medal numbers ?

[Guest binks]

Dear all,

I wonder if anyone can help. I have been given the medals of my Grandfarther, who served with the Royal Irish Rifles. The details on the back of the medal reads :

1-7468 PTE.W BELL R.IR. RIF.

On checking the records the medal comes up with the name Edward Bell.

When checking the medals very closley it looks like the inital E has been changed to W

My grandfarthers name was Willian John Bell --any ideas?

also on the number does the number 1 mean 1st Battalion? and how can I trace where he served and in what battle etc . I belive he was injured at sometime in the war but survived untill about 1965!

any help would be great

many thanks

Binks