IRISH FUSILIERS 1918 BRITISH GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WW1 IRAQ & NW PERSIA CAMPAIGN

Description

Offered is an original 1918-62 General Service Medal for the Iraq & N.W. Persia campaigns to a member of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

36 mm wide circular cupro-nickel medal with ornate scrolled ribbon suspension bar with IRAQ & N.W. PERSIA claspS; the face with the head of King George V facing left, circumscribed ‘GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND : IMP:’(George V King of Great Britain and Emperor of India), signed ‘BM’ (for Sir Bertram Mackennal, 1863-1931) on the base of the neck; the reverse with a standing winged Victory with Greek helmet, an upright trident in her left hand, a laurel wreath in her right hand crowning an upright winged sword. The medal is impressed named to: 33256 PTE. I. MC CANDLESS: R. IR. FUS.

Issacs McCandless served with the Royal Engineers (Inland Water Transport) during the First World War and was transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers (most likely to the 2nd battalion). In 1919 the 2nd Battalion was sent to Iraq, moving on to Egypt and Turkey before settling in India for nine years in 1923.

The medal was originally instituted on 19 January 1923 to be awarded to Army and Air Force personnel involved in small conflicts outside Africa and India where a separate campaign medal was not issued.

The Iraq clasp was presented to those who satisfied one of the following conditions: Served at Ramadi or north of a line east and west through Ramadi between 10 December 1919 and 13 June 1920.Part of an establishment within Iraq between 1 July and 17 November 1920.

The N.W. Persia clasp was presented to members of NoPerForce (North Persia Force) and those on various lines of communications serving under Brigadier-General Hugh Bateman-Champain from 10 August to 31 December 1920.