Lot 27
A 1914-15 Trio 1939-45 Defence Medal Casualty Group of 4 awarded to Private Hugh Thomas Moriarty
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
A 1914-15 Trio 1939-45 Defence Medal Casualty Group of 4 awarded to Private Hugh Thomas Moriarty, 1st County of London Yeomanry, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry), Metropolitan Police Officer World War Two, who would appear to have awarded himself the 1914‑15 Star. Comprising 1914-15 Star, (4471 Pte: H. Moriarty. 1. Co Of Lond Y.), privately engraved. 1914-1920 British War and Victory Medals, (4471 Pte. H.T. Moriarty. 1‑Co. Of Lond. Y.), 1939-45 Defence Medal, unnamed as issued, contemporarily mounted for wear, lightly toned, very fine (4).
Hugh Thomas Moriarty is entitled to a Great War Pair. His Medal Index Card and Medal Rolls confirms this fact and that he was a Private in the 1st County Of London Yeomanry, serving as Private, No.110758, Machine Gun Corps Cavalry. The 1939 Register states that he is living at 36 Farmfield Road, Lewisham and is a Metropolitan Police Officer.
The 1/1st County of London Yeomanry were at Hounslow in 1914 and joined the 2nd Mounted Division at Streatley, moving with Brigade in November 1914 to North Walsham. In April 1915, the Division moved to Egypt and in August 1915, dismounted and moved to Gallipoli. In December 1915, they returned to Egypt and remounted.
It is presumed, therefore, that Private Moriarty joined them in Egypt just after the closure of the award dates for the 1914-15 Star.
In January 1916, the Division was broken up and the Brigade moved to Suez Canal Defences, renamed 8th Mounted Brigade. In November 1916, the Brigade moved to Salonika, returning in June 1917 to Egypt. On the 24th of April 1918, the Division was renamed the 1st Mounted Division. On the 22nd of July 1918, the Brigade was renamed 11th Cavalry Brigade.
On the 7th of April 1918, “E” Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps was formed by the amalgamation of the 1/1st City of London Yeomanry and the 1/3rd County of London Yeomanry; “E” Battalion MGC had moved to the Western Front by early June 1918. On the 8th of June 1918, Private Moriarty was admitted to No.34 Combined Clearing Hospital with diarrhoea and debility. “E” Battalion was redesignated 103rd Battalion MGC on 19th August 1918. Private Moriarty was demobilised on the 14th of February 1919.
One perhaps understands why he added the 1914-15 Star to his group.
Sold with Copy Medal Index Card and Copy Medal Rolls confirming the Pair, 1939 Register, confirming that he was a Metropolitan Police Officer, Copy Pension Card, Copy Hospital Admission Register for June 1918.
