THE QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL AWARDED TO PRIVATE J. McQUEIRNS, ROYAL IRISH RIFLES, WHO WA

THE QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL AWARDED TO PRIVATE J. McQUEIRNS, ROYAL IRISH RIFLES, WHO WAS TWICE TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR, BY THE BOER’S IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BY THE GERMANS, IN THE SPRING OFFENSIVE OF 1918. Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, type 2, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (officially engraved: Pte. T. McQUEINS. R. Ir. RIF.). Note incorrect spelling of surname on medal, surfaces with contact marks from other medals, and rim contact marked at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, causing some wear to naming details, though these still legible at contact points, otherwise Good Very Fine.

With photocopied extract from Boer War Casualty Roll, 14 pages of photocopied service papers, extracts from QSA and KSA medal rolls and WW1 Medal Index cards (2).

Born in the parish of St Lawrence O’Toole, Dublin, Thomas McQueirns enlisted into the Royal Irish Rifles at Dublin on 2/8/1898. At the time of enlistment he was 18 years and 5 months old, gave his trade as that of labourer, and stated that he had previously seen service in the 3rd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Kildare Militia). He was posted to the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles on 21/8/1898, promoted Lance Corporal, 1/12/1901, Corporal, 26/9/1902, but reverted to Private at his own request on 2/4/1903. McQuerins transferred to 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles on 1/10/1906 and was promoted Lance Corporal, 30/11/1910, Corporal, 9/8/1914, following the outbreak of WW1, and Acting Sergeant, 18/11/1914.

McQueirns saw active service with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles during the Boer War, being taken prisoner of war at Reddersburg, 3-4 April 1900. During WW1 he first saw active service in France, entering that theatre of operations on 16/8/1914 (the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles had already landed in France two days earlier, at Havre, on 14/8/1914). McQuerins was wounded in action on 7/5/1915, gunshot wound to the shoulder, and evacuated home on 16/5/1915, being posted to the Royal Irish Rifles Depot on 17/5/1915 with the rank of Corporal. McQueirns must have been seriously wounded, as he did not return to France for almost 3 years, returning to see service with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in France on 12/3/1918. He was posted “missing”, prisoner of war, during the German Spring Offensive, on 24/3/1918, just thirteen days after returning to duty. Imprisoned in Germany, he was eventually repatriated on 4/12/1918. McQueirns was discharged from the army and granted a pension of 15 pence a day for life, from 30/8/1919. Service papers confirm as a Signaller during WW1.

There is some correspondence amongst the papers regarding the transfer of McQueirns from the Royal Irish Rifles to the Corps of Military Police in 1912. However, this fell through when an officer from the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles informed the Corps of Military Police that he had been “severely reprimanded” on 9/9/1912 for “quitting barracks about 8.30pm without permission whilst Acting Orderly Sergeant of the Signallers and remaining absent until 12.50am the following day, a total of 4 hours and 20 minutes”.

Note there are two WW1 Medal Index Cards for McQueirns. One in the name of Thomas McQueirns, which confirms BWM and Victory only, and another in the name of Thomas McQuerns, which confirms 1914 Star tiro. Both these medal index cards have same regimental number and regiment, 5611 Royal Irish Rifles.