Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Military Cross pair awarded to Captain Frank Pragnell, 2/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, wounded during the Easter Rebellion in Dublin, latterly taken prisoner during the German Spring Offensive 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed, in case of issue; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. F. Pragnell); together with a mounted set of three miniature dress medals: Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals, in leather case, these very fine; the full-size medals extremely fine (5) £700-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A small collection relating to the Easter Rebellion 1916 and the Anglo-Irish War 1919-22.

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M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918. ‘Capt., Notts. & Derby. R.’

Frank Pragnell was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2/th (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts. & Derby. Regiment) on 5 December 1914, was appointed Lieutenant and Adjutant on 8 December 1915 and Captain and Adjutant on 30 November 1916. He was present with his regiment in the suppression of the Easter Rebellion in Dublin, where he was wounded by sniper fire from 25 Northumberland Road. He is listed in the official officers’ wounded list in the Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook, published by The Weekly Irish Times. He was also an acknowledged contributor and mentioned a number of times in The Easter Rebellion, by Max Caulfield. An extract from the book reads:

‘The first volleys from No. 25 Northumberland Road claimed ten Sherwood Foresters - all of them youngsters .... A little suprised, because neither he nor Fane had expected to meet opposition until they were near the school, Pragnell yelled, “Drop”” and hit the ground. In the first terrible second it was impossible to tell where the shots had come from, except that they had come from close by. A second fusillade resolved some doubts. “There!” shouted Pragnell pointing. “That house there, prepare to fire!” And the youngsters, taking aim, fired a volley. Suddenly a young soldier dropped his rifle, clutching at his shoulder and crying out, “Oh God, I’ve been shot!” Pragnell wriggled over to help him. Then he bawled angrily, “Good God, man! You’re not hurt - it’s only the recoil. Pick up that rifle!” For several minutes the troops remained pinned. Near Pragnell a young soldier screamed in agony as a bullet tore away a piece of his backside.

Then ... Fane and Pragnell rose to their feet, and brandishing their swords bravely shouted, “Charge!” ....’

Pragnell made a successful recovery and entered the war in France in February 1917. He was reported ‘Missing’ on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive. Having been taken prisoner by the Germans he was held prisoner at Citadel Queuists P.O.W. Camp, Mainz. He was repatriated on 29 November 1918.

Awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 3 June 1918. A note with the lot indicates that the Notts. & Derby Regimental Museum, after extensive research, were unable to state in which theatre of war or for what act the decoration was awarded.

With copied gazette extracts, m.i.c., Sherwood Foresters casualty list for the Easter Rising, extracts from the ‘Caulfield’ book and other research, including copied photograph.