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Part I: File contains correspondence, memoranda, newspaper cuttings, typescript and handwritten notes in relation to the conditions which governed the issue of a pre-Truce service medal. Correspondence (27 January 1942) from P. S. Ó[Muireadaig] the Rúnaí Príobháideach (Private Secretary) of Roinn an Taoisigh (Department of the Prime Minister) to the Private Secretary of the Aire Cosanta (Minister of Defence) states that the old I.R.A. and like bodies requested a reception of a deputation to discuss the proposals regarding the distribution of military service medals. Also, attached to a handwritten leathán miontuairsce (extensive minutes) is a sketch of the reverse side of the medal which, as stated in the note, is intended for distribution to persons who rendered service in the Irish Volunteers during the period 1917-1921. The author of the note also wishes to know what the best translation into Irish of the phrase ‘for service’ would be. The words ‘Ar son Seirbíse’ is hand written at the end of the note (2 February 1942). A copy of correspondence (27 January 1942) from the old I.R.A. to An Taoiseach (the Prime Minister) Eamon DeValera states that the old I.R.A want to submit proposals in order to assist DeValera in distributing the proposed military medal fairly. In reply the deputation received correspondence (4 February 1942) from Rúnaidhe Príobháideach do’n Taoiseach (Private Secretary to the Prime Minister) stating that the Minister for Defence received their correspondence and wanted the deputation to know that there should be no departure from the methods used to issue the 1916 service medal. It continues by stating the minister believes the standards set for the receipt of an active service medal would not be lowered. In respect of those who did not merit a pension certificate based on their service he (the Minister) suggested that another medal be struck which would be suspended from a bar similar to the other medals by a green poplin ribbon and it would be issued to individuals of the I.R.A., Citizen Army, Cumann na mBan and Fianna Eireann who had service but were not entitled to pensions. The matter concerning the issue of service medals to individuals who were members of the I.R.A. but who did not receive pensionalble certificates was under consideration (9 March 1942). Minutes of a meeting (6 March 1942) held in the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Defence was held in order to deal with the question of the grant of a medal for service in the forces subsequent to Easter week.Six people were present at the meeting and General McMahon presided.
A memorandum for the Government (March 1942 (/28)) states that the Minister for Defence in 1941 proposed that two medals be struck – one to be a 1916 medal and the other a general service medal. He further recommended that the medal be issued to those who had been awarded service under the Military Service Pensions Acts and to those who did not apply for a pension but who satisfy him they rendered service between 1916 and 1921. The Government decided that two medals would be struck and the General Service Medal would be awarded to those who were continuously members of the I.R.A. from a date prior to the 11 July 1921 until the 11 July 1921or later provided lists of such persons are available to the Military Service Pensions Board. Upon the decision of the Government the Minister for Defence decided to change the name ‘General Service Medal’ to ‘Active Service Medal’ and that it should be awarded to (a) those in possession of a military service pension certificate which was issued to them under the Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 and 1934 which entitled them to a pension (b) those who are in the process of applying for a pension and who will be awarded a pension when their claims are decided and (c) those who did not apply for a pension but who satisfy the Minister that ‘had they done so their service was such as would have merited the award of a pension’.
The memorandum mentions the event of the deputation of old I.R.A. visiting the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence and the recommendations they (I.R.A.) made in respect of the granting of medals.
A memorandum (17 April 1942) entitled ‘Bars for Medals’ outlines six points that relate to the research and design of the medals to be awarded. Correspondence (22 April 1942) from Oscar Traynor to the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Eamon de Valera refers to the research that has been done on the design of medals. Traynor concludes his correspondence by stating that a medal with bar ‘should be given to those who had active service prior to the 11 July 1921 and a medal only to those who were enrolled but had not active service seems to me to be only a slight departure from the principle adopted by the British authorities in awarding bars to medals for service in different engagements in the same campaign. Alternatively, the issue of two medals of different sizes but otherwise corresponding, as in the case of the British Peninsular Medal, might be worth consideration’. A memorandum for the Government (18 May 1942) outlines the recommendation of the Minister for Defence which is that the medal and bar should be issued to those in possession of a Military Service Certificate entitling them to a pension under the Military Service Pension Acts, 1924 to 1934 in respect of the period subsequent to 1916 and prior to the 11 July 1921. Those not in possession of a certificate but who satisfy the Minister of Defence would also receive a medal with bar, if they had applied for a pension, their services were such that they would have merited the award of a pension. A medal without bar to those enrolled in the I.R.A, Fianna Eireann, Cumann na mBan, Irish Citizen Army not less then three months prior to the 11 July 1921 but who did not qualify for a pension. The Government approved the proposals of the aforementioned memorandum (26 May 1942). Also present in the file is the press and radio announcement made on the 27-28 June 1942. Notices (1942) were also placed in various newspapers and there a newspaper cuttings of the notice from the newspapers where it appeared, for example, the Irish Times, the Cork Examiner, Irish Independent and the Irish Press. An undated document appears to be an estimation of numbers applying for medals. A typed paragraph on the document states that the number of persons likely to qualify for service medals (if issued) is difficult to estimate. The number of non-qualifying applicants under the Acts, 60,077, gives an approximation of the minimum number eligible for such an award.
Part II: File contains correspondence, memoranda, handwritten and typescript notes in relation to the conditions governing the issue of pre-Truce service medals and potential abuses of the applicant’s who received medals. Correspondence (10 October 1953) with the title Sean Oglaigh na h-Éireann (Old Irish Republican Army) from Brigade Runaí (Brigade Secretary), Headquarters, No. 3 Brigade, An Cuireann, Cill Airne (Waterville, Killarney) to an unknown recipient states that forms for verification were forwarded to Brigade Headquarters for the ‘usual signatures’ and that the Company Officers for each case were depended upon to provide the correct required information. Attached to this correspondence is a document entitled ‘Names of Applicants who were not members of the I.R.A.’ and it gives the names and addresses of sixteen men. File also contains undated lists of names on large (40x33cm) pages under the main title ‘Schedule of cases in which the applicant’s entitlement to Service (1917-1921) Medal has been questioned’. Following the main title are numbered (1-8) sections with sub-titles ‘No application received for medal (from the address quoted)’, Medal application was received and was under investigation, medal not issued’, Medal issued. No application for special allowance’, ‘Application for special allowance was under consideration – No award of special allowance to date’, ‘Medal issued. Eligibility to medal questioned. Subsequently re-established and special allowance awarded’, ‘Medal issued. Special allowance awarded. Payment stopped. Refund of amount paid demanded, or “write off” sought’, ‘Medal issued. Special allowance awarded. Eligibility questioned. Payment suspended.’ Under each sub-title are the names of men and women who have an M.D., S.P. or D.P. number. The majority of the names have at least two out of the three types of numbers (M.D./D.P. etc.). Their Brigade area and the people who objected to their application are also listed. An undated document following the aforementioned lists outlines in nine points the process an applicant went through in order to receive a service medal. The medal without bar did not entitle the holder to a pension. The document explains that Section 7 of the Army Pensions Act, 1943, allowed for the grant of a special allowance to people whose means did not equal or exceed a prescribed sum and who were unable to support themselves but who had been awarded pensionable service under the Military Service Pensions Acts 1924/34. The award of a pension would have been in respect of service, a wound or a disability sustained during Easter Week 1916. However, Section 14 of the Army Pensions Act 1946 amended the aforementioned Section 7 of the Army Pensions Act 1943 so that those who met the conditions of incapability for self support as in the 1943 Act were then made eligible for the grant of a special allowance whether they held a medal with or without bar in respect of membership of the I.R.A., Fianna Eireann, Cumann na mBan, and the Irish Citizen Army for three months continuously ended on the 11 July 1921. Therefore, from 1946 the medal without bar carried the entitlement to a monetary award where the holder could satisfy the Minister of Defence as to his lack of self-support ‘by reason of permanent infirmity of body or mind’. At the creation of the document up to the 30 November 1953 the number of medals without bar issued was 35,345 and 8,000 applications were awaiting verification. Also, on the 30 November 1953 there were 3,180 special allowance’s being paid and it was estimated that 75% were holders of medals without bar. Applications for the receipt of a special allowance were estimated to be approximately one hundred a month and seventy a month were being awarded. allowance.
A memorandum (17 December 1953) to the Minister refers to an attached document prepared by the Finance Office which outlines three suggestions for the Ministers consideration. The author refers to the fact that there were surplus civil servants in the employment of the state where there could be drawn suitable men for the purpose of carrying out investigation work. What would also need further consideration was if investigating officers could take evidence on oath if it were necessary.
A minute (25 February 1954) addressed to the Assistant Secretary from an unknown author outlines across fourteen points the status on a number of suspected cases where people were receiving special allowances under false pretences. It was also suggested that legislation be introduced, after consultation with the Attorney General, to enable a medal award to be revoked.
A memorandum generated within the Department of Defence (10 May 1955) which refers to a draft memorandum for the Government 8 March 1954 states that it should be read in conjunction with the following additions. To paragraph 7 it should be added that the number of medals without bar issued up to the date 30 April 1955 was 36,687. Also, the number of applications awaiting verification up to 30 Apr 1955 (including about 4000 cases that were with verifying officers) was 13,842. In addition to paragraph 8 it states that the number of special allowances being paid up to the 30 April 1955 was 4,379 and approximately 80% of this number were holders of medals without bar. In addition to paragraph 10 the estimated cost of special allowances for 1955/56 as £382,000 and in addition to paragraph 12 the total number of medal entitlements to be checked was approximately 46,000. An annexe to the memorandum states that there was 43 cases where entitlement to the medal was questioned and a further 63 cases had arisen therefore making the total of 106 questionable cases to 10 May 1955.
Memorandum of a discussion (15 August 1955) with Mr. M. Daly, Attorney General’s Office and present Mr. Kearney (Finance Officer) and Mr. Collins (Deputy Finance Officer) concerning the difficulties with the verification of medal awards and also the feasibility, legally, of examining applicants and witnesses on oath. Daly was summarised as having stated that the Minister had no power under existing legislation to withdraw medals that has been ‘duly awarded’ or to withhold or terminate special allowances in cases where the applicant had been ‘duly awarded’ the medal but was subsequently held not to be entitled. Correspondence (21 September 1955) from Minister for Finance [Gerard Sweetman] to Sean MacEoin referring to the process of investigation into medal claims as unsatisfactory. Particularly, [Sweetman] states, due to the fact that a medal entitled its holder to a special allowance. He continues by pointing out the calculation that at the peak it will cost the Government £2.5 million, the peak to be reached within ten years.
The government held a meeting on the 4 December 1956 in which they authorized the minister for Defence to have a bill drafted to amend section 41 (3) (a) (iv) of the 1953 Army Pensions Act. The Minister for Defence was also authorized to have a bill drafted to provide that whenever an application for the grant of a special allowance is made by the holder of a medal without bar the applicant’s claim shall be specially investigated. Also, the award of the medal shall not be withdrawn but a special allowance would not be granted unless the claim was substantiated on the merits of the service rendered by the applicant (7 January 1957).
Correspondence (24 January 1957) to the Referee (Mr Justice Sheehy) from Sean MacEoin refers to MacEoin’s worry over the growing numbers of service medal’s and special allowances awarded on false pretences where the applicant’s did not have membership of the particular organisations for the three month’s period ended on the 11 July 1921. MacEoin requests access to the referee’s records. In reply (7 February 1957) the referee, Eugene Sheehy, agrees to allow Finance Officers access to his records. The new system of verification set in place caused a backlog in the award of new awards of special allowance (22 May 1957).
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