Description
Physical description
An Irish Angel Harp surmounted by an Imperial (King's) crown, a scroll below bearing QUIS SEPARABIT. Slider to reverse.
History note
Badge of patern worn 1901 to 1958.
The senior predecessor Regiment was raised in Dublin in 1793 by Colonel William Fitch as the 83rd Regiment of Foot, known ironically as "Fitch's Grenadiers", apparently because of the small stature of its men. In 1859 the Regiment was re-designated 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot.
The junior predecessor was also raised in 1793, in Shropshire, and known as Cornelius Cuyler's Shropshire Volunteers. However, the Regiment was not placed on a permanent footing until the following year when it was designated the 86th (The Shropshire Volunteers) regiment of Foot. There was difficulty in recruiting sufficient numbers locally and when the Regiment moved to Ireland their recruiting centre was changed to Leinster and in 1809 it was re-designated the 86th (The Leinster) regiment of Foot. Three years later, in 1812, they were re-designated the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot.
In the Cardwell/Childers reforms of 1881 the 83rd and the 86th Regiments were amalgamated to form the Royal Irish Rifles, adopting an Angel Harp and crown as the principal elements. This was an interesting pairing, not least because it was most unusual, if not unique, for a pair of standard Line regiments to be re-designated Rifles. It also appears that the junior 86th supplied both major elements of the new badge, namely the Harp and the motto, QUIS SEPARABIT, both elements featuring in the Order of St. Patrick, and both said to have been conferred by William III. The harp is also the symbol of Leinster. In 1901 the badge changed but retained these two principal elements. At this time the Regiment had its depot at Belfast. From 1913 the badge was produced in all white metal.
In 1921 the Regiment was re-designated The Royal Ulster Rifles in anticipation of the formation of the Irish Free State the following year. This designation clearly acknowledged the Belfast base of the amalgamated Regiment and the Northern Irish links of the junior 86th, (County Down), rather than that of the 83rd (Dublin). The badge design was retained with no changes although at this time it appears that a version was produced with the addition of a straight scroll across the lower third of the badge carrying ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES, but without the motto scroll.
In 1958 the Royal Ulster Rifles became part of the North Irish Brigade, and were expected to wear the Brigade badge. In July 1968 the three constituent Regiments merged to form the three component battalions of the newly created "Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd & 87th)". The third Battalion was short-lived and was disbanded in December of that year. In 1992 The Royal Irish Regiment was formed from the Rangers, initially of two battalions, reduced to one the following year. Their badge was essentially that of the Royal Irish and Royal Ulster Rifles, less the motto scroll.
(Note that an earlier Royal Irish Regiment had been disbanded with the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.)