Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare “Irish Troubles” Medal of the Order of the British Empire group of five awarded to Police Sergeant C. J. Keeney, Royal Irish Constabulary, late Irish Guards

Medal of the Order of the British Empire, (Civil), unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (6472 Pte., I. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (6472 Sjt., Ir. Gds.); Visit to Ireland 1911, unnamed as issued, very fine or better (5) £800-1000

Medal of the Order of the British Empire London Gazette 1 January 1923.

Charles Joseph Keeney appears to have entered the Royal Irish Constabulary in Galway in June 1907, but was transferred to Belfast in 1912. He subsequently enlisted in the Irish Guards at Dublin in January 1915 and was advanced to Lance-Corporal that April, in which month he entered the French theatre of war. According to regimental records he was taken P.O.W. at Bourlon Wood on 27 November 1917, by which date he had been advanced to Sergeant. Repatriated in December 1918, he re-enlisted in the R.I.C. in March 1919 and served back in Galway until 1922, his Medal of the British Empire being gazetted in January of the following year.