description
Object description
Khaki Battledress Blouse (1940) - Royal Ulster Rifles Major
Physical description
Single-breasted battledress blouse of khaki serge with stand & fall collar and exposed buttons. The breast pockets are plain and unpleated 'utility' form. To the upper sleeves are sewn cloth shoulder titles with the text, 'ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES' machined in dark green on a Rifle Green field. A single Rifle Green arm-of-service strip is sewn to both arms above the elbow, and worsted rank Crowns (Rifle Green form) are sewn to the epaulettes. Above the left breast pocket are the ribbons indicating the award of the following medals: Defence Medal; 1939-1945 War Medal; Territorial Decoration.
Label
As the officer who wore this blouse qualified for the Territorial Decoration, it is likely that he served with on of the regiment's TA battalions, possibly either the 6th of 7th battalions.
Territorial units of the Royal Ulster Rifles were:
6th (Home Defence) Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, later redesignated the 30th Battalion in 1940, and converting to the status of a regular battalion but disbanded in Northern Ireland in 1943.
7th (Home Defence) Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, raised in 1940 and joining the 215th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home). In 1941 the Home Defence title was dropped and they left Ulster for Great Britain in 1942.
The 8th Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles was raised in 1940, becoming part of 203rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home). In 1942 the battalion converted to the Roya Artillery (117th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A.) and later served in North Africa. In 1943 it landed in Italy but in 1944 was broken up, the men retraining to become infantrymen due to a shortage of replacements.
The other non-regular formation was the 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, formed in 1940 and comprised of young volunteers of both 6th and 7th battalions who were too young for conscription. This formation guarded airfields and other key locations before being shipped to Great Britain in 1941.
