DescriptionIRA Black and Tan medal with Comrac barOriginal medal with the comrac bar and original ribbon.Condition is good. The history of the IRA Black and Tan medal with Comrac bar:“IRA Black & Tan medal” is the Irish War of Independence Medal, 1919-1921.Collectors often call it the “Black and Tan medal” simply because it commemorates the conflict period in which the Black & Tans operated — but the Black & Tans themselves never received this medal.It was issued by the Irish state as a recognition medal for service on the IRA / independence side in the War of Independence (1919-1921).Official title:“An Bonn Cogaidh 1919-21”(“War of Independence Medal”)It was not contemporaneous with the fighting — it came much later.Issued when?It was authorised in late 1941 and the main period of actual issuing / posting out to qualifying veterans was in the mid-1940s (mostly 1942–1944).So roughly ~20 years after the war.Why so late?There are two main reasons historians usually point to:The new state took a long time to settle who counted as “legitimate” veterans.Civil War politics made recognition complicated.The Department of Defence undertook a systematic pensions service verification process in the 1930s–40s.Once service records were reviewed for pensions, this also created a basis for who could receive the medal.Who was eligible?Those who took part on the independence / IRA / Óglaigh na hÉireann side against British Crown forces between January 1919 and July 1921.The “COMRAC” barThis was issued only to those whose verified service included active combat.So:ItemMeaningMedal onlyyou served in the War of IndependenceMedal COMRAC baryou served in combat operationsThat’s the essential purpose:state recognition of service to the independence struggle — formally, retrospectively — awarded by the Irish state in the 1940s.It was issued by the Irish Free State (later Ireland) beginning in the 1940s to veterans who had served in the IRA / Óglaigh na hÉireann side during the War of Independence.The COMRAC bar“Comrac” = Irish for CombatThe COMRAC bar was an extra clasp fixed to the ribbonIt was only awarded to those who were active in armed service / combat operations (as opposed to supporting roles)The bar is the rarer part — most surviving medals do not have it
