Shamrock on Cap

[Monty-Barr]

I have a photo of two WW1 soldiers. There is a shamrock on their caps. Could this have been an Irish regiment in the British army? I have searched online for months and have not found any caps with shamrocks. Hope someone here can advise.

[IPT]

South Irish Horse?

[Tyneside Chinaman]

Hi,

If it is a cloth shamrock behind a grenade badge they are Royal Munster Fusiliers as in the attached photo.

If its a metal Shamrock cap badge then South Irish Horse.

regards

John

[Stoppage Drill]

Irish Guards wear a sprig of shamrock in their caps on St Patrick's Day.

[Gareth Davies]

And there is a shamrock in the centre of the Irish Guards Cap Star. But I am guessing the man in question is SIH.

[mark holden]

Here is the RMF Shamrock

[Tyneside Chinaman]

"Irish Guards wear a sprig of shamrock in their caps on St Patrick's Day."

So did the Tyneside Irish which is very well documented - 1st Garrison Battalion DLI became Royal Munster Fusiliers hence a large number of RMF photos turn up in County Durham,

Given the RMF grenade is very similar to the NF grenade these photos are often sold as Tyneside Irish.

regards

John

[Monty-Barr]

Thanks for all your replies; I believe you have cracked it. I’ve done some Googling and I think it is the South Irish Horse all right. In my photo it looks like a metal badge, definitely not cloth. What are the chances of my getting their records, or finding out anything more about them or where they served? I have their surname but not their first names. I'm not sure if I am allowed to upload a photo but I am having trouble with it anyway.

[HERITAGE PLUS]

This page from The Long Long Trail (LLT), the mother site of this Forum, gives an overview of the South Irish Horse's service:

http://www.1914-1918.net/sirishhorse.htm

Dave

[IPT]

That dummy in the Munster Fusiliers hat looks like he wants to murder us.

I may have nightmares.

[HERITAGE PLUS]

The slugs over his eyes look lethal lol.

[Gareth Davies]

You should see the owner!

[jay dubaya]

It's not just any dummy - that's an M&S dummy

[Monty-Barr]

Were the South Irish Horse also known as Hussars?

[tony paley]

Were the South Irish Horse also known as Hussars?

No,

Raised for the boer war HQ in Dublin A SquadronSouth Irish horse at Beggars Bush Barracks, B Sqdn. Artillery Barracks, Limerick,C Sqdn. Glen House Ballyvolane Co.Cork D Sqdn Beggars Bush. In 1908 became a 'Special Reserve' Regiment. A & B sqdns Served on the Western Front and at one time were joined with 2 sqdns of the Hampshire Carabiniers, Yeomanry. and in Egypt 2 sqdns served with Allenby. In September 1917 served as the 7th Battalion (South Irish Horse) Royal Irish Regt. Disbanded in 1922 when the Irish Free State came into existance.

Tony P

[Monty-Barr]

Thank you, that is most informative.

[spof]

Also look at http://www.southirishhorse.com/

[Monty-Barr]

Thank you.

[vaugh]

Were the South Irish Horse also known as Hussars?

Most emphatically YES!

To help with administration the units of cavalry were divided into Dragoons, Hussars and Lancers, we won't mention the Household units or the Guards here. The South Irish Horse later came under the Corps of Hussars and were also re-numbered as such in mid to late 1917.

As a special reserve unit they had permanente staff from the Hussars, notably the 3rd and 4th. Uniquely their Adjutant in 1906 was a 12th Lancer, one Durham Stanley Matthews, he stands out like a sore thumb in their official photographs, he's the one with all the plumes coming out of his czapka!!

[Monty-Barr]

Many thanks for that information, Vaugh. Sorry for delay as I've not been on this forum for quite a while.