Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Constabulary Medal (Ireland) awarded to Constable Simon Hickey

Constabulary Medal (Ireland), 2nd type, ‘Reward of Merit Royal Irish Constabulary’, reverse inscribed, ‘Constable Simon Hickey 67897 1920’, with swivel straight bar suspension and silver brooch bar, good very fine £3000-3500

With copied research stating Simon Hickey was a Roman Catholic, born in Tralee, Co. Kerry, on 17 May 1894. A Farmer prior to joining the Royal Irish Constabulary, he resigned on 9 November 1920 in order to emigrate to Sydney, Australia, where he joined the New South Wales Police.

As verified by Roger Willoughby’s forthcoming publication, Irish Decorations & Medals 1783-1922 - Official Awards to the Ascendency, Police & Others, Hickey was awarded his Constabulary Medal in respect of an attack on Bookeen R.I.C. Barracks on 2 July 1920:

Bookeen Barracks, Co Galway, 2 July 1920

The contemporary police report noted the action thus: ‘At 2a.m. on 2.7.20 Bookeen R.I.C. Barrack was attacked by a large party of raiders who called on the police to surrender. From inside the reply came “Never until we are burned out”. The roof of the building was set on fire while a vigorous attack was opened by the raiders. The police replied to the fire and the fight continued until 5.30 a.m. when, owing to the condition of the barrack, the police found it necessary to make their escape. After crawling on their hands to the rere [sic] the raiders again opened fire. The police replied and succeeded in forcing the raiders to retire. None of the party received injuries. It is believed some of the attackers were killed or wounded. All the arms are safe. The barrack is wholly destroyed’.

Further details were noted in the Connacht Tribune thus:

‘… On Friday morning the R.I.C. barracks at Bookeen – a lonely roadside station, situate midway between Loughrea and Athenry – were burned to the ground following a fierce attack by about two hundred armed men. At 2.30 a.m. the little garrison, comprising seven constables, under the command of Sergeant Ed Brady (on temporary duty from Loughrea) having refused to surrender, the roof was set on fire with petrol and a general attack with bombs, rifles, and revolvers began. The police stood to arms and replied with vigour, hurling hand-grenades in the direction from which the terrific fire of their invisible assailants came. Meanwhile, Verey lights were sent up and these, with the sound of the high explosive rockets, and the continuous report of rifle and revolver [fire], intermingled with the detonation of the bombs, made a deafening din. The siege went on until 5am, when the police perceiving the roof was about to collapse, vacated the building. Several bombs were afterwards thrown by the police in the direction of a cottage (occupied by a man named Broderick, his wife and nine children) from the roof of which a party of the raiders fired volley after volley on the burning building, penetrating the steel shutters that served to protect the windows. The attacking party subsequently withdrew in motor cars and bicycles … About 8 a.m. the little garrison, with arms intact, reached Loughrea partially dressed, not much the worse of their perilous adventure with the exception of Constable Hickey, who was suffering from a slight wound in the ankle. Sergeant Brady has since received a congratulatory message from the Inspector-General’.