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1921 (7 January) Pickardstown Ambush War of Independence Medal

Currency:EUR Category:Collectibles Start Price:0.00 EUR Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 EUR
1921 (7 January) Pickardstown Ambush War of Independence Medal

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Auction Date:2012 Apr 21 @ 12:00 (UTC+1)
Location:38 Molesworth Street, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland





1919-21 War of Independence Medal with Comrac bar officialy named to "968 Michael McGrath". Also with a related War of Independence Medal issued to an unknown recipient and 1898 centenary Robert Emmet lithographic print . Both medals complete with ribbons, clasps, boxes of issue and presidential issuing slips. (3 items)A scarce medal officially named to the first Waterford City man to be killed during the War of Independence. Michael McGrath was born at Poleberry Waterford on 1 December 1894, the youngest son of Thomas and Anne McGrath. He was educated at the Mount Sion School and became involved with the Sinn Fein movement after the 1916 Rising. During the 1918 elections McGrath canvassed for the party in Waterford city and moved to more militant activities in 1920, serving with D Company 4th Battalion East Waterford Brigade I.R.A. In January 1921 he was selected to take part in an ambush on British troops at Pickardstown near Tramore. A feint attack on Tramore police barracks was designed in order to draw a British relief force from Waterford where they would be attacked by members of the East and West Waterford Brigade. During the ambush on 7 January, McGrath was with a group of men armed with shotguns and positioned in a ditch on the road. During the ensuing fight this group was surrounded and McGrath killed. An inquest later stated that he was only identified by the Union membership cards that were found on his body and that he had suffered a severe wound to his head which caused instantaneous death. Michael McGrath's funeral took place on 10 January in Carbally Churchyard under the watch of a large British military presence. The spot on which he was killed is marked by a present day memorial to the ambush.