THE RARE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS SILVER REGIMENTAL PRIZE MEDAL, AWARDED TO PRIVATE (LATER SERGEANT) EDWARD RYAN, D.C.M., WHO WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL PRIOR TO BEING KILLED IN ACTION, 24TH MAY 1915 (SERGEANT RYAN'S D.C.M. BEING ANNOUNCED POSTHUMOUSLY IN THE LONDON GAZETTE, 11TH MARCH 1916).
2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers prize medal, silver, 31mm. Obverse; an Indian elephant facing left, legend around "Royal Dublin Fusiliers - Carnatic - Mysore; reverse: a tiger facing left, legend around, "Plassey-Buxar-Spectamur Agendo". With its original suspender dated 1662-1911, top brooch suspender bearing legend "Old Toughs" and with one clasp, this engraved "Best Man At Arms 1912" (regimentally named, engraved in capital letters: 8669 PTE. E. RYAN, 2nd. R. DUB. FUS.)
Sergeant Ryan's Distinguished Conduct Medal was announced in the London Gazette 11/3/1916: "8669 Sergeant E. Ryan, 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. For Conspicuous Gallantry for going out under heavy fire to scont the front to ascertain the best line of advance. He also displayed great bravery and resource in the performance of his duty during the following eight days."
Sergeant Ryan was killed in action on 24th May 1915 (First Day, Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge), whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 10th Brigade, 4th Division.
Medals accompanied by copied Medal Index card, WW1 medal rolls (2, 1914-15 Star and British War & Victory Medals), extract London Gazette re. Ryan's DCM, extracts Soldiers Died, Commonwealth War Graves, Ireland's Memorial Records and Register of Soldier's Effects.
Edward Ryan was born in Newbridge, county Kildare. He first saw active service during the First World War in France and Flanders, entering that theatre of operations on 23/8/1914 (the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers landed as a unit at Boulogne on 22/8/1914, and saw service in France with the 4th Division)
Sergeant Ryan has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, panel 44. Register of Soldier's Effects records Sergeant Ryan as leaving an estate valued at £57 17 shillings and six pence, which was distributed among his siblings, sister Nora, Johanna and brother John.
Medal accompanied by two bronze Society of Miniature Rifle Club "The Bell Medal" prize medals, both 38mm, unnamed, as issued, and Extremely Fine and virtually as struck.
The Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs was founded in 1901 in response to the woeful musketry skills displayed by British infantrymen during the opening stages of the Boer War.
In 1909 a Mr Charles R.E. Bell presented the society with a challenge trophy to be competed for at the society's annual meeting. He also donated his Bell Medals to every club affiliated to the society, one of which was given to every affiliated club each year, to be awarded to one of its members on whatever basis the club chose. It was unusual for any individual to be awarded the medal more than once. Shooters who took part in the annual competition for the Bell Challenge trophy usually had to pay a fee, but club members holding the Bell Medal were entitled to take part without entry fee, for life.
Sergeant Ryan was a pre-war regular army soldier, and he was perhaps awarded the Bell Medals prior to enlisting, his Bell Medals perhaps worthy of further research in this regard.
