Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A 1919 Constabulary Medal (Ireland) awarded to Constable (later Sergeant) J. F. Barry, Royal Irish Constabulary, for his gallantry when the Moynoe Police Hut, Co. Clare, was attacked with rifle and revolver fire by a party of over 30 men on the night of 8 August 1919

Constabulary Medal (Ireland), 2nd type, ‘Reward of Merit Royal Irish Constabulary’ (Constable John F. Barry 67082. 1919) with top silver riband bar, suspension bar very slightly bent, otherwise extremely fine, scarce £3,000-£4,000

Royal Irish Constabulary Medal of Merit for Bravery granted 9 September 1919.
The recommendation states: ‘On the night of 8 August Moynoe Police Hut was attacked with rifle fire by a party of men. The attack which lasted about an hour was beaten off by the police who returned the fire and wounded at least one of the attacking party.’

The Freeman’s Journal noted that: ‘Another daring outrage is reported from East Clare, when the police hut at Moynoe, about four miles from Scariff, and close to the residence of Dr F. C. Sampson, J.P., for whose protection it was established, was attacked yesterday morning about 2:00 a.m. by a party of between thirty and forty men, who opened violent rifle and revolver fire at it. The men in the hut, four constables, in the charge of Sergeant Burke, who has been there but a short time, replied vigourously to the fire, and the siege lasted for about an hour and a quarter. None of the police were hit, but it is believed on very good grounds that two at least of the attacking party were injured. Considerable damage was done to the hut. When news of the raid reached Ennis, Mr. Flower, Assistant Inspector General, motored from there to the district.’

John Francis Barry served with the Royal Irish Constabulary, and was one of five policemen (the others being Sergeant P. Burke, and Constables P. Murphy, Peter Murphy, and D. Keeffe) who were awarded the Royal Irish Constabulary Medal of Merit for Bravery for their gallantry during the attack on the Moynoe Police Hut in County Clare on 8 August 1919. As a consequence Barry had to leave Ireland because he felt that if he remained his family might suffer at the hands of the Rebels, and resigned on 16 October 1920, subsequently joining the Monmouthshire Police. Whilst in Monmouth he appeared before the County’s Joint Standing Committee at Newport, applying for his service in the Royal Irish Constabulary to count for pension purposes- in view of his ‘outstanding conduct’, the Committee sanctioned the request (newspaper cutting with lot refers). He died in December 1949, and is buried in Cwmbran Cemetery. (Irish Decorations and Medals 1783-1922, by Roger Willoughby refers).

Sold with a newspaper cutting containing a photograph of the recipient, and various other research.