The Michael McGoona Collection to the Leinster Regiment

A very good Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Private J. Marron, Leinster Regiment, formerly Connaught Rangers, who was granted a Divisional Citation for his gallantry at Staceghem, in which action Sergeant John O’Neill gained the award of the Victoria Cross

Military Medal, G.V.R. (18211 Pte., 2/Leins. R.); British War and Victory Medals (6746 Pte., Conn. Rang.); together with original Divisional Citation, inscribed ‘The 29th Division, 18211 Pte. J. Marron, Leinster Regt. I have read with much pleasure the reports of your Regimental Commander and Brigade Commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on 20th Oct. 1918 near Staceghem and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the 29th Division, signed, Major General D. E. Cayley, Commanding 29th Division’, some edge bruising and contact wear, otherwise generally nearly very fine (3) £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Michael McGoona Collection to the Leinster Regiment.

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M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919.

The capture of the village of Staceghem is described in the regimental history thus ‘At six o’clock on the morning of 20 October 1918 the battalion attacked, in conjunction with the 4th Worcesters, under cover of a light barrage. A most successful advance resulted in the capture of the villages of Staceghem and Steenbrugge. At first the enemy’s resistance was weak, but it stiffened considerably as the action progressed, and east of Staceghem the attackers advanced under a very heavy fire from machine guns. However, by 9:20am the attackers had gained 5,000 yards and consolidated their new line. A total of forty prisoners, six machine guns and one field gun were captured. Major Redway, Second Lieutenant Smith, Second Lieutenant Flannery and 70 other ranks were wounded, and six other ranks killed.

It happened that on this day the Ulster (or 36th) Division was cooperating on the Leinsters right and Sergeant O’Neill had a brother in it. Word came to Sergeant O’Neill that his brother had been killed the previous day. Not only did he swear red, but he saw red. When the attack opened, he dashed ahead and soon was in advance of our own barrage which, luckily, was on the thin side. He was the first man into any village or hamlet on the battalion’s front. At the village of Staceghem he appeared to have picked up with a Worcester Sergeant, the latter had evidently appropriated more than one good bottle of “du vin” en route. Seeing Sergeant O’Neill leave the village on his own, he thought it was his duty to follow so long as his legs were capable and what with the two of them bearing charmed lives, they cleared several houses on their own, O’Neill giving no quarter and asking for none. For this exploit and his gallantry at Ledeghem, Sergeant O’Neill received the Victoria Cross.’ It is quite probable that Marron’s M.M. was awarded for the action at Staceghem, although this may be difficult to prove beyond doubt.