Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 194


A rare 1876 Constabulary Medal (Ireland) awarded to Constable M. Nugent, Royal Irish Constabulary, for his gallantry near Michelstown, co. Cork, when, although badly wounded, he succeeded in arresting Thomas Croghe, who had fired a blunderbuss at Nugent and a prominent Land Agent; this Agent was notorious for increasing the rents of his tenant farmers to the point where they were ‘all but pauperised’


Constabulary Medal (Ireland), 1st type, ‘Reward of Merit Irish Constabulary’ (Constable Matthew Nugent No. 23363. Garryleigh. 30th March 1876) with integral top riband buckle, the recipient’s Christian name officially corrected, edge nicks, good very fine


£3,000-£4,000 Provenance: Medal illustrated in British Gallantry Awards, by P. E. Abbott and J. M. A. Tamplin


Matthew Nugent was born in co. Meath in 1838. He worked as a labourer before joining the Irish Constabulary on 12 May 1858. He was a Sub-Constable in co. Tipperary from 12 October 1858. Nugent was transferred to Wicklow on 13 August 1861, where he was promoted to Acting Constable (wearing the insignia of a Corporal) in April 1872 and Constable (wearing the insignia of a Sergeant) on 1 January 1873. He was sent back to Tipperary (South Riding) on 15 October 1875.


On 30 March 1876 Nugent was one of two armed ‘Peelers’ assigned to guard Mr. Patten Brydge, a particularly unpopular Land Agent, as he travelled back home from his estate office after collecting rents. Brydge represented an English absentee landlord, a merchant from Newcastle-on-Tyne, who had bought an immense tract of land along the side of the Galtee hills, described as ‘extremely picturesque, but very isolated… the holdings are small, the ground, being nearly entirely a mountain slope, is not as productive as other lands in the fertile region around, and the tenantry have to toil hard and use no ordinary thrift in order to “make ends meet”.’ Brydge was hated for increasing rents to an unbearable level. In March 1875 he was shot at and narrowly escaped death. His staff were told that they must resign or face a boycott from the local community. After that attack, Brydge demanded continuous police protection. An iron ‘temporary’ barracks building, manned by four armed police, was set up at the entrance to his residence, Galtee Castle. Whenever he left home, Brydge was always ‘armed to the teeth’ and accompanied by two armed policemen.


Brydge travelled to Michelstown in a horse-drawn open car, along with his steward and his driver. They were guarded by Constable Nugent (sitting next to Brydge, on the side facing the Galtees) and Sub-Constable Jones, who were both armed with loaded rifles (probably Snider Enfield single-shot breech-loading carbines). Lying in wait as they returned along the road to Galtee Castle were three men; one on the left-hand side of the road armed with an old large bore blunderbuss, fully charged with black powder, bits of iron, lead slugs and lengths of wire, and an old horse-pistol. The two others were on the opposite (right) side of the road; both had modern shot guns, old blunderbusses and at least one revolver.


At Garryleigh, a townland on the top of the slope which leads down into Kilbehenny, there was sudden loud explosion from ahead and left, as a man jumped up from the ditch and discharged his blunderbuss at the approaching carriage. His aim was too high. The driver was blown off his box and killed instantly. ‘Constable Nugent was seriously wounded in the leg…[and] he had been struck by two pellets in the chest, two tore open his tunic at the shoulder’. Nugent fired his carbine at the gunman, but missed. The men on the other side of the road fired at Brydge, hitting him in the face, hand, arms and legs. ‘Both policemen jumped off the car to pursue their men, and in the records of the Irish police force no braver act is to be found chronicled.’ (Irish Times, Monday April 3 1876 refers)


Nugent confronted the first gunman, who had dropped his empty blunderbuss and drawn a horse-pistol. ‘With wonderful presence of mind and unsurpassed pluck, the constable presented his empty rifle, and threatening to shoot the man dead, ordered him to surrender.’ The gunman, Thomas Croghe, dropped his pistol ‘whereupon the constable seized him, and though badly wounded succeeded, after a great struggle in knocking him down and handcuffing him.’ Meanwhile Brydge and his steward had driven off at full gallop, abandoning the two Peelers and the corpse of the driver.


The two other gunmen had dropped their weapons and fled. The Sub-constable took the prisoner Croghe to the R.I.C. barracks at Kilbehenny, about three-quarters of a mile away. Nugent had to be taken by car to the Galtee Castle ‘temporary’ police barracks before he could get any medical attention from the two local doctors, who had both been summoned to care for Brydge. Brydge also telegraphed to Dublin to engage the Surgeon-General. Fortunately, Nugent recovered from his wounds.


He was awarded the Constabulary Medal for gallantry, promoted Second Head Constable (insignia of a military Warrant Officer) and transferred to Belfast in December 1876. He received a Favourable Record with a Gratuity of £25 on 7 August 1878. His last appointment was with Mayo Police, from 1 June 1883. After 25 years of R.I.C. service, Nugent was pensioned (£68 a year) on 1 December 1883.


Note: This must have been one of the last 1st type medals ever issued. In 1867 Queen Victoria granted the prefix ‘Royal’ to the Irish Constabulary. The force appears to have decided to use up its existing stock of 1st type medals, rather than melting them down, before issuing the 2nd type. The process took almost a decade, indicating how few awards were made during the 19th century.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236  |  Page 237  |  Page 238  |  Page 239  |  Page 240  |  Page 241  |  Page 242  |  Page 243  |  Page 244  |  Page 245  |  Page 246  |  Page 247  |  Page 248  |  Page 249  |  Page 250  |  Page 251  |  Page 252  |  Page 253  |  Page 254  |  Page 255  |  Page 256  |  Page 257  |  Page 258  |  Page 259  |  Page 260  |  Page 261  |  Page 262  |  Page 263  |  Page 264  |  Page 265  |  Page 266  |  Page 267  |  Page 268  |  Page 269  |  Page 270  |  Page 271  |  Page 272  |  Page 273  |  Page 274  |  Page 275  |  Page 276  |  Page 277  |  Page 278  |  Page 279  |  Page 280  |  Page 281  |  Page 282  |  Page 283  |  Page 284  |  Page 285  |  Page 286  |  Page 287  |  Page 288  |  Page 289  |  Page 290  |  Page 291  |  Page 292  |  Page 293  |  Page 294  |  Page 295  |  Page 296  |  Page 297  |  Page 298  |  Page 299  |  Page 300  |  Page 301  |  Page 302  |  Page 303  |  Page 304  |  Page 305  |  Page 306  |  Page 307  |  Page 308  |  Page 309  |  Page 310  |  Page 311  |  Page 312  |  Page 313  |  Page 314  |  Page 315  |  Page 316  |  Page 317  |  Page 318  |  Page 319  |  Page 320  |  Page 321  |  Page 322  |  Page 323  |  Page 324  |  Page 325  |  Page 326  |  Page 327  |  Page 328  |  Page 329  |  Page 330  |  Page 331  |  Page 332  |  Page 333  |  Page 334  |  Page 335  |  Page 336  |  Page 337  |  Page 338  |  Page 339  |  Page 340  |  Page 341  |  Page 342  |  Page 343  |  Page 344  |  Page 345  |  Page 346  |  Page 347  |  Page 348  |  Page 349  |  Page 350  |  Page 351  |  Page 352  |  Page 353  |  Page 354  |  Page 355  |  Page 356  |  Page 357  |  Page 358  |  Page 359  |  Page 360  |  Page 361  |  Page 362  |  Page 363  |  Page 364  |  Page 365  |  Page 366  |  Page 367  |  Page 368  |  Page 369  |  Page 370  |  Page 371  |  Page 372  |  Page 373  |  Page 374  |  Page 375  |  Page 376  |  Page 377  |  Page 378  |  Page 379  |  Page 380  |  Page 381  |  Page 382  |  Page 383  |  Page 384  |  Page 385  |  Page 386  |  Page 387  |  Page 388  |  Page 389  |  Page 390  |  Page 391  |  Page 392  |  Page 393  |  Page 394  |  Page 395  |  Page 396  |  Page 397  |  Page 398  |  Page 399  |  Page 400  |  Page 401  |  Page 402  |  Page 403  |  Page 404  |  Page 405  |  Page 406  |  Page 407  |  Page 408  |  Page 409  |  Page 410  |  Page 411  |  Page 412  |  Page 413  |  Page 414  |  Page 415  |  Page 416  |  Page 417  |  Page 418  |  Page 419