William Berrill | career soldier
My grandfather William Berrill I know had signed up with the Royal dublin Fusillers in Naas on the 9th September 1898 according to the enlistment papers attached. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 Willam had seen service in India, the Sudan, Egypt then finally completing his active service in Galipolli. In 1920 our grandfather had left the army with the rank of Company Sergeant Major. Unfortunately we do not have any of his medals although we do know what he had been awarded: The King and Queens South Africa Medal and both the World War One medals, the British War medal and the Victory Medal. We had after a lot of searching been informed that William's good conduct medal had been lost following a Drunk and Disorderly charge. The highlight of our Grandfather's career, that could not have been taken of him, is the recognition of his efforts by the commander in chief of the British Armies, Sir Douglas Haig. In Haig's Dispatches published in the London Gazette of the Tuesday the 8th July 1919, our grandfather along with many more men were according to Haig worth a mention. We know when our Grandfather had returned to Ireland he seemed to fall on hard times where he started frequenting the Salvation Army on York Street until his death in 1947.
Copy of medals that were awarded for service in Africa and the Great War ; Enlistment paper for the Royal Dublin Fusileers ; Medal cert for the issue of the King and Queens Africa Medals. William's name appearing in the London Gazette.
CONTRIBUTOR
shane spelman NUI Galway
DATE
1891-09
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
1
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
Discover Similar Stories
William Berrill
1 Item
The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of 'Pip' also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
William Berrill
1 Item
The Queen's South Africa Medal had been awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India and South Africa), civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents
British War Medal | William Berrill
1 Item
lso known as 'Squeak'. The silver or bronze medal was awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.