The Troubles

[Frank Kelley]

Does anyone know, about when, which year, the so called Northern Ireland "issue" "black" badges started to worn throughout the Army and which regiments/corps were first to adopt them into usage.

[leigh kitchen]

By issue you mean produced and issued in black finish as opposed to "field painted" by units?
I think many different regiments black finished anod. aluminium badges appeared about 1980, but thought they were produced "on spec." rather than to specific order.
RRF's black plastic had appeared by 1979.

[leigh kitchen]

I would think that you're already aware of this thread, but here goes anyway.......http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...rthern+ireland

[grey_green_acorn]

I wore an anodised aluminium cap badge painted black with Humbrol paint in Belfast in 1971-72. I still have it!

Tim

[Frank Kelley]

Sorry Leigh, yes, that is what I meant, badges that were manufactured and known to have been actually issued.

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

By issue you mean produced and issued in black finish as opposed to "field painted" by units?
I think many different regiments black finished anod. aluminium badges appeared about 1980, but thought they were produced "on spec." rather than to specific order.
RRF's black plastic had appeared by 1979.

[Frank Kelley]

Tim, that is very interesting, as early as that, was this common practice throughout your own regiment/corps at that point in time?

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

I wore an anodised aluminium cap badge painted black with Humbrol paint in Belfast in 1971-72. I still have it!

Tim

[Frank Kelley]

I was not, okay, so reading that, we can certainly say that "blackened" badges, were actually being taken into wear quite early on, rather earlier than I had thought.

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

I would think that you're already aware of this thread, but here goes anyway.......http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...rthern+ireland

[REMEVMBEA1]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Tim, that is very interesting, as early as that, was this common practice throughout your own regiment/corps at that point in time?

I was in Londonderry , attached to 5 Lt Regt RA in 71-72 and we didn't wear blackened badges and I can't recall seeing anyone else wearing them. Not to say they weren't but I never saw any.

[leigh kitchen]

Would that be Bogside? Following the armys practise of putting technicians and specialists, non infantry in Bogside while infantry kicked their heels in Waterside?
1RWF were resident in 'Derry on an 18 month tour until September 1973, as I recall they were wearing blackened badges and no hackles when they handed over to 1RRF, who wore blackened badges with no hackle ( unpainted badges and hackles being worn during official ceasefires, their wear "timed to the second" via codewords passesd over the air).
I'll check and post photos re. RWF use of black painted badges at that time.
1RWF's predecessors as Garrison Bn in 'Derry were 1R Anglian - I'll check with a veteran of their tour re. that units use of blackened badges. Found a few photo of 1 RWF on that 'Derry tour, at the scene of a bomb incident at a bar on 3rd August 1973.
One Fus with darkened badge, others with unpainted.
Of the two RAOC ATOs, one appears to be wearing an unpainted badge, the officer darkened or bullion.
The "separate" photo is one of a small group showing a 1 RWF house search in Strabane, this man appears to be wearing masking tape over his beret badge.

[Mike H]

Ive looked through a few books and couldn't really find anything. Although,i did find a number of images of regiments still in a blue beret rather than the khaki coloured one that came into use. KORB,PWO and R.Anglian.

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Sorry Leigh, yes, that is what I meant, badges that were manufactured and known to have been actually issued.

Very few black a/a were actually 'issued' as they were not ordered by the MOD. Some were private purchase and others were bought by the regtl PRI and then given to the soldiers. The vast majority of blackened badges were painted by the individual or the units' stores.

[billy]

Growing up in Lurgan we saw blackened badges all the time and was given them from the soldier's, what started me off collecting early 70, s for sure, can still pictue patrols meandering around the town and estates or just squatting in doorways! Blackened faces and blackened badges deffinately Ryl Engineers, Ryl Anglican, Medical Corps, para they didn't last long in town but longer than the Marines, arrived - mass raid on the Grey Estate (protestant) almighty gun battle lasting ages one marine was in our hedge, mum "do you want a cup of tea son?" And where gone the next day replaced by ? Can't remember whom now, I think Artillery had them also but these all done by the lads nothing official but must go car bloke turned up all the best billy

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Would that be Bogside? Following the armys practise of putting technicians and specialists, non infantry in Bogside while infantry kicked their heels in Waterside?
1RWF were resident in 'Derry on an 18 month tour until September 1973, as I recall they were wearing blackened badges and no hackles when they handed over to 1RRF, who wore blackened badges with no hackle ( unpainted badges and hackles being worn during official ceasefires, their wear "timed to the second" via codewords passesd over the air).
I'll check and post photos re. RWF use of black painted badges at that time.
1RWF's predecessors as Garrison Bn in 'Derry were 1R Anglian - I'll check with a veteran of their tour re. that units use of blackened badges.

My late older brother was with 1RWF for that tour. I think that the black badges probably began as part of the preparation for Operation MOTORMAN.

[Frank Kelley]

Okay, so 1972 then, I am surprised that it was so early that people felt the need for black badges.

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

My late older brother was with 1RWF for that tour. I think that the black badges probably began as part of the preparation for Operation MOTORMAN.

[FMT600]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Ive looked through a few books and couldn't really find anything. Although,i did find a number of images of regiments still in a blue beret rather than the khaki coloured one that came into use. KORB,PWO and R.Anglian.

Kings Division (KORB & PWO) only adopted the khaki beret in 1982.

PWO wore black painted home painted cap badge until 1985 when the Battalion purchased black factory painted one's issued to 1 per officer and soldier (prior to this officers had worn the bullion cap badges when in NI).

FMT600