NI blackened collars worn in head dress.

[red rags]

My years in NI were 83-96 but speaking to older hands it seems often cap badges were left off. More unusually I thought blackened collars were worn! I remember RRF plastic ok & some cloth 'Ulsters' but not collars. I managed to pick up a few at a recent fair...does any member collect these as a side line? Was their usage commonplace? Or confined to a handful of units, I have noticed about half a dozen.

[leigh kitchen]

You're talking about collars of a different patter to the cap badges, as opposed to the same design but with different fittings?
Don't think I've come across different designs, just collars that are the "same" design as the cap, such as RHA and eg the RRF stable belt badge painted black and worn in the beret.

[red rags]

Yes except I saw a Queens collar & had to think of what it was otherwise they are all mini versions.

[Alan O]

I did once meet WFR LCpl who was in a resident bn posting with a black collar badge on his beret. very unofficial. This was c.1989.

[Mike H]

I know of an old combat cap with a blackened Staffords collar badge in it. He was given it by an old CO of the Btn.

[leigh kitchen]

So possibly exclusive to officers or the CO?
I can see officers wearing collar badges in berets and the like more likely than ORs - Fus Bde and / or RRF officers used to wear gilt and silver collar badges in the beret.

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

So possibly exclusive to officers or the CO?
I can see officers wearing collar badges in berets and the like more likely than ORs - Fus Bde and / or RRF officers used to wear gilt and silver collar badges in the beret.

The guy that owns it said that it was worn by the CO. I try and get his name.

[Mike_2817]

Cannot say I ever saw collar badges being worn in the beret in NI, there is a few referances to blackened badges by the ADC as well as cloth badges.

As referenced here:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...7&postcount=33