Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sergeant-Major Michael Dinneen, New Zealand Permanent Militia, late 70th Foot and 81st Foot

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (2632 M. Dinneen 81st Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (2632 M Dinneen, H.Ms. 81st Regt.); New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (532 Corpl. Michael Duicen 70th Foot); New Zealand Auxiliary Long Service Medal (84. Sgt.-Major Michael Dinneen. P.M.) all fitted with attractively engraved silver ribbon brooch buckles, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better(4) £1,600-£2,000

Michael Dalton Dinneen was a native of Tipperary and enlisted at Templemore into the 81st Foot on 5 February 1852, aged 17 years 6 months. He served with the 81st in operations on the North West Frontier in April and May 1858, and in the latter stages of the Indian Mutiny. He transferred to the 70th Foot on 1 November 1858, and proceeded with the regiment from Calcutta to New Zealand in 1861 where he served throughout the Waikato and Taranaki wars as a Corporal. He was discharged at Auckland on 13 August 1864, having completed his period of limited engagement. In 1868 he joined the Armed Constabulary, serving in Auckland, Waikato, and Alexandra, retiring with the rank of Sergeant-Major when the force was disbanded, after which he settled in Kihikihi in 1887. His medal for the North West Frontier was sent to him in November 1872, care of ‘New Zealand Armed Constabulary Force, Hamilton, New Zealand.’ Examination of the N.Z. Medal roll, signed at Kinsale, 1869, reveals rather spidery handwriting and it can be seen that ‘Dinneen’ could easily be misread as ‘Duicen’. Sold with research including a copied article from the Auckland Volume of the Cyclopedia of New Zealand with a photograph of Dinneen wearing three medals.