The Chris Murphy Collection of Medals to the Royal Munster Fusiliers

A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Second Lieutenant H. S. Bright, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, later Royal Munster Fusiliers and Machine Gun Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (14158 Pte., R. Dub. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with corresponding miniatures, good very fine (8) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Chris Murphy Collection of Medals to the Royal Munster Fusiliers.

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M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 13 July 1916

Second Lieutenant Harold Sidney Bright was born at Kingstown, County Dublin; educated at Ranelagh School, Athlone; and prior to the Great War worked at the Guinness Brewery. He enlisted into the 7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 14 September 1914, serving at Gallipoli from 9 August 1915; commissioned into the Royal Munster Fusiliers whilst serving at Gallipoli, 25 September 1915; transferred to the 30th Infantry Brigade, Machine Gun Corps, 10th Irish Division, 11 May 1916.

Served in Macedonia where he commanded a platoon at the Battle of Kosturno. The following is extracted from a contemporary source ‘Once more came orders to withdraw and down into the Kayali Ravine we went. Here we had good shelter, but by now the Bulgars had their tails up and were pressing us hard. I was frightened of being overtaken and forced to fight in a damned dangerous place. So I left Bright’s platoon behind to try to delay them. That boy succeeded in staging a small ambush, shot down their leading files and rejoined us after a real gem of a rearguard action.’

Bright continued his service in Macedonia until severely wounded at the Struma Valley on 2 October 1916, where he received a gun shot wound to the face. After a period of six months convalescence he appears to have returned to active service, being discharged on 1 August 1920. Sold with a comprehensive file of research.