Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

[John Mulcahy]

You are welcome, a few other pieces for you re hackles and coloured bonnets.

Hackles/Plumes

A Grey plume was authorised for the ful dress "fur cap" by the war office on April 11 1903.

A Grey hackle was authorised for wear on the left side of the foreign service helmet in 1934. (It is quoted as being worn unoficially since 1919) contained in file WO 32/12059. However in Badge Backings and Special Embilshments of The British Army it is recoded that 2nd Battalion first adopted the hackle in the FSH while in Egypt in 1904 and the 1st Battalion were wearing it at Malta in 1909

The Grey hackle for pipers was authorised in 1937 (WO 32/12059) but appears to have been worn a few years prior to that judging by photographs.

On June 1 1946 the regiment formally asked for permission to wear the grey hackle in the beret. Photographic evidence shows it to have been worn in the GS cap prior to this.


With regard to the adoption of the blue caubeen in place of the khaki GS cap. Head dress is not my thing but WO32/12989 REGIMENTAL DRESS AND BADGES GENERAL (CODE43a) Introduction of coloured bonents for Irish Regiments dated 1948/49 in the National Archives might help.

John