Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Meritorious Service Medal for Ireland awarded to Company Sergeant-Major Joseph Wood, Royal Defence Corps, late Manchester Regiment, who died on 17 February 1919

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (17975 C.S. Mjr., R.D.C.) good very fine £350-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A small collection relating to the Easter Rebellion 1916 and the Anglo-Irish War 1919-22.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919. ‘... in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.’ ‘17975 Coy./S.M., 454th Coy. [Royal Defence Corps] (Bradford).’

Joseph Wood was born in Pendleton, Lancashire. A Collier by occupation, he attested for the Manchester Regiment at Ashton-under-Lyne on 28 September 1886, aged 19 years. With them he served in India, September 1888-December 1894. Attaining the rank of Colour Sergeant, he was discharged in September 1907 having completed his second period of engagement.

With the outbreak of the Great War he returned to military service and became a Company Sergeant-Major serving with the 454th Company Royal Defence Corps. For his service in Ireland he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. This was his only military award. C.S.M. Wood died of influenza in Cork on 17 February 1919, aged 52 years. He was buried in the Philips Park Cemetery, Manchester. He was the husband of Mary Elizabeth Wood of 227 Mill Street, Bradford, Manchester, Lancashire.


With copied M.S.M. m.i.c. stamped, ‘Ireland’; copied service papers re service in the Manchester Regiment and other research, including a modern photograph of his headstone.