KC Royal Irish Regiment Badges

[Stephen]

Hi all,

Looking on the forum I notice that KC RIR badges tend to have a small loop/piece of metal attached behind the slider for strength. Is this the case with all KC badges?

Thanks,

Stephen

[cavalryman]

Hi Stephen, No not all KC badges, some like the Royal Irish Regiment and the Connaught Rangers had a weak spot under the crown caused by the void. to solve this problem the makers used a small strengthener to beef up that area. however you also find these badges without the modification. regards john

[Stephen]

Thanks John,

I wasn't too sure about that so much appreciated.

Cheers,

Stephen

[John Mulcahy]

Cavalryman has it right and further to his comments...

The QVC pattern O/Ranks badge was sealed as pattern 4397 on the 28th April 1896 for the Field Service Cap (FSC) and Foreign Service Helmet (FSH)

It was modified as pattern 4397a on 6th May 1902 when the design was changed to a Tudor Crown, it was sealed at this time for the FSC and the FSH

Another change came on the 29th Sept 1911 , the entry is "Renewal & Crown junction strengthened , Forage C & FSH" The pattern number now changed to 7442

So on this date the War Office formally instructed manufacturers to strengthen the crown harp junction on all subsequent production. Thus 1911 can be considered the first formal introduction of the strengthened version. However this is not to say that it was not done at local level or at the initiative of suppliers before this date.

The above data is from, in turn,

WO359 / 8 /131
WO359 / 11 / 156
WO359 / 15 /108

John