Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part III)

An excessively rare Malabar 1921-22 operations D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private G. Ryan, Leinster Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7178031 Pte. G. Ryan, 1-Leins. R.); 1914-15 Star (9280 Pte., Leins. R.); British War Medal 1914-20, naming erased; Victory Medal 1914-19 (9280 Pte., Leins. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Malabar 1921-22 (7178031 Pte., Leins. R.), together with Irish Command Sports Association 1919 prize medal, the obverse engraved, ‘Tug of War, 1st, Depot Leinster Regt., 35222 Pte. G. Ryan’, bronze, 62mm., and ‘Garrison Sports, Birr, 4.8.19’ prize award in the form of a watch fob, also for a Tug of War competition, the reverse engraved, ‘Won by Leinster Regt., Pte. G. Ryan’, 26mm., the first with re-riveted suspension claw and severe edge bruising, and all with contact marks and polished, thus fine or better (7) £2500-3000

Just two Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded in respect of the Malabar 1921-22 operations.

D.C.M. London Gazette 2 June 1923:

‘For distinguished service rendered in connection with military operations in Malabar, 1921-22.’

The Moplah rebellion in Malabar broke out in the hot weather of 1921. At Calicut was a garrison of two platoons of ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, Leinster Regiment, strengthened about this time by the remainder of the company plus two platoons of ‘B’ Company, the whole under the command of Captain P. McEnroy, D.S.O., M.C., an Irish Guardsman who had won promotion in the War.

With about 100 men Captain McEnroy proceeded to Tirur Augadi with the Collector to effect certain arrests. This precipitated matters and the Collector was obliged to hand over charge to Captain McEnroy. The party got back safely to Calicut, but after a trying march during which it was constantly engaged. The whole countryside was soon in rebellion and Captain McEnroy now sent two platoons and some special police to Malappuram to deal with any trouble there.That garrison was quickly in a perilous situation and Captain McEnroy therefore took the soldierly course of going straight for Malappuram with every available man, some 100 in all, hoping to meet the rebels on the way. This he did about 20 miles out and there a mob of 1000 rebels attacked him for four or five hours. These fanatics attacked from all sides and shot at the Leinsters from trees, and on many occasions advanced to the very bayonets of the troops. The onrush, however, was beaten off, Captain McEnroy getting 30 Moplahs with his own rifle, and the garrison at Malappuram was successfully relieved.

For his sterling services Captain McEnroy received the thanks of the Government of India and a well merited bar to his D.S.O. Privates Cahill and Ryan were at the same time rewarded with the Distinguished Conduct Medal.