Royal Irish Rifles cap badge produced as a restrike of the pattern worn between 1913 and 1921 by the Royal Irish Rifles of the British Army. This British Army rifle regiment cap badge displays the recognised regimental insignia in clear relief, incorporating a winged angel harp facing left as the central device, surmounted by an Imperial King’s Crown, with a lower scroll bearing the regimental motto “Quis Separabit” (Latin: “Who Shall Separate Us?”). The composition reflects the heraldic traditions of the regiment and the historic associations of its two predecessor units.
The Royal Irish Rifles was formed on 1 July 1881 under the Cardwell and Childers Reforms through the amalgamation of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot and the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot. The amalgamation was notable in that it was highly unusual, if not unique, for two standard line infantry regiments to be redesignated as rifles at the point of their amalgamation. The angel harp device and the motto “Quis Separabit” were both derived from the 86th, the junior predecessor regiment, with both elements drawn from the Order of St Patrick and said to have been conferred by William III; the harp is also the symbol of Leinster, the province from which the 86th drew its recruits following its relocation to Ireland. From 1913, the badge was produced entirely in white metal in place of the earlier brass construction. The regiment was redesignated the Royal Ulster Rifles on 1 January 1921 in anticipation of the formation of the Irish Free State, with the badge pattern carried forward unchanged under the new designation until 1958.
Manufactured in white metal consistent with the post-1913 production standard for this badge, this restrike example provides a sharply defined representation of the Royal Irish Rifles headdress badge pattern in its final form. Royal Irish Rifles cap badges are collected as examples of First World War and early twentieth century British Army rifle regiment militaria, regimental insignia of the Irish regiments of the line, and historic uniform hardware of the pre-partition Irish regiments of the British Army.
Dimensions Approx. 54mm x 35mm
Condition Very good
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