British Victory Medal to Royal Irish Reg career NCO Military Medal, Dublin

Description

For a sale very interesting Victory Medal, awarded to Michael Hanrahan, who served since 1903 with the Battalion and rose to the rank Sergeant. He received for bravery first day of the Battle of Messines, a Military Medal.
I am sure much more can be found out about him!
Michael Hanrahan (1884 – xxxx)
7575, Sergeant
Royal Irish Regiment
Awards:
-
Military Medal (
LG 17 Sep 1917
)
-
1914-15 Star
-
British War Medal
-
Victory Medal
-
Silver War Badge (
297734
)
Life
Michael was born in Ballybicken, Waterford City around 1884. His both parents worked in the tailors/dress making industry and they lived Smith's Lane, Ballybricken, Waterford. He also had two younger brothers James and Bartholomew. Bartholomew became an Irish Volunteers soldier in 1921and served in 2nd Southern Division.
During the war, Michael married on the 11 August 1916 with Mary Newman in Dublin.
After the service, Michael settled in Dublin and lived 7 Upper Gloucester Street, Dublin.
Service
Michael first enlisted to the 4th Militia Battalion of Royal Irish Regiment (service number 3241) on the 16 June 1897 when he was 17 years of age but because no attendance, didn’t continue after few months. He enlisted again to the 4th Battalion on the 14 June 1902 (service number 4241) and served until he was discharged 9 Jan 1903 when he enrolled to the regular service with the Royal Irish Regiment, 1st Battalion. His new service number was 7575.
He must be served well because April 1909 he was promoted to Lance Corporal rank.
His unit left to Nasirabad, India on the 1912 and stayed there until outbreak of the Great War. During that time in India, Michael was promoted again to the rank of Sergeant.
When the war started, 1st Battalion returned to UK on 18th Nov 1914 and they came under command of 82nd Brigade, 27th Division.
Michael and his men left to Le Havre on the 19th Dec 1914 and 1st Battalion concentrated in the area between Aire and Arques being joined by Territorial units taken from other Divisions. In 1915 they saw action at St Eloi and in the Second Battle of Ypres.
Michael must be transferred to the 2nd Battalion at some stage in France because he appears on the casualty list with the 2nd Battalion on 29 Sep 1915. He must be sent back home for some time because Aug 1916 he gets Married in Dublin. Perhaps he was in Dublin as well during the Easter Rebellion.
After he was fully recovered, Sergeant Hanrahan is back in the frontline with the 2nd Battalion. During that time 2nd Battalion fought under 49th Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division and they took part of 7th June 1917 Battle of Messines, where At 0310 hours on 7th June, as a prelude to the attack, sappers detonated some 500 tons of high explosive in 19 separate mines under German strong points on the Messines Ridge.
The 16th (Irish) Division's attack was between Maedelstede Farm and the Vierstraat–Wytschaete road. The mines at Maedelstede and the two at Petit Bois again devastated the German defences. Closely following the creeping artillery barrage, the assault waves of infantry went forward. Where there was any enemy resistance, the infantry soon overcame it. Unfortunately, the mines at Petit Bois to the left were about 12 seconds late and caused casualties among the advancing infantry. Ontario Farm, 2 RIR's objective, was completely destroyed and when the attacking platoons arrived, all they found was a vast crater.
Overhaul casualties as always were heavy, but fortunately the number of those killed was by comparison small (3 officers and 156 other ranks). Many prisoners were taken, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment captured 300 prisoners.
For his bravery during this attack, Sergeant Hanrahan was recommended on 20th July 1917 for a Military Medal by 2nd Battalion commander. His Military Medal was gazetted 17th Sep 1917.
Soon after that, he was wounded again with the gunshot wounds (GSW) to the left leg and arm and he was discharged 29 Dec 1917. Military pension card shows that 1920 he had 30% disability but by 1922 it is reduced to 10% but stays like this permanently.