There are people out there with the knowledge to solve any mystery we can come up with here from time to time. I have a right teaser here that I’ve already tested on a few agile brains in the area and they’re still rummaging away for an answer.
A few years ago local man, Dermot McCarthy was clearing out the two cottages at Dysart – on the Killarney Road side of the Camp Road junction.
In the course of his clearing he found a couple of war service medals. Both are easily identifiable and one – a WW1 medal – even has the name of the recipient on it.
The other is the ironically named ‘The Black & Tan Medal’ because of the enemy engaged and, presumably because of the Black and Tan ribbon from which it hung. This medal was issued in 1941 and is the non-combat version. The medals were issued without names and numbers. The recipients often put their own names and numbers on but not in this case.
“The outside rim of the medal is engraved / stamped with: Private D. Tangney 4026 Munster Fusiliers”
It is possible that both medals belonged to the same man as it would appear that the WW1 medal was granted to survivors only rather that to the families of those who took part and some who may have been killed in action. The latter received a different type of medal.
The WW1 medal was/ is known as The Victory Medal. Circular and gold-coloured it came with a rainbow coloured ribbon. It shows an angel on the front and the back is stamped ‘The Great War For Civilisation 1914 – 1919’ – oddly enough on the latter date.
The outside rim of the medal is engraved / stamped with: Private D. Tangney 4026 Munster Fusiliers.
The brains I’ve tested already went through every Tangney family on hill and valley around here and were still turning it over when I left them.
The finder in this case would prefer not to be the keeper. He’s appealing for the family of Denis Tangney* – who fought with the Munster Fusiliers – to come forward and claim the precious souvenir that rightfully belongs among their family possessions. *Dermot did find out that the soldier’s first name was Denis. Anyone who can help with this particular appeal is asked to contact Dermot McCarthy on 087 2792137.
