Auction Catalogue

18 & 19 July 2018

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

Download Images

Lot

№ 312

.

18 July 2018

Hammer Price:
£280

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Philip Kilroy, 88th. Regt.) edge bruising and contact marks, worn in parts, nearly very fine £240-280

Philip Kilroy was born in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ireland, in 1837 and attested for the 88th Foot (Connaught Rangers) at Athlone, Co. Roscommon, on 28 August 1855. He served with the Regiment in India for ten years and ten months, and was present in the Light Company of the Regiment under the command of Major Mauleverer during the Great Sepoy Mutiny- originally entitled to the clasp ‘Lucknow’ for the period 2-16 March 1858, the clasp was subsequently disallowed for those who served in the 88th Foot by order of the Adjutant General in 1860, and instead Kilroy, along with the rest of his Regiment became entitled to and received the clasp ‘Central India’ (confirmed on roll). However, Kilroy was entitled to a share of the prize money for Lucknow, as well as that for Jhansi, where he was part of the Detachment of the Regiment which crossed the River Jumna and was present at the Siege and Capture of Calpee. He was promoted Corporal on 2 May 1859, and Sergeant on 7 January 1861, and was discharged at Athlone on 27 March 1877 after 21 years and 184 days’ service.

Kilroy died in Gosport, Hampshire, in January 1899- initially it was rumoured that he had been murdered, as the following article in the
Portsmouth Evening News, 30 January 1899, under the heading ‘Sudden death of a pensioner - a strange rumour’ refers:
‘On Saturday night and Sunday morning a rumour was very generally circulated in Gosport to the effect that an old man had been murdered in a house on the Green. The truth of the matter is that a man named Philip Kilroy died under somewhat strange circumstances, though it is believed that his death was due to failure of the heart’s action, which brought about a heavy fall, whereby sustained bruises on the head.
The deceased, who was a drill instructor in the Connaught Rangers, and who formerly kept a public house in Chapel-Lane, appears to have fallen from a stool in the yard of No 13. The Green, death ensuing shortly afterwards. The marks upon his head, however, do not appear to be severe enough to cause death. Mrs. Kealy and Terry were called in to the deceased, who, it is said, had been involved in a squabble during the day.’
However, upon further investigation it later transpired that he died of heart failure caused by a fatal fit of temper.

Sold with copied service and discharge papers and other research, including prize money musters and relevant
London Gazette entries.