McCarthy Medals

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QSA To The Welsh R, KIA

QSA two bars Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg 8505 PTE W BISHOP WELSH REGT

Pte Bishop was killed in action at Paardeberg on the18th of February 1900. He is commemorated on the Cathay Park. National Memorial, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales

That the Welsh Regiment performed their share of the task in a manner worthy of all praise is proved by the following quotation from the despatch of Lieutenant General Kelly-Kenny of 20th February, relating to the attack on Cronje at Paardeberg: "I will take an opportunity of bringing to notice the special acts of devotion to duty on the part of individuals; I confine myself at present to representing the fine spirit and gallantry of all the troops engaged; I feel bound, however, to bring to your lordship's notice now the very gallant conduct of the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment, who were on our right flank: a portion of the battalion charged right up to the Boer laager with the bayonet in the finest possible manner, losing heavily in their gallant attempt to capture it". The Welsh have to thank some pertinacious catechists in the House of Commons for the publication of this despatch: the object of the catechists was not, however, to add to the glory of this or any other regiment.

At Paardeberg the Welsh had 1 officer killed and 5 wounded, 15 men killed and 57 wounded.

Medal with original ribbon and in toned EF condition

Code: 50640

Reserved

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IGS 1908 To The R Mun Fus Taken POW At Etreux 27th Aug1914

IGS one bar North West frontier 1908 6583 PTE J MCSWEENEY 1ST BN M FUS

John McSweeney a shoemaker from Killarney was taken Prisoner of War during the epic stand of the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Etreaux on the 27th of August 1914, he was repatriated to Switzerland from Germany in 1916 and eventually returned home in December 1918, the reason for his move to Switzerland is unknown but possibly through wounds

2nd Munsters stand at Etreux 27th August 1914

The German 2nd Army commander General Karl von Bülow had ordered a rapid pursuit after the battles of 21–24 August against the French Fifth Army and the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The 1st and 2nd Armies were sent to the south-west to gain the left flank of the Allied line. After encountering "especially obstinate" resistance at Marbaix and Le Grand-Fayt, the German Imperial Army's X (Reserve) Corps had been ordered to continue its advance to the south-west.2 The 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers had been ordered to hold its ground at all costs, in their first action in France

Less than a battalion strength, just 3 companies of the 2nd Battalion of "The Munsters" supported by a couple of field guns halted the advance of the German Army for fourteen hours in the area of Oisny and Étreux during the retreat from Mons on 27 August.1914

Under continual pressure from German attacks the Munsters fell back to an orchard near the village of Étreux. As night fell on the evening of the 27 August, they found themselves surrounded by the Germans. Having exhausted their ammunition they surrendered. In their action at Ètreux only four officers and 240 other ranks of the 2nd Munsters survived but the battalion delayed German pursuit of the British I Corps, gaining time for the British Expeditionary Force to escape. The 2nd Munsters were outnumbered at odds of over 6:1 and when finally defeated, the survivors were congratulated on their bravery by the German soldiers they had fought.

Medal with original ribbon and in GVF condition

Code: 50646

Reserved

E&WA Bar Benin 1897 To RN, An Interesting Character From N Ireland

QSA To The Welsh R, KIA

Afghan Medal To The 72nd Highs , KIA

IGS 1908 To The R Mun Fus Taken POW At Etreux 27th Aug1914

New Zealand Medal To The Royal Artillery

QSA 4 Bars Including Wepener To Brabants Horse

Cape General Service Medal to a Native With An Unusual Rank

3 Bar Afghan Medal To The RA

Mutiny Medal Bar Central India to a Chaplain

Egypt Medal Bar Tel -El- Kebir To The 1 / R Highs