Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Victory Medal 1914-19 (2) (7742 Pte. D. Carew. R. Ir. Regt.; 9230 Pte. W. T. Mayes. R. Mun. Fus.) edge bruising to latter, generally very fine, the latter one of the scarce ‘dark-chocolate colour’ types of Victory Medal (2) £70-£90

Denis Carew was born in Tipperary in 1881 and attested there for the Connaught Rangers on 30 June 1903, having previously served in the 4th Royal Irish Regimet Militia. He transferred to the Royal Irish Regiment on 2 July 1903, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914. He was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Bertry on the night of 26-27 August 1914, following the Battle of Le Cateau; two companies of the Royal Irish, together with the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, ran into a strong German force on the outskirts of Bertry and after an hour’s fierce fighting many men became casualties and large numbers were forced to surrender. Carew was amongst those captured, a fellow comrade stating:
‘We were fighting a rearguard action, and in consequence of some misunderstanding about retiring, we were surrounded on the night of 26th-27th August 1914. We surrendered at 2 a.m. on 27th - 496 unwounded prisoners altogether.’

Carew was interned in Switzerland from 13 December 1916, and was repatriated in June 1918. He was discharged, no longer physically fit for War service, on 29 January 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. B113,397.

Sold with copied service papers, medal index card, and other research.

William Thomas Mayes attested for the Royal Muster Fusiliers on 10 July 1909 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War fro 25 April 1915, taking part in the historic landing from the River Clyde. He was discharged due to wounds on 23 November 1915, and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 150,948.

Sold with copied medal index card and other research.