Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The 1914 Star awarded to Sergeant D. Walsh, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, who was killed in action at Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front

1914 Star (4969 Sjt. D. Walsh. R. Ir: Regt.) good very fine £180-£220

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

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Denis Walsh was born in 1875 at Cappoquin, County Waterford, Ireland and attested for the Royal Irish Regiment at Dungarvon, County Waterford in 1893. He served with the 2nd Battalion on the North West Frontier and was awarded the India General Service Medal with clasps for Punjaub Frontier 1897-98 and Samana 1897.

Following the outbreak of the Great War he sailed for France on 13 August as a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion and, having landed at Boulogne, moved forward with his battalion as part of the 8th Brigade, 3rd Division into Belgium and on to St. Symphorien, just south-east of Mons, on 22 August. Advancing further the following morning, the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment took part in fighting on the eastern outskirts of Mons and were heavily engaged around the cemetery before they fell back to Nouvelles having sustained casualties of around 300 officers and men either killed, wounded or missing.

Sergeant Walsh was initially reported missing on 23 August 1914 but was later confirmed killed in action. He was the son of Denis Walsh, of Affane, Cappoquin and the husband of Margaret Walsh (nee Lenane), of The Green, Villierstown, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, and is buried in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium.