London Irish S/T-WW1?

[mark holden]

Is this London Irish S/T of the WW1 period or later?

Many thanks

Mark

[trenchtrotter]

I would say later....IMHO.

TT

[squirrel]

Not seen anything like that in the LIR museum - doesn't mean that it wasn't worn by somebody at some time though. Item looks like it has been altered at some time IMHO.

[pbrydon]

There was an article in The Formation Sign the journal of the Military Historical Society in Jan-Mar 2006 on T.A. slip on shoulder titles worn during WW2. Two variations were shown for the London Irish Rifles but both were just the initials L.I.R. black on khaki. ( the Liverpool Irish also had a slip on LIVERPOOL/KINGS/IRISH ) so I don't think the badge shown was worn as late as WW2.I think I recall seeing something similar for one of the other London Territorial battalions that was worn during WW1 but at the top of the sleeve rather than on the shoulder strap. P.B.

[mark holden]

Thanks Chaps. I don't think its WW2 the WW2 style of embroidered cloth slip on S/T is different. It has been folded over and stitched to something.

I'll keep digging

Thanks again

Mark

[Grovetown]

Here's some 9th London examples for comparison:

Cheers,

GT.

[Grovetown]

And more Londons for comparison:

The 8th London image is not mine, and apologies to whoever I pinched it from (as memory fails):

So far, I don't care for the London Irish one at the top being WW1.

Cheers,

GT.

[mark holden]

GT, many thanks. I have looked again at the London Irish S/T in particular the 'cheese cloth' backing and compared it with the CSR and QWR titles shown below this type of reinforcent seems to be more common on WW1 titles. I have also shown a WW2 slip on for comparison. I am probably way off base but the London Irish does seem to share some similarities to those of other London Regt Bns? Grasping at straws?

regards

Mark

reverse of WW2 slip on

[pbrydon]

There are in fact 3 cloth titles for the London Irish in WW1 mentioned in "Identification Pamphlet No2 - British Miscellaneous Formation Signs and Titles " by Major John Wearing, they are:

D T90 18 Bn. London Regiment ( London Irish ) Title, shape 1 Green letters on Khaki "LONDON IRISH" Letter with serifs. Emb. on Felt

D T91 18 Bn London Regiment slip on title, black letters on khaki, "L.I.R." Emb on felt and finally

D T92 2/18 London Regiment, shape 7, green letters on khaki "LONDON IRISH/2/18/L.R. " Letters with serifs. Emb on felt.

In fact there is a drawing of the last title in "British Territorial Units 1914-18" by Westlake and Chappell in Plate H.

( Shape 1 is the common shape of most titles )

P.B.

[wainfleet]

I tend to think it's a WW1 title. The backing is typical, and where the nap has worn away you can see the criss-cross weave that's usually (invariably?) absent in WW2 titles. Clearly there's a precedent for black on khaki in WW1, plus the large and somewhat untidy construction also suggests WW1 to me. So that's what gets my vote.

[mark holden]

Thank You Wainfleet.