EI Leinster

[MH331]

I purchased this recently from a good source. I would welcome comments. It has rubbing to the highlights.

Thanks

Mark

[Alan O]

I would repalce it if it was in my collection. The sldier shape is possibly lodenr and the patina looks like it might have been artificially aged. Single metal badges are hard to date.

[MH331]

Alan,

Can you expand on the slider comment I am not sure I understand 'lodenr'?

Thanks

Mark

[Luke H]

I’m afraid it’s a very obvious fake sorry. From the same die as your standard eBay fake, below. Look at the shape of the plumes at the top and the angles of the central veins, rounded lettering, poor definition to the feather lines. Plus as Alan says the modern slider to the reverse.

There’s a couple of good threads on 1916 all GM Leinster badges on here.

[Alan O]

that would be modern. The lengnth, shape and neck are all modern compared. It's not an exact science but mas produced modern sliders have a uniformity that older ones do not.

[MH331]

Thanks Chaps seller offers a full refund. Every day a school day

[Alan O]

The all brass Leinsters is one of the rarest badges. KLR has the total order numbers but I suspect that being a Southern Irish regiment many of their original owners cast them away after partition in 1922.

[Luke H]

Julian’s research shows that 10,000 all GM Leinster badges were ordered in 1916.

The Leinster's has comparatively few battalions in WW1, 2 regular (1st & 2nd), 3 reserve/extra reserve (3rd-5th) and just 2 service (6th & 7th) bns. The service battalions were formed in 1914 and in Gallipoli and France by 1915 so would already have been badged - as would the regulars and reserves.

So I suspect the GM badge was only issued to new ‘volunteers’ (conscription was never introduced in Ireland) after 1916 or transferees/replacements, of which there would’ve been comparatively few.

Additionally the special reserve (3rd-5th) stayed on home service all war so attrition and casualty rates would be comparatively low.

I suspect the reality is a great many all GM badges were never issued and still sat in boxes within the QM stores when in 1922 one would assume they were disposed of.

[leigh kitchen]

A curved coronet WWI economy (picked up in 2005 from America I think it was), "Lambourne" foreshortened slider.
I've always thought it a good one, but who knows?

[Alan O]

Quite likely. It's also worth rembering that UK regiment depots were still issuing the EI badges well into the 1920s: where as the Leinters would have all been scrapped in 1922.

For the other Irish regiment with an EI version, the RMF would presumably have used their EI stocks up: before the change of badge in 1926.

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

A curved coronet WWI economy (picked up in 2005 from America I think it was), "Lambourne" foreshortened slider.
I've always thought it a good one, but who knows?

That is 100% spot on Leigh, lovely badge. A Lambourne example like that is on my Top 10 Most Wanted list. If you ever wanted to part with it spare a thought for me please

I’m of the opinion there are 3 genuine dies for all GM Leinster badges: Lambourne variety, the sort with the Ich Dein scroll ends touching the Leinster scroll and the type with the arched coronet I discussed in a recent thread.

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Quite likely. It's also worth rembering that UK regiment depots were still issuing the EI badges well into the 1920s: where as the Leinters would have all been scrapped in 1922.

For the other Irish regiment with an EI version, the RMF would presumably have used their EI stocks up: before the change of badge in 1926.

Do you mean RIF Alan? The RMF went in ‘22 as well. If so I agree, it is the most common of the Irish all GM 1916 issues in my experience.

[Alan O]

Sorry typo - meant Inniskillings with the castle.

The Munsters is a lovely badge and whilst it has been faked with the awful Martin Marsh fat tiger the originals are easy to spot.

[Phil2M]

My example:

[Alan O]

a fine example