A good '1914' D.C.M., Russian Medal of St George for Bravery 3rd Class group of five...

A good ‘1914’ D.C.M., Russian Medal of St George for Bravery 3rd Class group of five awarded to Corporal A. A. Irish, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, who was later killed in action during the Second Battle of Ypres, 13 May 1915 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6890 L. Cpl. A. A. Irish. 1/Hants: Regt.); 1914 Star (6890 L. Cpl. A. A. Irish. 1/Hamps: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6890 A. Cpl. A. A. Irish. Hamps. R.); Russia, Empire, Medal of St George for Bravery, 3rd Class, silver, the reverse officially numbered ‘No 22181’, and edge impressed (6890 Actg. Cpl. A. A. Irish 1/Hamp. R.) generally good very fine or better (5) £1,400-£1,800 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1915 (citation appearing in the gazette of 1 April 1915): ‘For gallantry on 19th December, 1914, in reconnoitring in daylight the ground over which an advance had to be made.’ Russian Medal of St. George, 3rd Class, London Gazette 25 August 1915. Alfred Alexander Irish served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment on the Western Front from 23 August 1914. The Battalion were in positions near Le Gheer, Ploegsteert, in early December 1914. The War Diary records for the period 1-18 December 'practically no fighting' and flooded trenches in constant need of repair. Casualties amounted to 11 killed and 27 wounded. On 19 December the 1/Hampshire's assisted 1/Somerset Light Infantry and 1/Rifle Brigade in attack on 'German House' and 'The Birdcage'. The following report in the Regimental Journal summarises the action: ‘On the morning of December 19th, five weeks after we first occupied these trenches, our howitzers and guns, siege and field, opened a heavy fire on the German trenches and batteries, which was kept up for about five hours. The actual assault was timed for 2.30 p.m., but in the last half hour of the bombardment, when it attained its greatest violence, part of our forward trench was destroyed by our own heavy shells, and some of the troops drawn up for the assault were knocked out by our own shrapnel. In spite of this, the troops went forward with vigour, but the right assault was badly shaken and delayed. The distance to be covered was not more than 300 yards anywhere, but in spite of all the violence of the bombardment, many of the enemy stood their ground, and the machine guns were well served as ever. Casualties were very heavy, but in places the assaulting troops reached the obstacles in front of the German trench. The ruined houses in their salient were gallantly carried by the 1st Rifle Brigade, the Somersets pushed over on their left, and a platoon from our D company got forward with the Rifle Brigade. But our particular task was to cover this advance by fire and make good the ground won. But to entrench in the horrid, miry swamp into which our men had penetrated was impossible, and after dark orders were issued to fall back to our original line. This was no easy operation. The rain had been falling all day, it got worse after nightfall, and it was pitch dark. It took time and care to get in touch with the various attacking detachments lying down in close proximity to the enemy, and to organise their withdrawal. Morning found us in our old positions, but the enemy had not ventured out of their main line again, and our patrols occupied the ground we had gained, and still do so. The results seemed insignificant for such heavy casualties.’ The Hampshires suffered losses of one officer and 12 men killed, and one officer and 25 men wounded for the action. Irish advanced to Corporal, and was serving with ‘D’ Company, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment when he was killed in action on the Western Front on 13 May 1915. On the latter date the Battalion were occupying front line positions between Canadian Farm and Hampshire Farm as part of the Second Battle of Ypres. They came under heavy German attack, and suffered approximately 90 casualties. Corporal Irish is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.