A Great War ‘Palestine’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. G. M. Tyrrell, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, who latterly commanded the 21st Corps Cavalry Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut., 5/Lcrs.); 1914-15 Star (Capt., 5/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); France, Legion of Honour, 5th Class, silver, gold and enamel, mounted court style for display, last with slight enamel damage, good very fine (6)
£2000-2500

D.S.O. London Gazette 12 December 1919. ‘Capt. (Acting Lieut.-Colonel), 5th Lancers, Commanding 21st Corps Cavalry Regt.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 June 1918, 22 January 1919, 5 June 1919.

George Gerald Montague Tyrrell was born on 10 November 1876, the only son of George Gerald Tyrrell of Kilmacrew, Co. Down. He was educated at Charterhouse. He commenced his military service as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Cameronians Militia on 11 May 1898. Appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Lancers on 15 November 1899 and advanced to Lieutenant in November the following year. Served in the Second Boer War, 1899-1902, employed with the Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Served in the relief of Ladysmith, including the operation on Tugela Heights; then in operations in the Transvaal, November 1900-June 1901. Served as Adjutant of Volunteers with the South Rhodesia Volunteer Rifles, 1903-08. Promoted to Captain in 5th Lancers in May 1908.

During the Great War Tyrrell served in France/Flanders, March 1915-January 1917 and with the Egypt Expeditionary Force, February 1917-October 1918. Served as Adjutant to the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, March 1913-August 1915. Afterwards employed as an Instructor at the Imperial School of Instruction at Zeitoum, Egypt, May-September 1917 with the rank of Acting Lieutenant-Colonel. Subsequently in command of the 21st Corps Cavalry Regiment as Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, September 1917-October 1918. Under his command the 21st Corps of Cavalry Regiment (Hertfordshire Yeomanry; Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry; Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) took part in the Third Battle of Gaza (Second Offensive, 27 October-16 November 1917); the operations around Jerusalem, 17 November-30 December 1917 - including the battle of Nabi Samweil, 17-24 November; and the action at Tell’Asur. For his wartime services in Egypt and Palestine he was three times mentioned in despatches, created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and awarded the French Legion of Honour.

Tyrrell was promoted to Major in July 1919. He relinquished his Temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1919 and retired with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 21 April 1920. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Bedford in 1936. In 1913 he married Eva St. John, the seventh daughter of Beauchamp Moubray, 16th Baron St. John of Bletso. Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrrell died in 1951. With copied gazette extracts and other research and three mounted postcards relating to the 5th Lancers. Also with four pieces of uniform insignia.