A brave but apparently unrewarded Inniskilling

[eyman]

From the war diary of Ernest W Staunton, 9855, Essex Regiment later MM & bar as 617133 L/Sgt, 1/19th Bn London Regiment. This was printed in "The Eagle", date unknown.

"Tuesday morning [27 April 1915, Gallipoli]  ...Ran across "10033 Ward" of the Inniskillings who deserves the VC. He saved two chums under horrible fire, and then took one of them to hospital."

This must be 10033 Pte Michael Ward, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers who arrived in the Balkans on 17 March 1915. He had enlisted on 8 May 1911 and received a silver war badge after being discharged on account of sickness on 16 April 1917. Apart from the 1914-15 Star trio, he seems to have received no other medallic reocgnition.

His chequered career may not have helped - his papers survive and show that he was a deserter from November 1912 until he surrendered at the depot on arriving from New York in December 1914! He forfeit seven days' pay for absence over Christmas 1914.. Michael was subsequently wounded in action on 10 April 1916.

A snippet for someone interested in the Inniskillings or who happens to have his medals.

 

Ian