Irish Museum Seeks to Return Service Medal

Victory Medal - Photo Source Sharp-Healy Family History

Nov 12, 2008 - A man who discovered a World War I medal on the grounds of Clarecastle Church in County Clare, Ireland, has enlisted the help of his local museum in tracking down the artifact’s rightful owners. Clare Museum today placed on display the Victory Medal, which was awarded to Private Patrick King of the British Army’s South Lancashire Regiment 2nd Battalion.

The medal was offered up for display by Clarecastle taxi driver Alan Barnes who this week answered a call from the museum seeking artifacts relating to the “War To End All Wars”. After discovering Private King from Turnpike in Ennis, County Clare, died of wounds received in France on February 2, 1915, Barnes had been unable to track down the serviceman’s family.

“Clare Museum has placed the medal on display in a bid to track down members of Private King’s family, who are the artifact’s rightful owners:” stated John Rattigan, Curator of Clare Museum.

Private King’s medal has been temporarily placed in the “90 Years On – County Clare and The Great War” exhibition, marking the 90th anniversary of the ending of the Great War. Among the other items placed on display are the medals, photographs and personal stories of more than a half dozen Clare men who served in the 1914-1918 War.

Read the whole story at http://www.dunphypr.com/?p=998

Learn more about the Victory Medal at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_Victory_Medal

Photo credit: http://www.webgirl.co.nz/SharpHealy/thomashealy.html