Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: British Inspector Michael Higgins, Palestine Police, late Connaught Rangers and Royal Irish Constabulary

1914-15 Star (4645 Pte. M. Higgins, Conn. Rang.); British War and Victory Medals (4645 Pte., Conn. Rang.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Palestine 1945-48 (B/Insp. M. Higgins, Pal. Police); Defence and War Medals; Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (British Insp. Michael Higgins) cleaned and mounted court style, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (7) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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L.S. & G.C. medal Palestine Gazette 25 July 1940.

Michael Higgins was born in Boyle, Roscommon, in April 1897. He joined the 4th Bn. Connaught Rangers on 24 October 1912, and was enlisted at Boyle on 12 November the same year. During the Great War he served two years at Home and three years overseas, being at Salonica, Palestine and in France, and was discharged on 31 March 1920. He next served for two years in the Royal Irish Constabulary before applying to join the Palestine Gendarmerie on 12 March 1922. In 1926, the Palestine Gendarmerie was reorganized, and Higgins was consequently transferred into the Palestine Police Department as a Corporal. He was later promoted a British Inspector, and in this rank was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for Long Service in July 1940. He retired in 1948, returned to his native Ireland, and died at Boyle on 20 March 1967.

The group is sold with a good selection of original documents including certificates of character and discharge from the Army, Palestine Gendarmerie, and Palestine Police, and a coloured Great War ‘On Active Service’ certificate issued by the Central Council for the Organisation of Recruiting in Ireland, Dublin.