South Irish Horse

[Faugh-A-Ballagh]

I would imagine that this would be a particularly rare badge as it was a small regiment, disbanded in 1922. I have had a couple of restrikes over the years, and seen a few claiming to be genuine for sale, however, they all look identical to the restrikes. How could I spot a good one? What sort of metal is the original made from? Sliders or lugs? Any makers name? No doubt someone somewhere will have a good one.

John

[John Mulcahy]

John

From watching sales in places such as Bosleys and Wallis & Wallis I have noted the following metals & fixings.

Officers - die cast gilt short loops
- Bronze die struck, blades

O/Ranks - die struck slider


This badge is very widely faked,

I have an example bought from Bosleys in my collection and a known fake, I shall try to make time to post a photo comparing the two later tonight. Images in most reference books are usually too poor to see the badges in fine detail but Bosleys later catalogues have photos with good resolution which allow magnification. Here is what I have noticed from examining these and known good and bad examples.

1.) The genuine ones appear to have a pronounced heavy edge to the shamrock compared to the fake where it is lighter.

2.) The veins on known good examples twist and curve a lot more than in the known fakes. (see the photos later for illustration). The detail of the veins coming straight out of the stem in particular are very different in the two badges attached. I have seen this difference in all of the known badge types outlined above. The veins are usually more pronounced in the genuine one but this is not as good an indicator as polishing can deminish them

3.) Then there is the question of the notches (lines) on the stem. I can form no conclusive data on this. Smooth stems SEEM to be safer.

[John Mulcahy]

Here is some images to help illustrate the points above. Genuine badge on the left fake on the right.

Those pictures are a great help, thanks John - another one to find!! What armbadge did the SIH wear?

Jonny

[John Mulcahy]

Jonny

see a scan of an illustration from

The Uniforms of the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry and the South Irish Horse 1902 - 1922, by F. Glenn Thompson, The Irish Sword (The Journal of the Military History Society of Ireland), Vol X111 no 50 Summer 1977 1-9

The dimensions of the arm badge are not given, and I have never seen one either in collections, museums or sales catalogues.

Also attached a page of line drawings. M is the officers pouch badge and cross belt badge. Also of interest regimental buttons were worn by those who had served prior to the outbreak of hostilities with the GS pattern button issued to those who volunteered during hostilities.

I am pretty certain there is no breach of copyright posting these.

[orasot]

John & Jonny, There was an SIH silver hallmarked (1913 ) arm badge in the last Bosleys auction, 30th April. It was from the Hugh King collection, looks about 38mm tall from the pic on the grid they do.They had a price of 500 - 600 quid on it, but I think it went for way more !!! Not to me, I hasten to add !!!!!! It was number 2 in the catalogue if anyone else has a copy, all the best, Wilf.

[Malcolm Davey]

Wilf it sold for £1540

Malc

[Grevisk]

Originally Posted by ulsterman

What armbadge did the SIH wear?

Hi Jonny,
Have a peek at this one, it belonged to Warren Airey late of the SIH, he joined them in March 1910. This example is not hallmarked but is in silver.
It's placed next to a standard Kings Crown, Warrant Officers or Sergeant Majors style for size comparison. My PC has decided to play up so I can't upload a photo of the reverse but will do either tomorrow or later today if I can get things sorted ...

[Grevisk]

Here is the reverse of the badge and another shot of the obverse.

[scotch]

G'day

Being new to Irish badge collecting, hoping that I might get some information on the following badge that I recently picked up. Badge is hall-marked on reverse.

Cheers Scotch

[Alan O]

It is a mufti badge (aka sweetheart badge) privately bought to be worn on the lapel when in civilian clothes. As the SIH were disbanded in 1922 it must be before then.

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by Alan O

It is a mufti badge (aka sweetheart badge) privately bought to be worn on the lapel when in civilian clothes. As the SIH were disbanded in 1902 it must be before then.

I assume you mean 1922, and that 1902 is a typo?

The South Irish Horse were disbanded in July 1922, along with the Southern Irish infantry regiments of the British army.

A better pic of the hallmarks will help. Date letter, in particular, as this will give the exact year of manufacture.

http://www.southirishhorse.com/

[2747andy]

Originally Posted by Alan O

It is a mufti badge (aka sweetheart badge) privately bought to be worn on the lapel when in civilian clothes. As the SIH were disbanded in 1922 it must be before then.

Alan,
I think we should make a comparison between Mufti, Sweetheart and Association badges. I always thought that the former were issued to be worn by soldiers on civilian clothes in the interim period prior to being issued uniform. Therefore Mufti badges were official dress and issued? The later two for private purchase and wear! Please correct me if I'm wrong?

Andy

[Alan O]

Andy,

there is no official terminolgy here. I have a photo of a RA soldier with a full sized cap badge on his lapel - it is not a sweetheart but is being worn in 'mufti'. There were VTC lapel badges and a host of veteran lapel badges as well.

By all means catagorize them but mufti is a generic term.

[scotch]

Thanks for the info. Thought it might be a sweetheart badge, but no expert on hallmark dates. This one is hard to read. I have tried to enlarge (attachment), hopefully this might be clear for someone to read. As for this forum being heavy going . I was a member of a few militaria forums where the hobby has changed from interest to investment, now they were heavy going

Cheers Clarke