Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private D. Hogan, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War following the rear-guard action at Etreaux, during the retreat from Mons, on 27 August 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (8075 Pte. D. Hogan. R. Muns: F.); British War and Victory Medals (8075 Pte. D. Hogan. R. Mun. Fus.) traces of verdigris, about very fine (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Recipients of the 1914 Star.

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Dan Hogan served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and was taken prisoner of war on 27 August 1914 following the battalion’s famous rearguard action at Etreux during the retreat from Mons.

The ‘Last Stand’ of the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers at Etreux was the result of the ‘Munsters’ being ordered to save the 1st Division, to cover the rear-guard of its retreat from Mons, to hold the village of Fesmy and only to retire if ordered or was driven out. For a whole day and more, the battalion stuck to its task, holding up nine German battalions, out-numbering the ‘Munsters’ by 5 to 6 times their strength.

The Story of the Munsters at Etreux, Festubert, Rue de Bois and Hulloch, by Rickard, and The History of the Royal Munster Fusiliers, by McCance, cover the action in detail. The latter refers:
‘The action is likely to become the classical example of the performance of its functions by a rear-guard. The Battalion not only held up the attack of a strong hostile force in its original position, thereby securing the unmolested withdrawal of its Division, but in retiring drew on itself the attacks of very superior numbers of the enemy. It was finally cut off at Etreux by five or six times its numbers, but held out for several hours, the remnant only surrendering when their ammunition was practically exhausted and only a small number of men remained unhurt. The survivors were warmly congratulated by the Germans on the fine fight they had made. No other claim to a memorial near Etreux is likely to be advanced-certainly nothing which would not take second place to the Munsters.’

Sold together with a Buckingham Palace letter to released prisoners of war.