A HIGHLY UNUSUAL "BATTLE OF HOOGE" DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL "CASUALTY" GROUP OF FIVE,
Comprising QSA (Boer War M.I.D)
& 1914 Star & Bar Trio.
1st Royal MUNSTER Rgt & 112th By R.F.A.

DIED OF WOUNDS 5th October 1916.

[THE MEDALS]
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL
43037 Cpl W. RIORDAN. 112/BTY. R.F.A.

CITATION: (London Gazette. 15th Sept 1915)
43037. Corporal W. Riordan. 112th Bty, R.F.A.

"For conspicuous gallantry during the attack on HOOGE on 9th August, 1915, when he worked incessantly on the battery communications, continually mending wires under very heavy shell fire. It was due to his zeal and fearlessness that communication was kept up during the day."

QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL (Entitled to KSA)
"Mentioned In Despatches"
WITTERBERGEN (lose on ribbon, confirmed on roll)
TRANSVAAL
CAPE COLONY
5558. Cpl W. RIORDAN. 1/RL. MUN: FUS.








1914 STAR & BAR.
43037. GNR. W. RIORDAN. R.F.A.

WAR MEDAL
43037. SGT. W. RIORDAM. R.A.

VICTORY MEDAL
43037. SGT. W. RIORDAN. R.A.

(Some erasure, see foot notes & our drawing here...the black areas are still present, red areas erased)

[BIOGRAPHY]
William Riordan was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland in 1879. He was the son of Michael & Margaret O'Connor Riordan, of 27, Flora St, Cathays, Cardiff, Wales.

Having joined the 1st Royal Munster Fus' in late 1897 (5558) at age 18 he fought in the Boer War at WITTERBERGEN and was mentioned in despatches.

In 1914 at age 35 he was then clearly recalled from the reserves at the outbreak of WW1 with an arrival in France with R.F.A. on 11th September 1914. He fought through most of the main early actions of the war including the Battle of Hooge where, on 9th August 1915 he won his DCM. He also fought a very good fight during the opening thirteen weeks of the Battle of the Somme, but was sadly & terminally wounded at the start of the fourth month of the battle.

William died of his wounds on 5th October 1916. He was 37.

[*NOTE]
This is a very desirable & unusual group to a decorated "Old Contemptible" Irish Boer War, Great War casualty. The victory medal has a slight naming issue as at some early time there has been an 'unsuccessful' attempt at erasure. Although removing some of the impressment, this has non-the-less left the medal with much of the naming and as such it is fully identifiable as the original medal to the late Sgt Riordan.
We have, as is our normal method at such times, hand drawn an accurate illustration to show the situation.




On the grounds that one minor factor doesn't render such a fine combination of medals fatally damaged, we were determined to 'rescue' this brave Irishman's group for posterity and they are offered here priced accordingly.

GVF / EF on original ribbons. SOLD ....EXPORT