Alexander Will

[halcyon.64]

Hello. I hope this is the right spot for this. I am trying to find out information about Alexander Will who was born in Forfarshire on 17th March 1896. He joined the Royal Irish Constabulary as a Temporary Constable (Black and Tan) in 1920. His appointment was 30th March 1920. He was killed on 11th July 1920 by an IRA bomb while defending the Rathmore Barracks in County Kerry.
I have recently purchased the Constabulary Medal (Ireland) that was awarded posthumously to him at an auction in Western Australia (where I live).
Is there an historical society that I could contact which may have family photos or other records?
Many thanks,
Kathryn.

[Radcliff]

Alexander Will
Bachelor
aged 28 years
policeman
date of death 11th July 1920
place Rathmine
cause laceration of the brain,how sad

[hallmark]

Maybe contact  https://irishhistoricalmilitaria.com/  ??

[Radcliff]

so you hav no idea how the medal came to be auctioned where you live

[halcyon.64]

Thank you for the reply. I thought it was Rathmore and that he was 24 at his death. May I ask where you got your information? We agree on one thing though - it was very sad. He had literally only just completed his 3 months training.

[halcyon.64]

I have no clue as to how how it ended up in WA. Would the website listed give me information or are they more likely to want to buy the medal? I did get some information about Alexander Will from another forum about the RIC. At the time of his death, his mother was already a widow so she had a very sad time of it.

[Radcliff]

Irish civil records online gives his death
if you require a death cert you can apply for one for a small fee

[aghadowey]

Alexander Will
Bachelor
aged 28 years
policeman
date of death 11th July 1920
place Rathmine
cause laceration of the brain,how sad

Not sure where that information came from but it is incorrect. Alexander Will died Rathmore NOT Rathmine (there is a Rathmines, Dublin area) but Rathmore is Killarney district in co. Kerry-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1920/05114/4406353.pdf

Irish civil records online gives his death
if you require a death cert you can apply for one for a small fee

... or you can view the certificate online for free- see above link

[aghadowey]

Aberdeen Press and Journal, 13 July 1920-
BRECHIN CONSTABLE KILLED IN IRELAND. Information has been received that Constable Alexander Will, who lately resided at 28 Darn acre Road, Brechin, has been killed while duty in Ireland. Constable Will, who joined the after demobilisation, was on duty at the Rathmore Police Barracks, Co. 'Derry, on Saturday night, when an attack was made by a large number men, and it was during this attack that Constable Will lost his life. Much sympathy is felt in Brechin for his mother, who is a widow.
Constable Will originally came from the Aberlemno district.

Note: newspaper report does say Co. 'Derry [Londonderry] rather than Co. Kerry.