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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 422

(x) Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R., dated 1848 below bust (W. Ryan, Troop Serjt. Major 3rd Dragoon Guards.), officially impressed, minor edge bruising, therefore very fine and extremely rare

William Ryan was born in Tipperary, Ireland and enlisted in the 3rd Dragoon Guards in February 1825. Advanced Troop Sergeant-Major in March 1838, he was awarded his M.S.M. and £10 annuity in August 1849. He was finally discharged in July 1857, after 26 years with the Colours.

Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris's Naval Medals 1793-1856 states:

'For the record, the five dated '1848 Type' Meritorious Service Medals struck at this time for use by the Army were awarded to:

William Ryan, Troop Sergeant-Major, 3rd Dragoon Guards
Samuel Hargreaves, Colour-Sergeant, 9th Foot
Thomas McMullen, Sergeant-Major, 20th Foot Reserve Bn.
John Weir, Sergeant-Major, 27th Foot
Robert Cook, Quarter-Master Sergeant, Rifle Brigade Reserve 2nd Bn.

There was one other later striking of three Army Annuity Medals with the dated '1848' obverse, of which one is known with a differing style of '1848' to that found on the original 50 dated Royal Marine (and five aforementioned Army) Meritorious Service Medals.'

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Sold for
£1,400