Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare ‘Burma 1887-89’ D.S.O. group of three to Major I. P. Doyle, Indian Medical Services

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with brooch bar; India General Service 1854-954 clasps, Burma 1887-89, Chin-Lushai 1889-90, Chin Hills 1892-93, Lushai 1889-92 (Surgeon, I.M.S.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Major, D.S.O., Somaliland F.F.), renamed, mounted court style, good very fine (3) £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 12 November 1889; citation London Gazette 15 November 1889 ‘Surgeon I. P. Doyle, I.M.D. (Madras), distinguished himself much by personal courage and care of the sick. On the 9th December, 1888, he was twice wounded. On the 1st January, 1889, during the withdrawal from Kan to Gangaw, he again distinguished himself; and it is greatly in consequence of his courage and bearing that the wounded got safely into Gangaw. I commend this officer very specially to the consideration of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief’.

Ignatius Purcell Doyle was born in India on 1 June 1863, the son of Surgeon-Major William Doyle. Educated at the French College, Blackrock, Co. Dublin and the School of Physic, Trinity College Dublin, he gained the L.R.C.S.I. and L.K.Q.C.P. in 1884. He joined the Army as a Surgeon on 30 September 1886 and served in Burma, 1888-89, was twice wounded, was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 November 1889) and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. He then served in the Chin-Lushai expedition, 1889-90, in the Chin Hills, 1891-93, the Lushai expedition, 1892 and in the Somaliland Field Force in 1903, having been promoted to Major (Surgeon) in September 1898. Major Doyle retired on 31 December 1903 and died in Dublin on 22 October 1923. Sold with copied service details.