What is the highest medal awarded in the irish defence forces?

Question

in the british army the highest medal awarded is the vc what is the highest medal awarded in the irish defence forces?

Answer 1

Just to provide an answer for the morons who posted their Rascist Anti-Irish crap.

An Bonn Mieata Calmachata / The Military Medal for Gallantry.

On December 4th 1944 the Council of Defence introduced this medal in three classes for awards to members of the Irish Defence Forces who perform acts of gallentry or bravery (other than those performed on War Service) arising out of or associated with military service and involving risk to life and limb above and beyond the call of duty.

The Classes are: 1st Class with Honour,

2nd Class with Distinction.

3rd Class with Merit.

Obverse; The usual surrounding ring is in the form of the laurel wreath of a hero and each arm of the cross bears a St. Brendan' Knot. In the centre are the words "DE BARR CALMACTA" Irish FOR GALLENTRY.

Reverse: The inscription AN BONN MILEATA CALMACTA" above and a scroll below for the particulars of the receipient All Medals are issued named.

Designer: Captain A. Molloy.

There have been six 2nd Class and one 3rd Class awarded in the last 45 years making it one of the world's rarerst military decorations.

The first award was to Trooper Anthony Browne, 33rd Infantry Battalion, who died in an ambush at Niemba in the Congo on November 8th 1960. He received the 2nd Class award.

In May 1983 the 2nd Class was confered on Captain Adrian Ainsworth "For exceptional bravery and compassion of a high order at Atiri, South Lebanon on the 7th of April 1980, at great danger to his own life from direct and sustained fire, he without hesitation crawled a distance of 200 meters to aid a grievously wounded comrade and still under fire on the return journey, brought him to a place of safety."

Lieutenant Anthony Bracken, Atiri Village* South Lebanon who at no thought for his own safety drove under fire to remove a felow wounded UN soldier*.

(* the man he risked his life to help was a a Fijian member of the UNIFIL Forces, who had been shot in the head, sadly despite emergency medical aid he died.)

Another 2nd Class award was made to Commandant Michael Lynch for driving a Jeep into a minefield to rescue some UN colleagues:"For showing exemplary loyalty to his fellow UN Observers and with disregard for his own safety, displaying the highest degree of courage and intiative in undertaking and sucessfully following through a difficult and dangerous mission behind Syrian lines, in the mountains east of Beriut, Lebanon on the night of the 25th September 1982 and for reflecting through his actions during the mission outstanding credit on himself and his country."

Corporal Michael Jones, 2nd Class with distinction, 8th of April 1980, South Lebanon.

Private Michael Daly, 2nd Class with distinction, 8th of April, 1980 South Lebanon.

Private Thomas Metcalfe, Portlaiose Prison Security detail, 25th July 1981. 2nd Class with distintion.

The Irish Defence Forces never more than 11,000 strong has made a hugh commitment to service in the United Nations as Peacekeepers. Most awards of the Military Medal of Gallentry have been in connection with United Nations service.

The Irish Republic id not part of NATO.

Between 1978 - 2000 over 40 Irish soldiers died in the Service of Peace in South Lebanon.

The Irish Military also has a Distinguished Service Medal for award when the issue of the Military Medal is not deemed appropriate.

And like most Military it has Service Medals which denote various years service in the Irish Defence Forces.

Also many Irish men over the last 200 hundred years have given sterling service to the British Army where they have won everything from VC's MM's DCM's the list being to long to add.

Answer 2

The Irish never required any bravery medals.

Answer 3

Shouldn't this come under Irish Jokes?

Answer 4

6 pints of Guinness and 10 Woodbine!

Answer 5

A lucky charm.