Medals from the collection of the late Mike Leahy

The Great War pair awarded to Lieutenant C. E. Adams, Royal Fusiliers, late Sergeant in the Devon Regiment, wounded four times and awarded the D.C.M., and killed in the train ambush at Headford Junction, Co. Kerry, Ireland, in March 1921

British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. C. E. Adams) extremely fine (2) £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the collection of the late Mike Leahy.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 25 November 1916: ‘Sergeant, Devon Regiment. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He assumed command of and led his company with great courage and initiative. Later, although wounded, he remained at his post for 24 hours.’

Adams served with the Devon Regiment in France and Belgium from 21 August 1914 to August 1918, was wounded four times and awarded the D.C.M. and 1914 Star. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Fusiliers, for service in the field, 5 July 1918, he proceeded to Ireland with the 1st Battalion on 31 July 1920. On 21 March 1921, Adams and 27 men of “B” Company were coming in to Killarney from Kenmare. They left Kenmare by train at 1.50 and arrived at Headford Junction, where they had to change trains, at 3 o’clock. As the first men were getting out of the train, fire was opened on them by concealed men from banks on both sides of the line and from the station buildings. The rebels had a machine gun in the stationmaster’s house. Adams and the three senior N.C.O.’s were knocked out at once. Eight of the party were killed and eleven wounded. But the few survivors got what cover they could and put up such a stout fight that for 50 minutes the Sinns, who outnumbered them by certainly 10 to 1, and probably much more, did not dare to make a move. The rebels eventually fled upon the arrival of another train with a small number of troops who immediately deployed across the line and advanced against them.