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Author Topic: What Irish uniform might this be?  (Read 7887 times)

Offline gerryg1

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What Irish uniform might this be?
« on: Saturday 11 May 13 05:25 BST (UK) »
Hi All,

One photo shows my grandfather after WW1 judging from the fact that they already have ribbons on their jackets.  He was with the Highland Light Infantry/Scottish Rifles, signed up in Belfast.  There is a suggestion in the family that at some time he spent some time in the South of Ireland during or after the war.  Does the photo suggest anything to anyone?  Obviously this is not the Scottish Rifles uniform, judging by the hat badge.  He had colour service from 7/12/15 to 20/3/19 with 2 years 92 days overseas.





Gerry.
Gastion/Gaston, Montgomery, Blair, McKeown, Monaghan, Steele, Proudfoot, Thompson.

Offline apwright

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Re: What Irish uniform might this be?
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 11 May 13 09:23 BST (UK) »
Perhaps the Ulster Special Constabulary??
See 3rd pic at http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/lost_photos_RUCRICBSpecials.htm

Adrian

Offline Baird

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Re: What Irish uniform might this be?
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 11 May 13 10:20 BST (UK) »
From your oral history it could possibly be the Special Constabulary sometimes known as the Black and Tans.

Baird
Rutherglen;Baird/Adair/Ferguson/Reid
Strathaven;Shearer , Orr
Beith;Steel 
Glasgow;Donnelly,McSorley,Burns
County Tyrone;McSorley
Eaglesham;Paton
 All;McAlonan and variants 
Sligo;Burns 
2nd. bat Seaforth Highlanders 1914-16.
2nd. bat. KOSB 1914-18.
1/8th. Bat. Cameronians 1914-15
5th. Bat. Cameronians 1914-17
1st. Bat. Scots Guards 1914-15
HMS Biarritz 1915-16
K Class Submarines  K10 and K11

Offline gerryg1

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Re: What Irish uniform might this be?
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 11 May 13 10:45 BST (UK) »
Thanks for that.  I've removed his medal card as I don't think it is relevant to this.
Gerry.
Gastion/Gaston, Montgomery, Blair, McKeown, Monaghan, Steele, Proudfoot, Thompson.

Offline DavidGreenall110

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Re: What Irish uniform might this be?
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 12 May 13 00:24 BST (UK) »
Looking at the collar badges of the Harp with the Kings Crown on top I would say the Royal Irish Constabulary circa 1920-1940ish.

The uniform would have been Black with dark metal buttons. The collar badge would have had a red cloth backing as would any insignia, the webbing is a standard canvas 1908 pattern.

Regards

David
Death, Sambles, Searle, Loates, Beamish, Brooks, Bates, Coates, Hughes, Lythgoe, Johnson, Rodgers, Hawthorne, Rhodes, Lister, Sneyd

Offline king ranger

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Re: What Irish uniform might this be?
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 12 May 13 18:40 BST (UK) »
Quote from: Baird on Saturday 11 May 13 10:20 BST (UK)
From your oral history it could possibly be the Special Constabulary sometimes known as the Black and Tans.

Baird
Were the SpecialConstabulary not called the B specials, I have a few drawings and paintings of the Black and Tans and none of them show them in peak caps unless their uniform changed.

Offline gerryg1

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Re: What Irish uniform might this be? Complete
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 15 May 13 03:06 BST (UK) »
Thanks to all who replied.  From the answers here and further investigation I think they were members of the Ulster Special Constabulary formed about Sep 1920.  I think I'll try the Irish history boards to see if I can gain some more information. 

Thanks.  Gerry.
Gastion/Gaston, Montgomery, Blair, McKeown, Monaghan, Steele, Proudfoot, Thompson.

Offline gerryg1

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Re: This looks like a unit of the R.U.C or the U.S.C how can I tell which?
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 15 May 13 07:30 BST (UK) »
My grandfather, John Gaston, born in Belfast on 13 May 1896, is in this photo can anyone identify the unit? or supply additional information. 

I found a larger photo of an entire outfit on Lennon Wylie's site with the title of '1st North Battalion (Belfast District), which may have him in it, bit hard to tell,  Underneath has been added 'U.S.C. Belfast 9.3.1922 (32)?' which may of may not help.

Any help appreciated.  Gerry.
Gastion/Gaston, Montgomery, Blair, McKeown, Monaghan, Steele, Proudfoot, Thompson.

Offline mmm45

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Re: What Irish uniform might this be?
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 15 May 13 08:01 BST (UK) »
Ulster Special Constabulary?
B specials
Ady
Lowe(Lower Gornall-Castleford)
Blackburn (Castleford)
Sidwell(Ledsham)
Fairburn(Hartshead)
Wood(Liversedge)
Tallon (Whittington Lancs/Hartshead West Yorkshire)

Researching all Great War soldiers from the Spen Valley of West Yorkshire Especially lads from the Cleckheaton Company of 1/4th West Riding Regiment.
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