Royal Dublin Fusiliers - Guide to Some Variations of Construction!

[phaethon]

Thank you John,

You are right, I didn't paid attention to these details.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by John Mulcahy

Timo

sliders were first authorized for other ranks badge after the Boer War (c. 1902, when long sliders were authorized for fitting the new pattern (Brodrick) forage cap. Sliders were than ordered shortened in 1906 for the replacement forage cap which had a peak.

Also the Dubs other ranks cap badge did not go through a revision from the data it was sealed. The cap badge on issue during the Boer War period was fitted with loops.

This badge , if original, probably dates from post 1906. The "D" could signify anything. What do others think of this badge, I have some doubts?


John

The badge is so badly put together that I am wondering if the D is some kind of rejection stamp.

This is a great thread with useful information from all contributors.

[phaethon]

Thanks again. Lesson learned

Here is my today's pick up.. regards of this one, I am sure its good:

[Voltigeur]

Good Day Gentlemen, excuse me in my lateness in posting my badge in this section.I wanted to show one RDF badge which was not shown in andy's and other members' photographs.
It is I suppose a "bazar-made" badge (not "british-made" but either India or Egypt you tell me....).The lugs are 10mm high.
I welcome ALL comments on this specimen.BTW, this RDF is available,as it is not in my period of collecting.
Cheers
Jo

[Jack8]

Hi Jo,

It looks like an Indian made Officers silver and gilt cast badge judging by the construction and lugs.

Cheers,
Jack

[Voltigeur]

Hi Jack, since I know nothing about Irish regt. badges of that period,I will take your word for it. But I would like to get a few more comments about it........
Thanks
Cheers
Jo

[phaethon]

Finally officer's OSD pair together!



and without the scrolls.

[phaethon]

Now something slightly different. I have seen and studied exact same badges in two large Dublin collections, so I do not have to worrie about the originality - I know this type of badges exist. Also I got my example from well known good source in UK.

This badge is so called "economy issue", what was introduced during the war, when the new service battalions where raised.

[2747andy]

Originally Posted by phaethon

Now something slightly different. I have seen and studied exact same badges in two large Dublin collections, so I do not have to worrie about the originality - I know this type of badges exist. Also I got my example from well known good source in UK.

This badge is so called "economy issue", what was introduced during the war, when the new service battalions where raised.

Almost certainly not a 1916 era badge, more likely to date at least 60 years after WW1 ended!

Andy

[2747andy]

A grinning mouse above an anorexic elephant! This is a fake, send it back to whoever flogged it to you, it's worth about £5-8 MAX!

Andy

[phaethon]

I have a reason to believe that it is really produced during the war. As I said, I have seen same examples in the one of the best badge collection in Dublin. Also same badge appears one another collection here. I do not have a reason do doubt their expertiese.

Yes, if I didn't knew and saw them before, I haven't even look at this because there is no characteristics not so ever what we like to see on the RDF badge.

[2747andy]

I'm sorry but I am firmly of the belief that there was never an all Gm 1916 RDF badge! The one you show is certainly not of that period and, for there to be only a couple that you have seen, then that just strengthens by opinion!

The purpose of the all Gm badges produced in 1916 was to save time and they were mass produced as such! The scarcest of the Irish Infantry "Economies" being that of the Leinster Regt, which is "Rare", the others (RMF and RIF) are also scarce but far more obtainable than the former.

The slider shown on your badge is not of the shape and style commonly found on economy issue badges, and the almost "Comic Book" looking animals that feature on the ball of the grenade just go to strengthen my feeling that your badge is a fake. It may have been made during the "War"? But that's more likely to have been the Gulf and not the Great War!

I have quite a comprehensive collection of "Genuine" WW1 EI badges and plenty of fakes purporting to be "Genuine". I do not have a genuine RDF and I am more than happy that my collection of EI badges has examples from each of the 26 Regular Infantry Regiments which did have EI badges produced in 1916 is complete, i.e. there are no more Regiments to add. I believe that there was a possible "Economy" badge produced for the RDF during the Great War, however this was Bi-metal, of much thiner metal than the standard badge, with the base scroll being attached by tabs and in some cases quite crude looking! I have examples of this badge, which comes with and without sweat/vent holes to the rear of the grenade.

Here is a link to my EI Album, which shows part of my collection.

Best regards

Andy

[orasot]

I have to agree with Andy here, not the RIF bit though mate, I don't think they had an EI! As for the 2 collections in Dublin which each have one of these I would say that most collectors that specialise to a single regiment will have an example of anything they come across ( I have some Herts stuff that I know is crap but keep anyway) this doesn't automatically give provenance to the badge, merely states that the collector was happy to have an example in his collection. I would be more inclined to go along with researched facts & accept this is not an economy issue from WW1 & if I was to have one, not pay more than a fiver for it. Just my opinion of course,
Wilf.

[2747andy]

Originally Posted by orasot

not the RIF bit though mate,.

Wilf,
not sure what you don't agree with? Can you be a bit clearer so that I can respond!

All the best

Andy

[orasot]

You said the RMF & the RIF were scarce economy issues, I didn't think the Royal Irish Fusiliers had an EI. Seen loads of iffy ones though!
Wilf