Auction Catalogue

25 February 1998

Starting at 1:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Arts Club  40 Dover St  London  W1S 4NP

Lot

№ 321

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25 February 1998

Hammer Price:
£1,250

A rare ‘1867 Fenian Rising’ Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit awarded to Sub Constable John Davis, Limerick Police Force
Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit, silver, with one silver Chevron, inscribed ‘Sub Constable John Davis’, fixed on a black patent leather shield with an old label attached which reads ‘This Chevron with a grant of £15 was conferred on No 31898 Sub Constable John Davis of the Co. Limerick Police Force, he being one of a party of Police who defended Kilmallock Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks on 6th March 1867, when it was attacked by an armed party of insurgents.’, orb lacking from top of the crown, otherwise good very fine and very rare £1000-1200

The Badge of Merit with Chevrons was instituted in 1842, at the same time as the Constabulary Medal (Ireland). For further acts of gallantry additional Chevrons would be added to the badge, and if a recipient attained five Chevrons he would receive the Constabulary Medal, although the Medal could also be won for a single act of gallantry. Badges and Chevrons were abolished in 1872 by which time only one Medal had been awarded through the attainment of Chevrons.

On the occasion of the award, in Septemer 1867, of Constabulary Medals and Badges with Chevrons, for services during the Fenian Rising, Her Majesty The Queen conferred on the Force the title of The Royal Irish Constabulary. A similar Badge of Merit awarded to Constable Patrick Hogan in 1867 sold for £2600 at Spink in March 1996.