Acting Bombardier Michael Reilly D.C.M.

Acting Bombardier Michael Thomas Reilly, D.C.M., 76th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action in Mesopotamia on 3rd August 1916, aged 23, and is buried in Baghdad ( North Gate ) War Cemetery. Iraq. He was the son of Captain Thomas and Julia Reilly of Oldtown House, Oldtown, Co. Dublin and had been born at Gibraltar. The Field Artillery normally used the 18 pounder field gun in an anti infantry role using both high explosive and shrapnel shells one of which is shown below. The Citation for his Distinguished Conduct Medal reads ” For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Kut-Al-Amara (Mesopotamia) on 28th September 1915, when regardless of personal risk he collected and removed several wounded men under heavy shellfire”  The award was gazetted on 22nd January 1916.