Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

A Boer War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private W. Sweeney, Royal Irish Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (3421 Pte. W. Sweeney, Rl. Irish Regt.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897 (3421 Pte., Rl. Irish Regt.), copy Samana clasp and later impressed naming, suspension detached; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3421 L. Cpl., Rl. Irish Regt.); together with 1914-15 Star Trio awarded to another member of the family (6943 Sjt. W. Sweeney, R. Ir. R.) the first three with edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine, the last three good very fine (6) £600-800

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

The following details are recorded in the regimental history: ‘Between March and November 1901, the section was in the south of the Free State, occupied in clearing the country and similar uncongenial duties, the monotony of which was relieved by occasional skirmishes. In one of these affairs two soldiers distinguished themselves. Private W. Sweeney found himself surrounded by four mounted Boers who, covering him with their rifles, called upon him to surrender; though they were all within fifty yards of him he refused to do so, and firing at them from the saddle succeeded in making his escape. His name was specially mentioned to the General commanding the column for his gallantry on this occasion. This man’s death was a sad one; he fell down a well, 45 feet deep, at Needspan, and his body was not discovered for several days. An officer writes of him: “he was one of the best soldiers and the cheeriest of men whom I have ever met; and his behaviour both in camp and field was excellent.” ’