Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private R. Delaney, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle during the Battle of La Bassée on 26 October 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (8267 Pte. R. Delaney. R. Ir: Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (2-8267 Pte. R. Delaney. R. Ir. Rif.) nearly very 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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Richard Delaney was born in 1884 at Ballymachugh, County Cavan, Ireland and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Armagh in 1906. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and would have been present with his Battalion at the Battle of Mons, Caudry (Le Cateau) on 26 August, and at the Aisne. On 12 October 1914 the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles deployed at La Bassée, with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, as part of II Corps’ plan to protect the Channel Ports. There followed two and a half weeks of bitter and bloody fighting in and around the village of Neuve Chapelle where the battalion was engaged in repelling heavy attacks from Jagers and dismounted German cavalry units.

Delaney was killed in action on 26 October 1914 - a day the Regimental History describes as the worst of all:
‘The Battalion still clung on to Neuve Chapelle, but it was now a grievous case. In the last two days it had lost Captains Reynolds and Kennedy and Lieutenant Rea killed, and Lieutenants Lowry and Lavelle wounded. Major Daunt had already been wounded, and the command devolved upon Captain C. S. Dixon, who had not more than four or five officers left with his thinned companies. Two of these, “A” and “C” were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast for a short rest on the morning of the 26th. This was the blackest day of all. An enemy attack swept into the village from the north-east corner. “B” and “D” Companies were simply swallowed up, Lieutenants Finlay and and Innes-Cross, the only officers with them, and every soul in their ranks, being reported missing. About 6.30pm a counter-attack reoccupied half the village, and the rest of the Battalion, hastily summoned from Richebourg, took its place in the line.’ (The History of the First Seven Battalions, The Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War vol 2 by Cyril Falls refers).

Richard Delaney was the son of James and Julia Delaney of Mount Nugent, County Cavan; he has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.