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Letter from Colonel Walter Scott
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Letter from Colonel Walter Scott
confirming his endowment
of a Medal of Valour
for the Garda Síochána |  |
| | WALTERSCOTT
FOUR NINETY-FIVEBROADWAY
NEW YORK
TELEPHONE CANALSEVENTY SEVEN EIGHTY NINE |  |
| January 8, 1924. |
General O. O'Duffy,
Commissioner of Civic Guard,
Dublin,
Ireland.
My dear General O'Duffy:
It is with more than ordinary pleasure that I at last consummate the offer made to you and your associate, Mr. Patrick Walsh, when
you were present here at the International Police Conference (which offer was accepted by you so enthusiastically); to present to the Civic Guard of Ireland a solid gold medal to be known as the "Walter Scott Medal for Valor", said medal to be awarded annually by you or your Department to the member of the Civic Guard who in your judgment, or that of your cabinet, has during the calendar year especially distinguished himself for valor in the performance of duty. It is understood that this medal is given in perpetuity, and for that purpose I have much pleasure in enclosing a $1,000. six per cent gold bond of the Detroit Edison Company, Detroit, Michigan, (B12096), maturing in 1940, this bond to be held by your department or City Treasurer, the interest there from to pay for the gold medal annually.
Under separate cover the dies are also being forwarded to you. They were made by Messrs. Dieges & Clust of this city, who also made the first medal.
I am also forwarding to you by registered mail the first gold medal, as it has been my custom to present the first one in addition to the bond and the dies. Of course, when the medal is awarded you will have the recipient's name engraved on the back.
If in the opinion of those awarding the medal, no one is entitled to it for an act of heroism performed during the year, the unused interest shall become a part of the principal.
May I say in connection with this medal matter that great credit is, due your people who prepared the drawing? The medal has been struck from very fine dies and is made of 18K solid gold. As you will perceive, the entire design is Celtic, and embodies the famous Celtic Cross.
And may I say in closing, my dear General O'Duffy, that it affords me heartfelt pleasure to donate this medal in perpetuity to the Civic Guard of the Irish Free State. While I am not of the belief that it is necessary to offer medals as an incentive for the performance of duty yet it has always been a practice of mine to present flowers during life when one can enjoy their beauty and inhale their fragrance. Hence, this gift of the medal in perpetuity to your Department.
With best wishes to your Civic Guard, also to Mr. Walsh and your good self,
Believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
W. S.
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Colonel Scott met General O'Duffy, the Commissioner of the new Irish police force at an Interational Police Conference in New York in 1923. On January 8th, 1924, he wrote to Gen. O'Duffy confirming his endowment of a Medal of Valour in the Garda Síochána.
 | | The first award cermony |
The first medal was awarded Guard James Mulroy on 18 August 1924, "for most conspicuous bravery" in arresting an armed man at Callaghan's Mills, Broadford, Co. Clare, on 26 May 1923. Guard Mulroy later donated to the Garda Síochána Museum by its first recipient, at a special ceremony on the 15th of June, 1978, at the Garda Training Centre, Templemore, Co. Tipperary. |
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