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Auction: 323 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 740

A Good 1916 Medal to Michael Cullen, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers, Who Served During the 1916 Easter Rising with the Boland's Mills Garrison. Sent by de Valera To Occupy a Nearby Tower, He Successfully Persuaded the British to Bombard and Destroy it, In Order to Stop It Being Used Against His Garrison, But Not Before His Own Nerves Were Shattered by the Experience
1916 Medal, reverse officially named '263 Michael Cullen.', with integral top riband bar, extremely fine, in original box of issue

Michael Cullen served during the 1916 Easter Rising as a Captain in the 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers, as part of the Boland's Mills Garrison, alongside his brother Sean (see following lot). 'On Thursday 27th April de Valera decided that he wanted to get the former distillery near Boland's Mills destroyed, since the Volunteers had failed to occupy it and he did not want it to be used by the British forces, since it would render Boland's Mills untenable. He sent Michael Cullen into the distillery tower to simulate semaphore messages so that the British would shell it in the mistaken belief that it was a Volunteer headquarters. Cullen soon drew the fire from a naval gun situated on a horse drawn lorry in Percy Place, as well as the Helga on the River Liffey. Once the bombardment finished Cullen had to be sent to a secure area to convalesce since his nerves had been shattered by the experience.' (The Easter Rising, Foy and Barton refers). Captured by the British, he was removed to Wakefield Detention Barracks as part of the Ballsbridge Party on the 6th May 1916.

Sold for
$3,250