Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An exceptional Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain F. P. H. Synge, Irish Guards, killed in action on 29 July 1917

Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., I. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with memorial plaque (Francis Patrick Hamilton Synge); and a contemporary official typed account of the action for which the M.C. was awarded, this rubber stamped ‘Irish Guards Record Office, Buckingham Gate, 29 Sept. 1917’, extremely fine (5) £2000-2500

M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916. The following is taken from the official typed account included with the lot: ‘Before dawn on 21st October 1915, our bombing attack had been driven back to our own barricade by the Germans, and the officer in charge (2nd Lieutenant Tallents) at our barricade was wounded. Lieutenant (then 2nd Lieutenant) Synge was sent up to relieve him and he arrived in time to assist 2nd Lieutenant Tallents in organising a counter attack. When the attack went forward he followed it, in the face of heavy bomb and rifle fire and he showed exceptional gallantry, devotion to duty, and power of command in consolidating the ground gained by building up a new barricade and clearing the intervening trench of wounded and debris while the bombing match continued a few yards further on. This officer was slightly wounded in the head early in the action, but never relaxed his efforts until his task was accomplished.’

Captain Francis Patrick Hamilton Synge was born in February 1889, the son of A. H. Synge, of Weybridge and Glanmore Castle, County Wicklow. He was educated at Winchester College and obtained a commission into the Irish Guards in August 1915. During the Great War he was wounded on two occasions, receiving a bullet through the ear on 21 October 1915, and subsequently on 9 July 1916 being wounded in the hand, chest and arm. Captain Synge was killed in action in France and Flanders on 29 July 1917, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards. He is buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Elverdinghe, Belgium. An obituary and fine portrait photograph appear in the published Roll of Honour for Winchester College.