A SERIOUSLY RARE & REMARKABLE
"VIMY RIDGE" VICTORIA CROSS ACTION
"IRISH" MILITARY MEDAL & 1914-15 TRIO.

To:
5590/ 5638 / 15026. Pte. H. KENNEDY.
2/LEINSTER Rgt & 2/ROYAL IRISH Regt

(WOUNDED & DECORATED at VIMY RIDGE, 12th April 1917)

Seldom does one encounter quite such a superb Irish Military Medal Gallantry Group as this. Irish medals in general are greatly sought after & this classic MILITARY MEDAL for "VIMY RIDGE' represents a rare and wonderful addition to a serious collection of Irish medals.

[THE MEDALS]
Military Medal:
15026. Pte H. Kennedy 2/LEINS.R.
1914-15 Star:
5590. Pte H. Kennedy R.IR.REGT.

War & Victory:
5638. Pte H. Kennedy R.IR.REGT.

Military Medal. London Gazette, 9th July 1917
[BIOGRAPHY] ......"A man with an interesting career"
Henry Kennedy was from CAHIR in IRELAND. Based on several later key service dates, he was probably born on 25th October 1878. He initially joined the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment on 25th October 1895, almost certainly on his 17th birthday and served as a private under his first number of: 5590.








He is seen serving in 2nd Royal Irish Regt until the age of 36 when on 4th August 1914 at the outbreak of war he is recorded as being attached to 3rd Royal Irish Regt. This was a training unit which remained in the home country & the UK for the entire duration of the war. It is thus clear that as an older and more experienced man he was at first retained in a new recruits training role until an initial discharge on 25th October 1915 ( "the completion of 20 years service at the age of 37" )
His medal roll states "Termination of Engagement"

But, clearly, this wasn't anything like the end of Henry Kennedy's story. With the end of his first period of service on 25th October 1915, and as the recipient of a 1914-15 Star, he clearly re-mustered into the 2nd Royal Irish Regt again. Looking at his papers & his second re-allocated service number of 5638, this was clearly another 'volunteer' move which marked a return to his original unit of 2nd Bn Royal Irish.
He was duly shipped out to France between 25th October & 31st December 1915.

In confirmation of this, he has two medal index cards relating to his three service numbers spanning his two periods of service.

His first M.I.C. (as 5590) which lists his 1915 trio & pair, actually gives an entry into theatre of 16th December 1914, but as this was the date that the original main drafts of 1st & 2nd Royal Irish arrived in France it clearly shows that this date was applied to all the original 1914-15 medal cards 'en-mass' by the medal office, without reference to at least this man's individual service.

His second M.IC. (as 5638, R.I.R. & 15026, 2/LEINS R.) confirms his second period of service and his War & Victory medals.

At some time prior to August 1917, probably in late 1916 and during the general regimental reorganisation and amalgamations which took place after the heavy losses on the Somme, he is seen initially serving with 2nd LEINSTER Regt & then transferred to 1st Bn LEINSTER Regt. He was finally transfered to the Class Z reserve on 16th July 1919.



[MILITARY MEDAL, VIMY RIDGE
12th APRIL 1917
with 2/LEINSTER Rgt]

(London Gazette, 9th July 1917)
It was while serving with 2nd Leinster Regt on 12th April 1917 that he was both wounded in action and awarded his MILITARY MEDAL for Bravery in The Field. This was during the famous John Cunningham V.C. action during the advance on the German lines during the heavy snow storm at VIMY RIDGE.

[THE 2/LEINSTERS VICTORIA CROSS ACTION AT VIMY RIDGE]
On the 12th April 1917 the 2nd Leinster Regiment were to make an assault, their objective being the Bois-en-Hache to the north-east of Souchez and the strongpoint known as The Pimple, on the northern edge of Vimy Ridge. At 5.00 a.m. the attack began and three companies moved off in two waves accompanied by a British barrage. Landmarks were quickly concealed by the snow and the ground, comprising mainly of shell holes and craters, quickly became slushy.

The Leinsters continued their advance in these very poor conditions and the enemy opened a heavy rifle and machine-gun fire on them. After beating the Germans back from their first line, the leading men moved downhill towards the wooded slope and the German second line. Meanwhile, hostile enfilade fire from across the Souchez Valley continued and took its toll.

8916 Cpl John Cunningham of 4th Coy 2/Leinster Rgt was was awarded the Victoria Cross for his great valor on 12th April 1917.

An extract taken from The London Gazette, dated 8th June, 1917 records the following:

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in command of a Lewis Gun section on the most exposed flank of the attack. His section came under heavy enfilade fire and suffered severly. Although wounded he succeeded almost alone in reaching his objective with his gun, which he got into action in spite of much oppositon. When counter-attacked by a party of twenty of the enermy he exhausted his ammuntion against them, then, standing in full view, he commenced throwing bombs. He was wounded again, and fell, but picked himself up and continued to fight single-handed with the enemy until his bombs were exhausted. He then made his way back to our lines with a fractured arm and other wounds. There is little doubt that the superb courage of this N.C.O. cleared up a most critical situation on the left flank of the attack".

Corporal John Cunningham V.C. died in hospital four days later on 16th April 1917 from the effects of his wounds.”

[SUMMARY to A SUPERB M.M.]
As usual, due to the enemy action which burned the records office during the Blitz of WW2, Henry Kennedy's attestation & service papers haven't survived, but having been wounded at 39 years of age it's probably certain that he was then retired from France for treatment to the UK or Ireland well before the end of 1917.
An excellent award for a famous action in a war well fought.

Neat repair to the suspender post on the war medal. All medals are GVF/EF and on original ribbons.

Henry's original Royal Irish Regt 'coloured' certificate of service and his divisional commanders MM field commendation card (both laminated) are both included.

A Very Desirable Irish Gallantry Group of the Greatest Scarcity. Awarded for Bravery during the Famous V.C. Action at VIMY RIDGE.

£2250 with part-exchanges welcome.