WW1 Military Cross and Bar Medal Group of Three – Lieut. J.R. McIlroy, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

A first world war MC and Bar medal group awarded to Lieutenant John Rankin McIlroy, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 

Military Cross (with Second Award Bar) reverse engraved LT J. RANKIN McILROY, THE ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS, OCTOBER 29 1917 M.C., BAR 1918 26 MARCH 
British War Medal named to Lieut. J.R. Mc Ilroy. 
WW1 Victory Medal named to Liut. J.R. Mc Ilroy. 

London Gazette:
M.C. – 18th January 1918
 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid. He was the first of his party into the enemy trenches, shooting two of the enemy immediately. He was the last to leave, and assisted one of his serjeants in carrying back a badly wounded man.’ 

M.C. Second award Bar – 16th September 1918
 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the line had been forced back this officer established himself with a Lewis gun manned by men of various units in a strong point. The following day, though his flank was strongly attacked, and subjected to a heavy fire from artillery and trench mortars, he held on until ordered to retire in the afternoon. Had his position been allowed to fall into the enemy’s hands it would have been a serious menace to the whole brigade.’ 

The group comes with fitted case for the M.C., a pocket knife with mother of pearl handle engraved ‘ J. RANKIN McILROY ‘, a photograph of Lt. McIlroy in Service Dress uniform with the ribbon of the M.C. and bar on left breast, and a photograph of Mr McIlroy in later life with his wife. 

John Rankin McIlroy was born in Llandewy, Wales on 19/09/1894. He joined the army as a Private in the 19th (Public Schools) Battalion Royal Fusiliers in September 1914 and was commissioned into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in March 1915.

During the course of the war he was wounded three times and was captured at the Somme in 1918 but escaped. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions on 29th October 1917 and the bar to the M.C. on 26th March 1918. During the Second World War John McIlroy commanded the Emsworth Home Guard Battalion.

Married with three daughters, he ran the family business’s department store, ‘ McIlroy’s, in Northfield, Portsmouth. He passed away in 1975.

Also included with the group are a number of letters to Mrs Florence McIlroy, formerly Florence Turner, her family used to entertain soldiers from a nearby military hospital while they were recovering from their wounds and it is believed this is where she met her future husband John. Prior to this though she had met and become engaged to another officer, William Maynard ‘ Chip ‘ James of the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment who had been badly wounded in April 1915. There are a number of letters and field post cards from Captain James from the front line and it is clear the couple were much in love. Tragically, Captain James was killed in action leading an assault on a German position on 8th October 1918. There is also a letter to Florence from John McIlroy just prior to their wedding in 1922 outlining his hopes for the future and letters from other soldiers who had met Florence at her parents home while recovering and remembered it fondly, including a New Zealand officer who clearly wished to marry her himself! 

Regiment: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Era: WW1