Medals, Badges and Equipment of the Irish Police

A DSPCA Medallion to the DMP

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:29:45 PST

Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals bronze medallion presented to Constable Mervyn Woods of the Dublin Metropolitan Police in 1903.

Mervyn Woods. Born 1877 - Died 1945. Joined the D.M.P. April 1898 and attained the rank of sergeant -pensioned July 1923

At the time of this award Constable Mervyn Woods was stationed in ‘F’division...

Station Plaques

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:57:59 PST

A Constabulary of Ireland Station (Barracks) Plaque

Ornamental Sabre 1842

feeds@yuku.com (JohnSmith) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:16:48 PST

I am researching a relative of mine called George Davenport Comyns who was a Sub Inspector In the RIC.

Whilst serving in Thurles in October 1842 he was awarded an Ornamental Sabre "as a mark of aprobation of his conduct and services".

I wonder whether any members know if any of these sabres have survived and whether there are any images of these sabres I could view.

John

Dublin Metropolitan Police Mounted Troop Sword

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:40:01 PST

A DMP Mounted Troop Sword, by Robert Mole. Numbered '15'. Sometimes also known as the Dublin Horse Police.

Sword Spine

Matching Scabbard

Officers Sabretache Badge

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:35:15 PST

An Officer's Sabretache with RIC Badge

Buttons of the Irish Constabularies

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:50:03 PST

Senior officers gilt dress uniform button, 'Special Quality', as worn by Assistant Inspectors-General, Deputy Inspector-General and Inspector-General. It would appear that this button was also worn by members of the RIC Band.

White metal officers service uniform button, 1902-1922, worn by District Inspector ranks and above.

A button of the Armagh Constabulary

Cross Belt and Pouch badges

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:24:41 PST

Badges worn on the officers dress cross belt and pouch -

RIC circa 1868-1891

detail of the pouch badge -

Dublin Metropolitan Police badges and appointments

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:41:35 PST

Badges, helmets, rank insignia, appointments and equipment relating to the DMP and early Garda Siochana.

Types of Dress

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:29:19 PST

Examples of the types of uniform worn, December 1902

L-R Sgt Brady; Const Scully? (Bandsman); DI F Burke; Act/Sgt GeorgeTalbot; HC ? (crown badge); Const Killeen

DI Francis Charles Burke son of Dominick Francis Burke (Tallaght)
- severely wounded Easter Rebellion, Major Connaught Rangers, wounded Gallipoli, RM 1919

Holsters and Lanyards.

feeds@yuku.com (ballyroughan) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:10:24 PST

Confidential
R.I.C. Revolvers with Holsters and Lanyards.
C/I.
With reference to typed circulars of 22-1-19 & 24-1-19, as a large number of revolvers have now been issued to the Force,C.I.s may now exercise their discretion as to whether men proceeding on escort
patrol or other duty are to be armed with carbines or revolvers.
The revolver holsters recently issued are of brown leather it is desirable that they should be blackened, a suitable stain for this purpose will be forwarded to you by the Barrack Master,it should be applied slightly by means of an old cloth, you will please see that this is carefully done.
As the loop at the top at the back of the new holster is rather narrow,the square at the left end of the belt should be opened and inserted singly,and doubled round the loop,it should then be fastened in the ordinary way.
The holsters are to be worn on the left side of the...

Body Armour

feeds@yuku.com (ballyroughan) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:11:01 PST

Confidential-Crime Special-Circ, 246. Larne. 7-12-19.

Body Armour For B.O.
A set of body armour for use of the B.O.,is now about to be issued.
(1) The armour is to be worn by the B.O. when opening the barrack door at...

Cost of Equipment and Arms

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:37:49 PST

RIC administration was certainly thorough, and officers spent a great deal of their time in filling in various forms and breakdowns on a regular basis. The following extract details the costs of providing items of uniform and equipment, including arms, in 1921.

Of particular interest is the cost differential between Head Constable and other ranks uniform equipment. Note also the cost of Auxiliary Division Balmoral bonnets.

The Visit to Ireland Medal 1911 - 2011

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:46:40 PST

The Medal
To commemorate the Royal Visit to Ireland of Queen Victoria in 1900 and that of King Edward VII in 1903, special bronze medals were struck and issued to Irish Police Forces on duty at those times. A silver medal was issued in recognition of the Visit of King George V to Ireland in July 1911 and was notified in the Royal Irish Constabulary Lists as follows:

MEDAL COMMEMORATIVE OF THE VISIT OF KING GEORGE V TO IRELAND IN 1911
By Command of His Majesty a silver Commemorative Medal was issued to all Officers and Men of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, who were then on duty in Dublin. The Medal is also held by the Members of the Civil Service Staffs of the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police Offices, Dublin Castle.

The ribbon of the 1911 Visit Medal is dark green flanked by two red stripes, reflecting the colours...

The Force Crest

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:10:43 PST
Announced on 17 May 1902.

Sealed pattern badges and appointments

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:40:57 PST
The badges, uniforms and equipment used by the Irish Constabulary were supplied by various manufacturers both in Ireland and England. As an organisation funded from the public purse, the police had to regularly submit to tender the production of their badges and uniform appointments. The design for a badge would be trialled and an approved example 'sealed' with the force crest and signed by the Inspector General or a senior officer. These 'sealed patterns' were then loaned to manufacturers during the tender process from which new dies and sample strikes could be prepared.As individual items they represent the definitive patterns and styles as used during the history of the force and are therefore historically important in their own right.

The Constabulary of Ireland

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:06:10 PST

Officers uniform appointments of the Constabulary of Ireland (1836-1867). Pictured below are a Cross Belt and Pouch Badge, together with extracts from the original pattern book. This style of badge was discontinued following the granting of the prefix 'Royal' to the Irish Constabulary, when they were replaced by different styles of badges.

Cross Belt Badge (left) and Pouch Badge (right)

Detail of the Cross Belt Badge

Detail of the Pouch Badge

Pattern book extract

The King's Police Medal

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:24:56 PST

The King's Police Medal was instituted on 7th July 1909 as an award for bravery; it was a national award and granted initially to police serving in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The Irish Police of course already had their own local gallantry award, the Constabulary Medal; but the KPM as a national award was to take precedence. In the period from 1909 to 1922 only 42 members of the RIC were awarded the medal, with the first recipient being Constable William Joseph Burke 57636 for a gallantry action on 8th June 1909.

An Irish Revenue Police Sword

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:44:21 PST
These pictures are an example of an Irish Revenue Police officer's sword. The Revenue Police existed from 1832 to 1857 and the officer class never numbered more than about 100. The force started life as armed escorts to the Excise, in the suppression of the illicit distillation of alcohol which was, and continued to be, a feature of the rural Irish economy. They developed into a constabulary in their own right but from October 1857 their powers were taken over by the Irish Constabulary and the old Revenue Police were disbanded.

Cartouche

Hilt
The hilt appears to be gilded and has a folding portion to the rear.

Backstrap on hilt

Sword and...

Officers Cap Badges

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:39:00 PST
An original manufacturer's die for the officer pattern cap badge circa 1902-22.

This is from the famous Birmingham firm of J.R. Gaunt and Son; badge makers to the police and military. It is the 'male' or positive die used for pressing out the cap badge. The same pattern was used post 1922 in the RUC.

For interest, a similar die for the cap badge of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is also shown below. This particular badge was produced in very limited quantities between 1923 and 1924; however the badge was rejected by an overwhelming vote of the force, who wanted to retain the old insignia of the RIC.

Constables Cap Badges

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:24:48 PST
This badge was worn on the peaked cap circa 1902-1922. It was afterwards taken into use by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.