Irish Republican Army

IRA Irish Volunteer Force Nationalist Medal (Also know as the Black and Tan medal). On 21st January 1941, the Irish Government announced the creation of a medal for those who took part in the War of Independence. In bronze and an unwieldy 41mm in diameter, it was issued without 'Comrac' bar to those who were not deemed to have been on active service during the War of Independence, but who were members of the old-Irish Republican Army, the Irish Citizens Army, Fianna Eireann and the Cumann na mBann, which was the women's branch of the Old-IRA.

Men with actual active and armed service such as the famous flying column's were issued with this medal with the additional 'Comrac' bar. Both versions are also known as the 'Black and Tan' medal or Irish War of Independence service medal. OBVERSE : In the centre a figure purported to be typical of the Irish flying column of the period, erect and facing front. He wears a trench coat and a cap, leggings, boots, and a Sam Brown belt, has a bandolier over his shoulder, a holstered pistol at his right side and a slung rifle at his left. Across the middle of the medal is the word 'EIRE' and in the squares around are the arms of the four provinces of Ireland, Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught.

Below are the words "COGAD NA SAOIRSE" meaning the Fight for Freedom. REVERSE : Plain with a spray of palm leaves around the left edge. The medals were issued un-named but many were privately engraved by the recipients. RIBBON : Half black, half tan. These colours are symbolic of the Black and Tans, one of the most feared organisations ever used in Ireland. They were an irregular and specially recruited force of ex-soldiers who were dressed in a mix of army khaki tan and police dark blue and who were engaged in activites which were not to the taste of the regular army. SUSPENSION : For the medal without bar, the ribbon which is stitched into a 'V' shape at the bottom, is sewn onto a ring on top of the medal.

For the medal with 'Comrac' bar the ribbon passes through a bronze inverted triangular suspender bearing a Celtic design in relief and ending in a ring which is attached by a jump ring to the medal. In both cases the ribbon is suspended from a bronze brooch bearing an interlaced Celtic design. BAR : On top of the triangular suspension is fixed a bronze bar with the word 'COMRAC' (meaning combat) between two Celtic triquetra