PRIVATE C. HALPIN, 4TH BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS (DUBLIN CITY MILITIA), ATTACHED 2N

PRIVATE C. HALPIN, 4TH BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS (DUBLIN CITY MILITIA), ATTACHED 2ND BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS. Queen’s South Africa Medal, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (officially impressed: 2963 Pte. C. HALPIN. RL. DUBLIN FUS:). Ghost dates visible on reverse, attractively toned, extremely fine.

A scarce 5 clasp QSA to the Dublin City Militia for service with the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in South Africa, Halpin being one of only 125 men from the battalion attached to the 2nd Dublins in South Africa (124 medals awarded, one man being denied a medal as a result of being “discharged with ignominy”).

Medal accompanied by 15 pages copied Militia attestation and service papers, along with copied extract Boer War medal rolls confirming medal and clasps and that Halpin was also entitled to the King’s South Africa Medal with 2 clasps (medal rolls give regimental number incorrectly as “2953”, but medal and service papers both give correct service number as “2963”). Medal rolls list 125 men from the 4th Dublins who saw service attached to the 2nd Battalion (all Privates).

Christopher Halpin was born in the parish of Balrothery, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. He enlisted into the 4th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Dublin City Militia) as 757 Private on 23/1/1885. At the time of enlistment he was 20 years of age, and gave his address as 8 Kimmage, Rathmines, Dublin, and his trade as that of labourer. He was discharged, time expired, on 22/1/1891. Halpin re-enlisted into the 4th Dublins, 2963 Private, on 12/6/1893. At the time of re-enlistment he was 28 years of age and gave his trade as labourer employed by Messrs Flanagan of Aungier St, Dublin. Private Halpin was called up for active service on the outbreak of the Boer War, on 12/12/1899, and posted for active service in South Africa where he saw service with the Natal Field Force attached 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Halpin was discharged from the army, time expired, on 1/2/1902, but re-enlisted into the Army Reserve, and was finally discharged from the Army Reserve on 20/6/1912.

Although the 4th Dublins sailed for South Africa as a unit, once in South Africa the battalion was broken up and saw service in various locations, taking part in blockhouse duties and guarding refugee camps in the Cape Colony and Orange Free State, the majority of the men receiving only one or more of the clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and South Africa 1902. The 125 men from the battalion who saw service attached to the 2nd Dublins with the Natal Field Force were the only members of the Dublin City Militia to qualify for one or more of the clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith and Transvaal.