General Service Medal 1919-62. GV first issue with clasp 'N.W. Persia' (7250682 A. Cpl. P. Cullen R.A.M.C.)

The recipient Patrick Cullen, latterly held the rank of Acting Corporal while serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps

Medal(s) & Clasp Verification: Patrick Cullen is confirmed entitled to the GSM with clasp, together with three earlier campaign medals for the Great War, per the recipients Medal Index Card (that shows all medals and regimental / army numbers) and below following referenced medal rolls:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2906. Shown as No. 33750 disembarked France 21 September 1915
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/2092
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/2092
- GSM 1918, with clasp for 'N.W. Persia': WO 100/G9/419. Roll shows recipient discharged 31 March 1922, the roll compiled 22 October 1923

The recipients extant Medal Index Card shows the below following forwarding address for the recipient where his medals were to be sent in Ireland:

Infirmary Royal Hospital
Kilmainham
Dublin

The recipients latter unique Army Number (7250682) is from the regimental block of 'Army Number's' allocated to the Royal Army Medical Corps 7245001-7539000 and awarded sequentially to all existing and subsequent enlistees to the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1920 to circa 1941, including Patrick Cullen who was re-numbered in 1920

As Patrick Cullen took his discharge from the British Army on 31 March 1922, his forwarding address of the Infirmary of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham (home of the British Army's Irish pensioners) indicates that he had most likely obtained employment as a civilian medical orderly at the Military Pensioners residence located at the 'The Infirmary' of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Reference 'The Londonderry Sentinel' issue of, 25 January 1925, for the below following article about the closing of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, and the future of the dwindling band of British Army 'Kilmainham Pensioners' in the Irish Free State:

Quote,

Closing of Royal Hospital Kilmainham

PENSIONERS TO BE REMOVED

The beginning of the last short chapter of the centuried-old history of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, as a home for war-worn soldiers of the British Army, was written on Sunday morning, when the final service was held in the chapel of the institution which was consecrated in January, 1686.

With the reduction of the numbers of pensioners to fifty, it has been decided that sufficient accommodation for them is available in the infirmary, in the lower portion of the grounds, and the main building, which is the Royal Hospital, will be vacated at the end of the month.

The holding of the final service in the chapel was the first public act of that vacation. As the pensioners now left in the hospital average seventy-two years of age - and their is no more recruiting of their number - it can be only a matter of a few years until the Royal Hospital established in 1684, will have come to an end.

It is stated that the Hospital is still the property of the British Government. The guards have for some time past been mounted by soldiers of the Free State Army, but that comes from the acceptance of a courtesy offer of the present Irish Army authority.

Unquote.

Condition: About GVF

Code: 24903