PRIVATE G. McKESSOR, 2ND BATTALION ROYAL IRISH RIFLES. Three: 1914 Star (officially impressed: 9052 PTE. G. McKESSOR. R. IR: RIF) British War and Victory Medals (officially impressed: 9052 PTE. MC KESSOR. R.IR.RIF.). Copy bar on Star,

PRIVATE G. McKESSOR, 2ND BATTALION ROYAL IRISH RIFLES. Three: 1914 Star (officially impressed: 9052 PTE. G. McKESSOR. R. IR: RIF) British War and Victory Medals (officially impressed: 9052 PTE. MC KESSOR. R.IR.RIF.). Copy bar on Star, otherwise Extremely Fine and virtually as struck.

Group accompanied by copied WW1 Medal Index Card, Medal Rolls (2), Silver War Badge Roll and disability pension record.

George McKessor was born in 1877. Silver War Badge roll and pension records confirm that, prior to serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, McKessor saw service with the 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (North Down Militia) (in August 1914 the 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles was stationed in Belfast). McKessor saw service with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles from 17/8/1914 and first saw active service in France and Flanders, entering that theatre of operations on 7/10/1914 (the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles were already in France by then, having landed at Rouen as a unit on 14/8/1914). Silver War Badge Roll confirms McKessor was discharged as a result of wounds on 17/4/1918. He was subsequently granted a disability pension. At the time that his pension was granted McKessor was living in Coatbridge, Scotland, but subsequent payments were made to him in Belfast.

The fact that McKessor saw service in France only two months after being posted for service with the 2nd Battalion was no doubt due to the fact that he had previously seen service with the 3rd Battalion, and was presumably part of a draft sent out from the 3rd Battalion to replace 2nd Battalion casualties sustained during the opening phase of the war.

The 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles was stationed a Tidworth on 4/8/1914 and landed in France at Rouen on 14/8/1914. The battalion was still serving in France when the war ended on 11/11/1918.