Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Shooting Medals awarded to Major A. B. Leech, Captain of the Irish Rifle Team.

i) Irish Rifle Association Shield, gold (18ct., 20.60g), the obverse embossed with trophies of arms and the coats of arms of the four Provinces, and engraved in the centre ‘To Arthur Blennerhasset Leech from The Irish Eight’, the reverse engraved ‘S. S. Young, Jos. K. Millner, John Rigby, William Rigby, James Wilson, R. S. Joyce, John Lloyd, Edmond Johnson’, with top gold riband bar, embossed ‘1873’

ii) United Kingdom v. United States of America Shooting Competition Lapel Badge, gold, silver, base metal, and enamel, in the form of a gold bullet, with laurel branch attached, suspended from crossed rifles, with the Red Ensign and the Star Spangled Banner affixed, and all suspended from a top brooch bar inscribed ‘Creedmoor 1874’, in G. Meg & Co., London, fitted case

iii) United Kingdom v. United States of America Shooting Competition Lapel Badge, gold (9ct?) and enamel, in the form of crossed flags of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, with ‘shaking hands’ above, surmounted by the year ‘1874’ with top brooch bar inscribed ‘A,erica’, in Edmond Johnson, Dublin, fitted case

iv) United States Centennial Shield, gold (18ct?, 13.29g), by Tiffany, New York, the obverse with a surmounted American Eagle standard, the reverse engraved ‘American Rifleman to Maj. A. B. Leech. of the International Irish Rifle Team Sept. 13th & 14th 1876., suspended from a gold globe with bar inscribed ‘US Centennial’, and top brooch bar surmounted by an American eagle and inscribed ‘Captain Irish Rifle Team 1876, in Tiffany, New York, fitted case

v) Gaelic Athletic Association Championship Medal, 39mm, silver, the reverse engraved ‘Specimen Medal for Collection given to Major Leech 1885’, in J. F. O’Crowley, Cork, fitted case

vi) National Rifle Association Director’s Shield, silver, unnamed, suspended from a top ‘Creedmore’ brooch bar, in fitted case, generally extremely fine and a rare set of shooting medals (lot) £1,600-£2,000

Sold together with a Sporting Prize Medal, silver, with gold (9ct.) central shield, presumably awarded to the recipient’s son, the reverse engraved ‘No. 1 Coy. R.G.A. Winners R.A. Inter Coy. Hockey Lt. J. G. C. Leech. 1911-12’; various buttons; a Royal Colonial Institute Fellow’s lapel badge; a Diggers’ Club lapel badge and tie pin, and other ephemera.

For the India General Service Medal awarded to R. S. B. Leech, see Lot 459.