UVF North Down

[cwk]

Hello Forum,

I've recently acquired some badges collected during WW1, and amongst them is this badge which I'm not at all familiar with.

An oval badge, which has a 4 prong fastening type. Unfortunately the bottom prong has been lost to time.
At a guess, I'd say it's possibly Irish - going by the North Down wording.

Anyway, any information on what it is will be greatly appreciated

Not an expert in these things, UVF is Ulster Volunteer Force, an unregulated Paramilitary Organisation, 2nd Battalion, North Down (as in the County) looks quite old, a nice item. Regards Mark

[Wooffy]

There is some interesting information here: http://quincey.info/?cat=17 A further search of that same site shows a 3rd South Down badge of almost identical construction dated around 1913 - might be worth dropping them an email?

[Drmiggy]

Originally Posted by cwk

Hello Forum,

I've recently acquired some badges collected during WW1, and amongst them is this badge which I'm not at all familiar with.

An oval badge, which has a 4 prong fastening type. Unfortunately the bottom prong has been lost to time.
At a guess, I'd say it's possibly Irish - going by the North Down wording.

Anyway, any information on what it is will be greatly appreciated

This I think is a militia badge from the volunteers for WW1. The modern UVF adopted the name, but the original name came from a number of militia around The Province of Ulster that is made up of 9 counties. The one you are displaying is from County Down as is the one referred to below.

Regards
Ian

[ebro]

This was the cap badge of one of the Co Down Btns of the UVF. This was formed around 1913 to prevent the Home Rule Bill being forced upon the people of Northern Ireland against their will. It was considered as Sir Edward Carson's private army. With the outbreak of WW1 many members joined the British Army and became the backbone of the 36th Ulster Division. The UVF badges badges were worn until replaced by regimental cap badges. These badges were stamped out of light weight metal and very few of the surviving ones have their original fixings as they broke off when removed from the cap for cleaning etc.. This UVF was never an illegal organisation unlike others who later used their name.
Eddie

[cwk]

Thank you for the replies.

Ebro, it is made out of thinly stamped metal. This badge was on a belt with other WW1 era badges, mainly English. Unfortunately the belt itself had rotted in half, so I'm slowly removing the rest of the badges.

Once again, thanks for the replies

[ebro]

These badges, along with the uniforms of the UVF, were paid for from public fund raising. When Carson handed over 'his' UVF to the British Army they came fully equipped and partially trained. The fixings on these badges were not really fit for purpose while other battalions had stronger badges with loops for fixing.
Eddie