Harbour, who was working nearby provided the following eye-witness account of what happened –

 

 

“I heard a splash and looking over (the pier) saw a man struggling in the dark water. I flung him a lifebelt but he could not catch it. I then dashed to a ladder and climbed down into the sea. McEvoy had gone down twice and nearly finished. I managed to grip his ear, and as I did so he lost consciousness, and his weight became too much for me. I shouted for assistance and George Hess, an able seaman belonging to the mailboat, and a native of Wexford, responded. By our united efforts we managed with great difficulty in the restricted space to keep his head above water until those above lowered a rope. We tied it around McEvoy and he was hauled to the top of the pier.”

 

Chief Officer Davis, Mr. Mollins, Sergt. P. McGrath, and Mr. J. G. Maddock rendered first aid to McEvoy but although they managed to restore his breathing, he remained in an unconscious condition. Capt. J. Farday, Master of the RMS St. Andrew then ordered McEvoy to be brought on board where the services of one of the passengers, Dr. Denis Burke, Newport, Wales, were unutilised.

 

When the RMS St. Andrew sailed from Rosslare, McEvoy was still unconscious but after 2 hours out from Rosslare he regained consciousness and it was later reported that he was making satisfactory progress towards recovery.

by Eamonn O’Toole

The latest military memorial in Ireland is to be found in Pery Square, Limerick. It is a seven feet high white stone Celtic cross which bears on the front of the four arms the badges of the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and Organization of National Ex-servicemen (ONE) and on the stem the figure of Patrick Sarsfield (JOURNAL 19 p13) and the Treaty Stone. On the plinth supporting the cross is the inscription:

by James Scannell

This remarkable and fascinating book explores in great detail the events surrounding the burning of Cork City Centre on the night of 11 December 1920, one of the best known incidents of the War of Independence / Anglo-Irish War, in which the authors reveal that it was not the random act that traditionally many believed that it was. The authors reveal that for several months prior to this incident that there had been a bitter war between Republicans and Crown forces with a variety of arrests and reprisals which resulted in the murder of one lord mayor and the death of another, in addition to the kidnapping of several British officers. This guerrilla war was waged with great aggression in the Cork City area with some of those in the Republican movement knowing that they were marked men.