Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private G. Hoey, Royal Irish Rifles, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 23 October 1916

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (3096 Corpl: G. Hoey. Rl: Irish Rif:); 1914 Star (5369 Pte. G. Hoey. R. Ir: Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (5369 Pte. G. Hoey. R. Ir. Rif.); Memorial Plaque (George Hoey) in card envelope, minor edge bruising to QSA, generally good very fine (5) £260-£300

George Hoey was born in Moy, co. Tyrone, and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Downpatrick, co. Down. He served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, and initially with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 November 1914. Transferring to the 1st Battalion, he was killed in action on the Somme on 23 October 1916, on which date the Battalion was involved in an attack on the Rainbow and Spider Trenches near Lesbœufs. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.