Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Private W. J. Shields, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, a prisoner-of-war

1914 Star, with copy ‘slip-on’ clasp (8568 Pte., R. Ir. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (8568 Pte., R. Ir. Rif.) nearly extremely fine (3) £140-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of 1914 Star Groups.

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Private William J. Shields, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, entered France on 14 August 1914. The unit formed part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, in the II Army Corps. At Mons on 23 August 1914 the 8th Brigade held the British right at Bois la Haut as far as Nimy. They were forced back by heavy German attacks. The Royal Irish Rifles covered the withdrawal of the 4/Middlesex but in doing so were trapped themselves. They managed to extricate themselves by taking a long detour to the N.E. of Bois de Haut. At the battle of Le Cateau the 8th Brigade held Audencourt, being subjected to a heavy artillery bombardment. When the order came to retire, two companies of the Royal Irish Rifles and others, about 1,000 men, were isolated and unable to withdraw. For some six hours they were subjected to a fierce bombardment and repeated attacks. By the time they surrendered only 200 were alive. At some stage, date unknown, Shields was captured and became a prisoner-of-war. With copied m.i.c. - clasp confirmed.