Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An emotive Family Group:

Three: Gunner H. O. Fitzgerald, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 20 June 1916
1914-15 Star (24468 Dvr: H. O. Fitzgerald. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (24468. Gnr. H. O. Fitzgerald. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (Henry Owen Fitzgerald) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; Memorial Scroll, ‘Gunner Henry Owen Fitzgeald, Royal Field Artillery’, nearly extremely fine

Three: Sergeant T. W. Fitzgerald, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 6 July 1917
1914-15 Star (24472 Sjt. T. W. Fitzgerald. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (24472. Sjt. T. W. Fitzgerald. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (William Thomas [sic] Fitzgerald) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; Memorial Scroll, ‘Serjt. Thomas William Fitzgerald, Royal Field Artillery’, nearly extremely fine

Three: Gunner O. Fitzgerald, Royal Field Artillery, who died of wounds on the Western Front on 5 September 1918
1914-15 Star (29701 Gnr: O. Fitzgerald. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (29701. Gnr. O. Fitzgerald. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (Osborne Fitzgerald) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; Memorial Scroll, ‘Gunner Osborne Fitzgerald, Royal Field Artillery’, in OHMS transmission tube, addressed to ‘Mrs. E. Fitzgerald, 22 Station Road, Penarth, Cardiff’, nearly extremely fine (15) £500-£700

Henry Owen Fitzgerald was born in Penarth, Glamorgan, in 1893, the son of Patrick and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, and attested there for the Royal Field Artillery on 2 September 1914. He served with “C” Battery, 85th Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 July 1915, and was killed in action on 20 June 1916.
A comrade wrote: ‘He met his death whilst doing his duty. The whole thing was most sudden and unexpected. The night was very quiet, and he was assisting two other gunners in carrying material into the copse, when a shell came and killed him instantly, wounding both the other men. We have lost a gallant and upright Englishman, and at a time when he could be ill-spared.’
The Chaplain also wrote: ‘He was one of the best gunners we had, and was always willing to work and always setting a good example to the rest. His death is a very great loss to the Battery. Not long ago he shot the battery once at a party of the enemy he had spotted on the marshes, and we were all very pleased with his shoot.’ (newspaper cutting refers).
He is buried in Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-sur-Somme, France.

Thomas William Fitzgerald, brother of the above, was born in Penarth, Glamorgan, in 1888, the son of Patrick and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, and attested there for the Royal Field Artillery on 2 September 1914 (judging by his number just moments after his brother). Promoted Sergeant on 26 September 1915, he served with “A” Battery, 113th Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front from that date, and was killed in action on 6 July 1917.
The Major of his Battery wrote: ‘Your son was killed trying to extricate some horses under very heavy shell fire whilst returning from taking up ammunition to the battery. He went back to his team, and was killed by a shell just as he reached it, death being instantaneous. He was one of the best non-commissioned officers I have had in this battery. His courage, willingness, and devotion to duty making him very popular with everyone. He died the death of a soldier, and was not afraid, and I feel I have lost a personal friend.’ (newspaper cutting refers).
He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Osborne Fitzgerald, brother of the above, was born in Penarth, Glamorgan, the third and final son of Patrick and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, and attested there for the Royal Field Artillery, aged 17. He served with “B” Battery, 110th Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front from 26 September 1915, and died of wounds on 5 September 1918. ‘He had been in France about three years and was on home on leave a fortnight ago. He was struck by a fragment of shell four days after his return, and died in hospital the next day. He had been gassed on two previous occasions.’ (newspaper cutting refers).
He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt l’Abbe, France.

Sold with two C.W.G.C. Memorial Scrolls; photographic images of all three brothers; and copied research.