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Medals of the 'Irish
Emergency"
Emergency Medals
Given that Ireland was
equally at risk of invasion by either Germany or England during World War
2, the country was mobilised to handle either contingency, but the period
is forever referred to in Ireland as the 'Emergency'. 12 Medals were
inaugurated to reward those who served during the period and 5 of the more
interesting ones are shown above.
All 12 of the medals featured the same obverse (see the middle medal in
the picture), but had differenct inscriptions above the spray of oakleaves
on the reverse, with the exception of the Merchant Marine one which had a
ship on the reverse, and a blue and white ribbon.
Left to Right they are
The Defence Forces (Na Forsai Cosanta)
Issued to all members of the
regular defence forces (Irish Army, Navy and Air Corps).
The Chaplain's Medal (An Seirbhse Seiplineachta)
The rarest Irish medal of all, 68 were issued to army chaplains but
only a handful are known to survive now.
The Merchant Marine Medal (Am tSeirbhis Mhuir Trachtala)
Each bar represents 2 years of service during the Emergency, and over
400 Irish sailors were killed during WW2, this is one of only 18 issued
with 3 bars, signifying 6 years of service (1939-46).
The Nurses Medal (Seirbis Altranais an Airm)
Issued to military nurses, this is the second rarest in the set.
26th Battalion (26u Cathlan)
The 26th Battalion was almost exclusively constituted from ex-members
of the old IRA, who had fought Crown forces in 1916 and during the War Of
Independence.
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