THE WW2 “PAIFORCE” O.B.E. GROUP OF EIGHT TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DONOUGH CARROLL, O.B.E., 10

THE WW2 “PAIFORCE” O.B.E. GROUP OF EIGHT TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DONOUGH CARROLL, O.B.E., 10TH BALUCH REGIMENT, A MEMBER OF THE O’CARROLL FAMILY OF MOONE ABBEY, CO. KILDARE AND KILLINEER HOUSE, CO. LOUTH, DESCENDANTS OF THE O’CARROLLS, PRINCES OF THE HOUSE OF ORIEL, AND THE COMMANDER OF AN AIRBORNE BATTALION OF THE 10TH BALUCH REGIMENT IN THE POST-WAR YEARS Eight: Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) Military Division, 2nd type breast badge in silver-gilt India General Service Medal 1908, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (officially impressed: LT. D. CARROLL, 1-10 BALUCH R.) India General Service Medal 1936, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (officially impressed: CAPT. D. CARROLL. 1-10 BALUCH R.) 1939-45, Africa and Burma Stars, 1939-45 Defence and War Medals (the last five stars and medals unnamed, as issued). Mounted loose style, OBE and silver medals attractively toned, generally Almost Extremely Fine to Extremely Fine.

Group accompanied by an extensive file of copied research, including Indian Army officer’s papers file documents, extracts from Burke’s Irish Family Records, etc.

Lieutenant-Colonel Carroll was a direct descendant, in the male line, through his father, of the Donough O’Carroll who founded Mellifont Abbey circa 1145.

Donough Carroll was a member of the Carroll family of Moone Abbey, Co. Kildare, and Killineer House, Co. Louth, a branch of the ancient O’Carroll family, who were Princes of Oriel down to the end of the 12th century. A Donough O’Carroll founded the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland at Mellifont, Co. Louth, circa 1145 and later founded other monasteries at Louth and Knocknasangan. Six members of the O’Carroll family were Abbots of Louth Abbey, the last abbot at Louth at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries (1540) being a John Carroll. The Moone Abbey and Killineer House branch of the Carroll family is descended from a Donough O’Carroll who was living in 1540 at Feraghys, Co. Louth. Among the many members of the Carroll family prominent in military and civil life was Patrick James Carroll (1803-1879), who founded the world-famous P.J. Carroll tobacco company at Dundalk, in 1824.

Donough Carroll, born 15/7/1907, was the son of Brigadier-General John William Vincent Carroll, C.M.G., D.S.O., of Moone Abbey, Co. Kildare. Because his father’s military committments entailed extensive overseas service, Donough Carroll’s early years were spent with his elder sister and younger brother in the charge of his paternal grandmother at the family seat, Moone Abbey. Educated at the Oratory and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Donough Carroll was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Fusiliers, 1/9/1927. Carroll transferred to the Indian Army on 7/11/1928, was posted for service with the 1st Battalion 10th Baluchistan Regiment, and was promoted Lieutenant, 1/12/1929, and Captain, 1/9/1936. Carroll was seconded from the 1/10th Baluchis to the Staff College, Quetta, from 29/1/1940 to 2/7/1940. He subsequently saw service as a Staff Captain in the Adjutant-General’s Branch, Indian Army Headquarters, Simla, from 1/8/1940 to 31/1/1941, and as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General, Adjutant-General’s Branch, Indian Army Headquarters, Simla, from 1/2/1941 to 20/9/1941. Carroll transferred to the 6th Battalion 10th Baluchistan Regiment on 21/5/1943 with the rank of Major and was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 6/10th Baluchis 28/2/1944 and Lieutenant Colonel, 6th Battalion 10th Baluchistan Regiment, 1/9/1944. Carroll was given command of the 3rd Battalion 10th Baluchistan Regiment in 1947, which at the time of his appointment had just been converted into a parachute battalion in the 2nd (Indian) Airborne Division, Carroll being granted “Parachute Pay” on 30/11/1946. Lieutenant Colonel Carroll retired from the Indian Army following Indian independence, his retirement being announced in the London Gazette of 11/6/1948.

Lieutenant Colonel Carroll first saw active service on the North-West Frontier of India during the campaign of 1930-31, as a Lieutenant with the 1st Battalion 10th Baluchistan Regiment (awarded India General Service Medal 1908 with NWF 1930-31 clasp). He next saw service during the Waziristan campaign on the North-West Frontier of India during 1936-37, as Captain and Quartermaster of the 1st Battalion 10th Baluchistan Regiment (awarded India General Service Medal 1936 with NWF 1936-37 clasp). During WW2 he saw service in a variety of staff appointments, including service with “Paiforce” (Persia and Iraq Force), 1941-43, as a Major and Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel. Carroll was awarded the O.B.E. for services with Paiforce, the award being announced in the London Gazette of 5/8/1943. The citation for his O.B.E reads as follows: “Since September 1941 to date, this officer has held the appointment of Assistant Military Secretary successively with the H.Q. of B.T. Iraq., H.Q. Tenth Army, and latterly at G.H.Q. Persia-Iraq Force. An officer of great energy and cheerful disposition. He is also possessed of tact and good judgement and has carried out his duties with marked ability, in consequence he is well known and trusted throughout the Command. In each of the reorganisations of the Force H.Q.’s which have taken place during the last twelve months, he has contributed effectively to the smooth changeover of appointments. He has not spared himself when pressure of work called for a special effort and his work has been of a consistently high standard throughout, and is, I consider, well deserving of recognition. I strongly recommend him for the O.B.E.” After transferring to the 6/10th Baluch Regiment in May 1943, Carroll saw service in October 1943 in Bengal (awarded Burma Star). He subsequently served on the Staff in the Lebanon, 1944-45, and in Egypt, 1945 (awarded Africa Star). Carrol transferred back to India to take command of the 3/10th Battalion Baluch Regiment, on 3/5/1846, his last regimental appointment prior to Indian independence.

Group also accompanied by some copied details re. Donough Carroll’s father, Brigadier-General John William Vincent Carroll, C.M.G., D.S.O., his younger brother, Lieutenant-Colonel John Frederick Carroll, O.B.E., and his father-in-law, Major Lawrence Whitaker Harrison, C.B., D.S.O.