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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

uniforms


manumercer

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I'm also really interested in what the royal irish rifles uniform was like? Have got some good ideas from Jimmy Taylors book.

Anyone got any other good close up pictures?

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Joe Richardson , 2nd Btn R Ir Rif KIA October 14.

Pictured in India during his pre-war service.

Best I can do for pre -war

Trousers and tunic would have been rifle green.

post-1582-1165358443.jpg

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Cool...my great grandfather arrive on 11 November 1914

Just interested in what he would have been wearing...

Thanks Des...

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NO way he would have been wearing this stuff.

Khaki all the way .. and by winter time, he would have been more like a well swaddled tramp than a soldier!

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For the YCV to fill in the details the uniform was grey with prussian blue embellishments. The type of uniform was very similar to that worn in full dress by the Civil Service Rifles, Kensington Regiment and Artists Rifles

The belts on the O/Rs are stable belts in grey and prussian blue

The picture is pre-war as the gloves are white, post war the gloves would be black in recognition of its wartime status as a batallion in a rifle regiment

The band wore "wings" in the same colours and their tunics were piped with prussian blue shamrock on grey pattern lace in the same way as line infantry's were piped with red on white "crown and inch"

The Royal Ulster Rifles full dress uniform was based on that of the London Irish Rifles - possibly the only case where a regular uniform was copied of the territorials rather than the other way round

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The guy circled is allegedly McFadzean VC

HI FIRST CLASS PHOTO/PRINT COULD YOU TELL ME WHERE I COULD PURCHASE ACOPY OR WHAT BOOK ITS PRINTED IN THANKS GEORGE

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It originally appeared in Philip Orr's 'Road to the Somme; Men of the Ulster Division Tell Their Story' ... now (amazingly) out of print .. but you can scoop one on e-bay (at vastly inflated prices!)

Des

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  • 2 weeks later...
It originally appeared in Philip Orr's 'Road to the Somme; Men of the Ulster Division Tell Their Story' ... now (amazingly) out of print .. but you can scoop one on e-bay (at vastly inflated prices!)

Des

Thanks for imfomation have now tracked down a copy of Philip Orr,s book from family relative.

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  • 2 months later...
  • 3 years later...

I know i'm reviving an old thread here folks, but what a fantastic reference!

I have searched the web, books, old photos etc, to see if i could find out which type of belt fastening was used on the YCV uniform belt,....and low and behold, here we have a photo of the uniform with the fastening clearly visible.

I was almost sure it was a stable belt, but as i make miniature uniforms as a hobby, i needed it to be as accurate as possible.

One question though, can anyone please tell me if the Young Citizens Volunteers would have carried weapons whilst in this grey uniform?

Thank you fellas for ending my quest.

Neil.

PS: I am lucky enough to have a signed copy of Philip Orr's "Road to the Somme"

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Not definite on the carrying weapons question.

If I was to take a punt, I ould say no ..

Remember the YCVs were very much an 'establishment' organisation mainly comprised of the 'well to do'.

They were NOT part of the original Ulster Volunteer movement and only latterly cast in their lot with the Carson led Unionists.

Of the top of my head, I don't think the YCVs had any access to smuggled wepaons etc. The first time they would have received arms would have been on formation of the British army battalion. Interestingly, they kept their YCV origins as their shoulder title in khaki.

Des

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Thank you very much Desmond, I would suggest you are correct about the carrying of weapons.

I have never come across any photos of them in such a case, but at the same time, wondered about their later affiliation with the UVF.

However desmond, i'll keep him as an unarmed, uniformed figure, lest i find out otherwise.

Thank you so much for your help Desmond.

Neil.

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Remember the YCVs were very much an 'establishment' organisation mainly comprised of the 'well to do'.

I recall being told that was why they had their own uniform. Basically, they were 'well to do', and could afford the dues each week

that bought the uniform. Is that right?

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I recall being told that was why they had their own uniform. Basically, they were 'well to do', and could afford the dues each week

that bought the uniform. Is that right?

Hello Ulsterlad2, I can remember being told this many years ago, long before computers were of any use to our research.

Even with the array of books on the subject, i really only started an indepth interest in local battalions etc, when i finally got online!..lol (quite recently!!)

I was told that they were mainly sons of Doctors, Lawyers and very well off families.

If i am correct, they had to purchase their own uniform too.

I can imagine the members of the Ulster Volunteers watching as they marched into the Showgrounds at Balmoral in their smart grey uniforms, and what they must have thought of them.

It really was a beautiful uniform.

From what i have read however, they recieved a huge cheer from the crowd as they did arrive.

Neil.

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:DSorry Ulsterlad, after re-reading your post, i realise that you already knew that they purchased their own uniform.

Neil.

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I was told that they were mainly sons of Doctors, Lawyers and very well off families.

Cheers Neil.

Indeed, just look at Mcfadzean's old home in East Belfast.

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Cheers Neil.

Indeed, just look at Mcfadzean's old home in East Belfast.

Well Ulsterlad, I know the church were his name is on the memorial, but i don't know which house he lived in.

Can you let me know?

I'm a Lisburn lad.

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Ulster, it's now a Doctors Surgery at the top end of the Cregagh Road. iirc, at the junction of Cregagh Park. There is a wall plaque on the Cr.Park side of the house.

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