Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Victory Medal awarded to Private J. Markey, 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment, who was captured at Premesques, during the Battle of Armentières, in October 1914

Victory Medal 1914-19 (10011 Pte. J. Markey. Leins. R.) heavily polished with slight edge bruising, good fine £60-£80

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

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John Markey served with the 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 September 1914. He was captured before 10 November 1914 and sent to Limburg prisoner of war camp (Leinster Reporter articles dated 2 January 1915 and 15 May 1915 confirm.)

Private Markey was undoubtedly captured at Premesques on 20 October 1914 when the Leinsters, having taken the village two days earlier, were completely surprised and overrun by a German counterattack. 155 men of the 2nd Leinsters were killed and 300 were wounded or taken prisoner. It was the Leinsters’ only major action of 1914.