Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (T. B. Ireland, Boy 1 Cl., H.M.S. Forte) large impressed naming, very fine £200-£240

Thomas Barry Ireland was born in St. Mary’s, Scilly Isles on 2 May 1885. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 11 October 1900 and was advanced to Boy First Class in June 1901. Serving in the 2nd class cruiser H.M.S. Forte, April 1902-February 1905, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in May 1903 and Able Seaman in April 1904. Whilst on the ship he qualified for the Queen’s medal without clasp for his service during the Boer War. Further advancement followed, becoming a Leading Seaman when based at Victory I in February 1909 and Petty Officer when in H.M.S. Blake in May 1911. He was posted to the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Monmouth in August 1914 and on 9 September 1914 was ranked as Acting Boatswain.

Ireland was killed in action at the battle of Coronel, 1 November 1914, when the armoured cruisers H.M.S. Good Hope and H.M.S. Monmouth were sunk with all hands by the ships of Von Spee’s East Asiatic Squadron. His name is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Sold with copied service papers and with a copied extract from The Ilfracombe Chronicle, 21 November 1914 which reprinted his last letter to his mother, ‘My dear Mother, Just a line to let you know I am safe and well. We have been at sea ever since we left England, only just going to harbour to coal and out again. We are having a very rough time of it, and the food we are having is just enough to keep us alive. There are five men-of-war around here somewhere, and we’ve got to try and finish them off. I hope we meet them shortly, as it is sickening away at sea all the time. Have not time to say any more, hoping all at home is well. From your loving son, Tom’.