Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private W. J. Byrne, 1st Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers), who was killed in action at Le Ruage during the Battle of Armentières on 18 October 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (11265 Pte. W. Byrne. R. Ir.: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (11265 Pte. W. Byrne. R. Ir. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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William Joseph Byrne was born in 1895 at Dublin, Ireland. He attested for the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Dublin on 9 June 1913 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 August 1914. His battalion, as part of the 10th Brigade in the 4th Division, suffered heavy casualties in the area of Harcourt at the Battle of Le Cateau, 26 August, and were again in action at the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne in September.

Private Byrne was killed in action on 18 October during the battle of Armentières, at a time when the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers were involved in fighting near Le Ruage, 17-19 October 1914. Having earlier made good ground from Armentières - where the local inhabitants welcomed the men with gifts of bread, coffee and chocolate - Captain M. B. C. Carbery of C Company was killed on 17 October near Le Ruage and Private Byrne was one of eight men of the battalion killed in action the following day. The battalion was relieved after dark on 19 October and returned to Houplines.

William Joseph Byrne was the son of Patrick and Annie Byrne, of 31, Blackhall St., Dublin and is buried in Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension, France.