WW2 Royal Irish Fusiliers

[sccollins07]

Hello all! I was wondering if anyone had knowledge of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers in WW2, specifically regarding headdress used in North Africa and Italy. I was wondering if it was common for the Field Service cap to be worn without any cap badge; the photographs I have seen in the book "Clear the Way!" regarding the 38th brigade in WW2 don't seem to have cap badges in the field.

As a second point, with regards the "bonnet, drab" worn by the three Irish regiments in the 38th following the 1944 ACI change, the Irish Fusiliers were recorded as having worn a green hackle; having looked online for an example, I have seen a couple of variations. Does anyone know what style of hackle was worn in WW2, as opposed to the unit post war? I have attached a pair of pictures from sellers for the styles I have seen. Thanks!