Description
On the reverse side of this piece of regimental cutely we have the following stamped details:
12 RIR
2417
The 12 RIR is standing for the 12th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles.
On researching the regimental number 2417, we discovered from the Medal Index Card that the original owner of this spoon was 2417 Pte Francis McCleary who served with the Royal Irish Rifles.
McCleary had quite a varied soldiering career during the course of the Great War. While his initial service was with the Rifles, he subsequently served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Irish Regiment (possibly a Garrison Battalion) and then with the Army Service Corps.
He had service throughout World War One, first entering the Western Front on 5th October 1915.
His medal entitlement for the war was the 1914/15 Star, War and Victory medals.
Pte Francis McCleary’s Pension Ledger suggests that he had died by 1st July 1924.
There is further research potential with this piece.
The spoon was manufactured by the well known company of Mappin & Webb.
