A RARE 1920'S PERIOD DUBLIN BRIGADE, IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, AWARD CERTIFICATE, printed text with hand coloured celtic strapwork borders, an award from "K & M" Companies, 1st Battalion Dublin Brigade, presented to William Morris "In recognition of his services with the unit in the War for Irish Independence", signed in ink by Oscar Traynor as Officer Commanding the Dublin Brigade, Captain M. Fitzpatrick of "K" Company and Captain Fforde of "M" Company, measures 11 inches (28cm) x 15 inches (38cm) vertical approx. Some very minor scattered foxing and some slight scuffing to hand colouring of borders, Oscar Traynor's signature slightly faded, but still clearly legible. Housed in a modern inert card mount (measures 15 inches x 19.5 inches vertical approx).
Oscar Traynor (1886-1963). A member of the Irish Volunteers, he took part in the 1916 Rising, after which he was interned at Knutsford and Frongoch. During the War of Independence he was appointed Brigadier General commanding the Dublin Brigade, and led the attack on the Customs House in 1921. Traynor took the Anti-Treaty side during the Irish Civil War. Elected to the Irish parliament for Dublin North in 1929, he was first appointed to the cabinet as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in 1936. Subsequently he was Minister for Defence in several Fianna Fail governments until his resignation because of ill health in 1961. As a young man he was a successful footballer and toured Europe as goalkeeper for Belfast Celtic. He was President of the Football Association of Ireland from 1948 until his death in Dublin on 15th December 1963. For his services during the 1916-21 period, Traynor was awarded the 1916 Medal and the 1917-21 Service Medal with Comrac clasp.
Biographical details of William Morris and Captains Fitzpatrick and Fforde not traced. None of them appear on the 1916 Medal Roll, and so they would have served with the Dublin Brigade during the War of Independence and presumably each would have been entitled to the 1917-21 Service Medal with Comrac clasp.
This type of Republican Award Certificate were presented to veterans of the 1916 Rising and War of Independence in the absence of medals for the campaigns, which were not issued until 1941.
