Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (2 Lieut. J. B. Ruby) edge bruising, nearly extremely fine £40-60

Joseph Bennett Ruby was born in Cork on 14 June 1899, the son of the Rev. H. E. Ruby, Rector of Castlemartyr, Co. Cork. A former member of the Dean Close School, Cheltenham O.T.C., he entered the R.M.A., Woolwich on 9 January 1917 and was eventually commissioned in to the Royal Garrison Artillery. 2nd Lieutenant Ruby, attached to the Base Depot at Havre, was killed in a railway accident on 4 September 1918, aged 19 years. He was buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. In the court of enquiry held at No.81 General Hospital, an eye-witness, Lieutenant E. Stephens, R.G.A. stated, ‘I travelled on the train which left Havre about mid-day Sept. 2nd 1918 with reinforcements for Italy; the train was numbered H.V.8 Havre to Vontimille. ... the train was stopped at Orange Station ... and was drawn up three hundred yards to the South of it. The stop lasted about ten minutes and Officers were busy getting the men back into their trucks during this time. I had just returned to my carriage when the train started and happening to look out of the window I saw Mr Ruby walking towards the Officer’s carriage from the truck occupied by his men. ... I saw him attempt to get into one of the men’s trucks. By this time the train was gathering speed. ... I saw him miss his footing on the truck and just at this moment he struck against an iron standard and was twisted sideways and thrown under the train. The train immediately stopped and on reaching the spot I saw the body of Mr Ruby lying accross the track. I estimate that eight or ten trucks passed over the body which appeared to be severed about the waist. ...’ Sold with copied research including service and board of enquiry papers.