London Irish collar badges

[Wayne Ihaka]

I have been wondering about collar badges worn by London Irish during WW1

I have a good cap and T18County of London shoulder but not sure what type of collars were worn.

Anyone can help? A few scans perhaps?

cheers

[orasot]

Hi Wayne,
I have 2 blackened shamrocks & 2 white metal, neither are a pair as the stalk was worn facing inwards ! I think they were worn over a long period & also by the South African Irish so would be hard to pin them down to ww1. My black shiny ones are probably post 52 according to Churchills book, hope this is of some help,
Wilf.

[Wayne Ihaka]

I have seen harp badges advertised as London Irish collars but have never seen the clover badges. They must be quite rare. Is there photographic eveidence out there

[Voltigeur]

Hi Wayne, not the best picture of an officer in the 1st WW showing him wearing the collars. Click on the pic to enlarge.
Jo

http://www.ww1photos.com/Archive_Off...8th_London.jpg

[orasot]

Great photo Jo, thanks for showing it,
Wilf.

[Wayne Ihaka]

well that settles it for me

clover collars were worn

now I need a pair but have never seem a pair for sale

thanks guys

[Keith Blakeman]

Originally Posted by Wayne Ihaka

well that settles it for me

clover collars were worn

now I need a pair but have never seem a pair for sale

thanks guys

They are hard to come by. However, bear in mind that the photo is of an officer who would be wearing bronze ones and his cap badge is the cord boss which is equally as rare.

[orasot]

Quite right Keith,
I've never seen Bronze ones for sale at any fair yet, I did pick up this boss badge in a job lot of collars, so I got lucky there, still looking for a cord boss though !!!!
Wilf.

[Keith Blakeman]

Originally Posted by orasot

Quite right Keith,
I've never seen Bronze ones for sale at any fair yet, I did pick up this boss badge in a job lot of collars, so I got lucky there, still looking for a cord boss though !!!!
Wilf.

I've had a single for years now, still waiting for one with the stalk turning right (as viewed) to match it. Nice cord boss, I don't have one of those either.

[orasot]

Well done with your latest job lot of titles by the way, good to get them for such a good price !!!!
Wilf.

[Keith Blakeman]

Originally Posted by orasot

Well done with your latest job lot of titles by the way, good to get them for such a good price !!!!
Wilf.

I'm thinking of orgainising an open top bus parade to show off the T/18 I've finally got after years of trying.

[John Mulcahy]

Wayne , from c. 1899 other ranks wore WM Shamrock collar badges (not clover) on full dress , that is what would have been in use during the WW1 period. Although usually on service dress no collar badges were worn by other ranks. Latterly (sometime after 1973 I think ) A/A tara harps have been worn as collars by other ranks.

Shamrock collars are not too hard to find - however finding matched pairs is quite tricky in my experience.

John

[Keith Blakeman]

Originally Posted by John Mulcahy

Shamrock collars are not too hard to find - however finding matches pairs is quite tricky in my experience.

John

That has to be the understatment of the year John. I've never seen a pair at any fair or on-line auction site.

[Wayne Ihaka]

thanks for everything lads, this may well be one of those heartbreaking gaps that are never filled

much appreciated all round

[mikeden]

Hi All
I have two brass shamrock collar badges (pair left & right ) they have two screw mounts east & west . The stems are opposite making a pair. I purchased them as Irish Guards but I do not think that the Irish Guards ever wore metal shamrock collar badges. can anybody help ? .are they London Irish WW1 or earlier