BRITISH ARMY BOER WAR QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL DEEVEY 1ST BATTALION ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT

Description

Offered is a Queens South Africa Medal with 3 clasps to Private Edward Deevey, a Militia soldier who served in South Africa with the 1^st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment.

Queen’s South Africa medal 1899-1902, 3 clasps, CAPE COLONY, WITTEBERGEN & BELFAST. Impressed named 1370 P^TE  E. DEEVEY. RL: IRISH REG^T

Comes with copies of the medal rolls & service papers. The medal roll also shows he is further entitled to the clasp SOUTH AFRICA 1901.

Edward Deevey was born at Castlecomer Kilkenny Ireland in 1872.  Enlisted 15/9/1890 at 18 years of age to the 5th Battalion (Militia) The Royal Irish Regiment. Occupation Labourer.

Embodied 14/5/1900 to the 1^st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. 6/7/1901 Discharged after being found medically unfit for further service.

Embarked for South Africa 12/7/1900, as a re-enforcement for the 1^st Battalion Royal Irish who had been fighting in South Africa since 1899. Embarked for home 4/4/1901.

When Private Deevey arrived in country the 1^st Battalion Royal Irish  were brigaded under Smith-Dorrien and placed under the divisional command of Ian Hamilton in order to advance on Lydenburg via Dulstroom, and so help Buller, who had been brought to a standstill at Badfontein.  In this operation the Royal Irish again did well, their work being favourably mentioned in Lord Roberts’ despatch of 10th October 1900.

The battalion was taken to Pretoria to represent Ireland at the ceremony of proclaiming the annexation of the Transvaal on 25th October 1900.

When Belfast was attacked on the night of the 7th-8th January 1901 the Royal Irish provided part of the garrison.  After severe fighting, the attack, which had been favoured by a dense mist, was driven off.  The battalion lost 9 men killed and over 20 wounded.  The praises of an enemy may be discounted by some, but it is at least worth noting that General Ben Viljoen in his book, when dealing with these attacks, mentions that the Royal Irish Regiment were the defenders, and says, “of which regiment all Britain should be proud”.

A fine fighting Royal Irish Medal to a Militia soldier who served with the regulars until the rigours of active service and Africa caused his medical discharge.