Irish OTC's

[Wayne Ihaka]

can anyone out there give me the names of all the OTC based in Ireland in WW1

all my books locked away in storage after a move

thank you

[Peter Brydon]

Wayne,

I cannot give a definitive list but here are some from Cox which in theory means they were in existence in WW1:

Dublin University
Queens University Belfast
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Royal Veterinary College of Ireland
Campbell College Belfast
Cork Grammar School
St.Andrews College,Dublin
St.Columba`s College, Dublin


( Errors and Omissions excepted )

P.B.

[Alan O]

There was also the Royal Belfast Academical Institute which founded an OTC in 1914 and disbanded it at the end of the war.

K&K show the school crest with RBAI inset as the school cap badge.

Bosleys have attributed a solid back royal coat of arm badge with the school motto as a school cap badge. I have been unable to confirm this attribution. It may be a collar badge or a school uniform badge rather than OTC or CCF.

https://www.regimentalbadges.com/en-...dge/prod_21424

In WW2 the school pupils were part of the Ulster HG battalion wearing the RUR cap badges. Photos of the cadets in WW2 can be found here: https://wartimeni.com/article/on-thi.../25th-october/

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Alan O

K&K show the school crest with RBAI inset as the school cap badge.

Found a photo:

Whytes (Dublin) had a lot "1912-1918 36th (Ulster) Division, collection of badges and buttons" which included "Royal Belfast Academic Institute Officer Training Corps cap badge" .

https://www.whytes.ie/art/1912-1918-...=15&offset=120

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[Alan O]

Mike

Interesting lot and I had not seen it. Unfortunately I have been unable to find a photo of the badge in use.

Alan

[Alan O]

£155 - too rich my my pocket.

Looks to be quite small judging by the lugs.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235512224678

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Alan O

There was also the Royal Belfast Academical Institute which founded an OTC in 1914 and disbanded it at the end of the war.

K&K show the school crest with RBAI inset as the school cap badge.

Bosleys have attributed a solid back royal coat of arm badge with the school motto as a school OTC cap badge. I have been unable to confirm this attribution. It may be a collar badge or a school uniform badge rather than OTC.

Found this on the school website :

In the 1920s, in the period of Geoffrey Garrod’s principalship, the House system was founded, the school song was written and a school uniform, including the ubiquitous yellow and black quartered cap, was worn for the first time.

Also , this indicates that the "school" (as opposed to the OTC) badge was changed in 1951 :

Until 1951, Inst used the Royal Arms on its stationery and uniform items. In 1951, as a result of some concern that use of the Royal Arms by a school was inappropriate, the current Arms was developed and adopted.

So , which badge is more likely to be the 'short lived' earlier one ?


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[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Alan O

In WW2 the school pupils were part of the Ulster HG battalion wearing the RUR cap badges. Photos of the cadets in WW2 can be found here: https://wartimeni.com/article/on-thi.../25th-october/

Found an old newspaper article "Belfast Telegraph, Tuesday, March 23rd, 1943"

Belfast's Army Cadets - First photographs of the newly formed Army Cadet Force. (Left) pupils of Royal Belfast Academical Institution being fitted with khaki battledress (right) Mr. W. H. Mol, O.C., Methodist College Company, inspecting a parade, and (below) the fine military bearing of the Technical College Company during a drill march.

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/old_ne...ings1.htm#1943


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[irishhorse]

Been in contact with the school, got this reply.

"I've had a look into this for you and can confirm that the badge one the left is the Officer Training Corps badge which was worn on their caps. It was designed by an RBAI Art Master, and consisted of the Royal Coat of Arms, the school monogram and a shamrock.

The other, gold coloured, badge is a school uniform badge".

[Alan O]

The WW2 cadets were badged RUR so I don't think either are from that period.

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by irishhorse

Been in contact with the school, got this reply.

"I've had a look into this for you and can confirm that the badge one the left is the Officer Training Corps badge which was worn on their caps. It was designed by an RBAI Art Master, and consisted of the Royal Coat of Arms, the school monogram and a shamrock.

The other, gold coloured, badge is a school uniform badge".

That's fascinating. So it was a school uniform item as suggested. Power of the forum!

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by irishhorse

Been in contact with the school, got this reply.

"I've had a look into this for you and can confirm that the badge one the left is the Officer Training Corps badge which was worn on their caps. It was designed by an RBAI Art Master, and consisted of the Royal Coat of Arms, the school monogram and a shamrock.

The other, gold coloured, badge is a school uniform badge".

Thank you , although not my area it was an interesting puzzle .


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[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Alan O

That's fascinating. So it was a school uniform item as suggested. Power of the forum!

So K&K were wrong :

K&K show the school crest with RBAI inset as the school cap badge.

Also , is the school cap badge (not the OTC one) really worth £155 !


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[Alan O]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

So K&K were wrong :



Also , is the school cap badge (not the OTC one) really worth £155 !


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Well it was an auction result so 'worth' is relative but I think it is now vastly over priced after the findings of this thread. I suspect the 2 bidders thought they had found an unrecorded OTC badge and believed the attribution by Regimentalbadges (Bosleys) previous auction.

[mike_vee]

Thanks Alan , it just shows how an "expert" opinion can effect prices.

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