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1799 Relief of Wexford Medal to Private John Byrne, Wexford Yeomanry Corps of Cavalry.
A white metal medal composed of two engraved convex discs enclosed by a band, on hinged suspension ring.
Engraved to the obverse “For his - gallantry in volunteering to attend his - Captn James Boyd Esq - who at
the head of his First - Lieut & eight Privates of his Troop - was the first to enter the town on - the 21st of June
1798 then in Posess - ion of the Rebels and thereby reliev - ing many of the Loyal Inhabi - tants who expected
a General Massacre - Ebenzr. Jacob - Mayor”; and on the reverse, “On the 29th - of June 1799 this - medal
was voted to - John Byrne, a Pri - vate in the Wexford - Yeomanry Corps of - Cavalry”. An extremely rare
medal awarded to a Yeoman Cavalry trooper for the relief of Wexford.
When General Moore’s army was within about two miles of Wexford, they perceived the house of a protestant
in the suburbs on fire, from which they concluded, that the rebels were burning the town.
Mr. James Boyd, representative for the town, who commanded the Wexford Cavalry, trembling for the fate of
his wife and children, asked permission of the general for him and as many of the yeoman cavalry as would
accompany him, to push forward to the town and to make a desperate effort to save their families and their
property.
The following persons, with great magnanimity, volunteered in that perilous service, and ran a risk of de-
voting their own lives to save the property and lives of the protestant inhabitants who remained in the town;
they were all members of the corps but one. Captain James Boyd, member of parliament, Lieutenant Percival,
high sheriff for the county, Corporal John Stetham, Corporal William Hughes, A.H. Jacob, of the Enniscorthy
corps and the following privates, John Tench, Joseph Sutton, Archer Bayly, Marcus Doyle, Abraham Howlin,
John Byrne, and William M’Cabe, Mr Boyd’s servant. Christopher Irwine, permanent sergeant of the troop,
followed them rapidly on foot, his horse having been shot.
They dashed into the town with a degree of valour bordering on despair, and announced with a loud voice,
that the army was at their heels.
This gave the rebels such an electric shock, that, panic struck, they fled in all directions, some over the bridge,
others to the barony of Forth.
Their consternation was so great, that very few of them attempted in their flight to injure the inhabitants of
the town.”
As history has it, the rebellion was crushed with great brutality.
2¼ x 2in. (5.72 x 5.08cm)
Estimate €3000-€5000 £2340-£3900
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 29