Connaught Rangers

Happy New Year to all,

On my journey collecting badges to regiments that my family served in, i came across this Connaught Rangers Badge on a dealers site (thanks Austin) and promptly took a shine to it.

In obvious need of a bit of 'TLC' which may be difficult in it's own right, I would be grateful to know if anyone has any spare bits they wish to dispose of. I have checked most of the trusted dealer site's with no joy, but again if anyone knows of likely places. it would be appreciated.

My wife called this my 'Happy Christmas to me' moment! Best Regards - Mark

Friends, another pick up, that i just had to have, although shown with an embroidered harp it should have (according to Jourdain) a silver harp to the centre. This one has the requisite holes but alas no harp. Would be grateful if anyone has an image showing the approriate one, unfortunately the Jourdain image is not clear. Best Regards Mark

[Hoot]

It should be the same design as the one with your helmet plate.

Hoot, many thanks, i thought 'should' be too, wondered if anyone had confirmation. Regards

[Toby Purcell]

It looks like the missing harp on that particular badge is the Maid of Eireaan pattern going by the shape of the embroidery. The Connaught Rangers wore both styles of harp on their insignia at various times. I’d be interested to know John Mulcahy’s views.

Thanks for the reply Toby, in Jourdain it shows a 'brian boru' harp, but the detail is not clear. Another example i have from the same period shows a different harp in shape, just which one would be right? if either. Regards Mark

So I've managed to find a photo from a previous Bosley's auction, copyrighted by them so unable to share. It would appear the harp is the same as the first helmet plate shown, of interest it would appear the badge was gilt covered originally. Regards Mark

[MAP32]

I attach a picture of my version bought from Bosleys a few years ago.

Map32, many thanks for posting your badge which confirms it, lovely item indeed! Regards Mark

Hi All, continuing with the theme, i have a couple of pictures post ww1 showing Connaught Rangers in India. The two in question appear to be wearing a badge on their right breast pocket? I thought it may be a pre-war territorial badge? Watch chain bar? Any thoughts welcome - Regards Mark

[leigh kitchen]

They look like watch chain fittings.

[Toby Purcell]

I agree with Leigh. The ‘T’ bar from a fob watch chain.

Leigh, Toby, many thanks, i'm inclined to agree, interestingly they use the same pocket, not sure how prevelant pocket watches would have been to private soldiers in 1921, but nice to see. Best Regards - Mark

[John Mulcahy]

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

It looks like the missing harp on that particular badge is the Maid of Eireaan pattern going by the shape of the embroidery. The Connaught Rangers wore both styles of harp on their insignia at various times. I’d be interested to know John Mulcahy’s views.

I have only just spotted this and am afraid I will not be able to solve the puzzle.

There is indeed the "ghost impression" of a Maid of Eireann Harp which is puzzling to me. For the most part the regiment did not much use the Maid of Eireann Harp post 1881. It appears on the Officers buttons redesigned in 1894, the 1st Bn Band pouch badge and the FSH badge c. 1885 but I dont know of any other devices that carried it after 1881.

There are several plates of badges in Jourdain, Lt. Col H. F. N & Fraser, Edward, The Connaught Rangers, London: Royal United Service Institution and I have found that for other ranks the dates they give tally very closely with the Royal Army clothing Department's List of Changes thus I find Jourdain reliable.

Interestingly Jourdain shows one officer Glengarry badge for the period 1881-1890 and it is identical to the one posted by 'MAP32" and the body is identical to Mark's but, the fact that Jourdain annotated his illustrations so preciscely shows a gap for the years 1890-1894 and it suggests (to me at least) that a second pattern badge may have existed for the regiment.

I have not found any sealed patetrn cards nor conducted any photographic research on the regiment so have no idea on what to make of the original post. I have looked through his research notes in the NA and where as I amde notes from them on other badges I made no note of Glengarry Badges

John