Irish Defence Force Cap Badges

[billy4294]

Good Afternoon,
Does anyone know what year the Irish Defence Forces changed their cap badges from brass, to anodised?
Thanks
Billyh

[John Mulcahy]

I used to collect Irish Defence Forces Insignia and still take an active interest in the matter.

I have never seen any official dates for the introduction of "staybright" cap or collar badges but the early 1970's seems like a reasonable guess for the following reasons,

* The 1958 pattern Medical Corps Collar badge is reported to have been introduced in A/A c. 1971 (Perkins p. 74 no primary reference.)
* The 1924 pattern Military Police Corps collar badge is reported to have been introduced c. 1970 (Perkins p. 75, no primary reference)
* The 1968 pattern Infantry Corps Collar badge reported to have been introduced in A/A c. 1971. (Perkins p. 77, no primary reference)
* The Artillery Corps 1943 pattern reported as introduced in A/A in 1971. (Perkins p 77, again no primary reference.)
* The 1962 pattern Observer Corps collar badge was never produced in A/A suggesting that A/A was not being used when it was first introduced in c.1962


There are no dates generally given in the matter in Hogan's book or the Defence Forces handbooks that I can see.


John

[billy4294]

Thank you John
Billyh

[Peter Brydon]

We are on holiday in Dublin close to Collins Barracks, there is a military exhibition on at the moment but part ( which includes The Defence Force ) is temporarily closed and the Defence Forces museum found on line no longer exists.

Did find a reference to the Liverpool Irish and uniforms of The Canadian Irish and London Irish.

P

[cavalryman]

Hi Peter, Thanks button.

best regards John