An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 9 BADGES AND INSIGNIA OF THE DEFENCES FORCES BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY ARMN SAM GIBNEY O n 22nd October 2019 in Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Bks, GOC Air Corps Brig Gen Rory O'Connor, launched a new, highly anticipated book, Badges and Insignia of the Irish Defences Forces, written by retired flight sergeant James Perkins; a man known to many as a solid point of contact for all things uniform related. Not since James J Hogan's Badges, Medals, Insignia: Óglaigh na hÉireann (Irish Defence Forces) in 1987 has there been such a detailed book on this subject. James's 220-page, hardback book contains over 2,000 full-colour images covering the badges and insignia of the Defence Forces since its foundation, and will be the go-to reference book for years to come. In 1970 James served with 16 HM Bty, 3 Arty Regt FCÁ before en- listing in the PDF with 2 Inf Bn, Cathal Brugha Bks, in 1974. Shortly after recruit training James successfully applied for and completed the MP Probationers course and was posted to 2 Grn MP Coy. In 1976 he was posted to the new 1 Grn MP Coy, working in the orderly room in Griffith Bks. On promotion to sergeant in 1979, he was appointed Ord Room Sgt, E Comd FCÁ HQ, before transferring to the Air Corps as Ord Room Sgt, Trg Wing (now Air Corps College). He was promoted to flight sergeant in 1984. James's overseas service comprised UNFICYP (March 1981-March 1982); three trips to Lebanon with 11 Ir Comp (1984), 79 Inf Bn (1996), and UNIFIL HQ (2000); a year-long appointment in Bosnia (2001); and an 18-month tour in Paris with EUFOR Chad/CAR (2008/9). He retired in 2014 after 40 years of service. James's interest in collecting Defence Forces badges and insignia began in the 1970s when he found his father's kit box from his 38 years' service in the DF. Later, when he started picking up badges while on FCÁ camps he noticed there was no reference book or col- lectors guide. There was a 1968 An Cosantóir handbook and in 1987 the Hogan book referred to earlier came out, but by the late-1990s even the latter was outdated. In 2001, to address this problem, James decided to make his substantial collection available for viewing on what subsequently became his online collection and reference website, which became the go-to place for information on DF badges and insignia. This website is being updated to coincide with James's new book, which he self-published and produced at his own cost. James says the idea for the book came to him around 13 years ago when Sgt Eric O'Brien (1 Inf Bn and Cpl Noel Lee (4 Cav Sqn, now retired) were visiting his collection and they said it would be great if James wrote a book on DF insig- nia and badges. (Noel Lee subsequently did the layout and design for James's book.) "The information was in my head," James told us, "and needed to be recorded. Also, after I retired I became a volunteer in Military Archives, in their uniform and insignia section, and research there continually turned up new information." James says this research turned up new things that he didn't know, or provided the answer to things he wasn't 100% sure of, like the 1963 one-star-one-stripe, and two-star-one-stripe rank mark- ings, which were in fact issued to acting corporals going to the Congo to bridge the gap between privates and corporals. Another finding was that there had been a Signals Corps cloth collar badge, with a lightning bolt incorporated in the design, planned for issue in 1941 (during WWII) that subsequently wasn't issued because it looked very similar to the German signals badge of the time. James has dedicated his book to his wife, Geraldine, who he says has been an amazing support to him from the very start. To purchase a copy of Badges and Insignia of the Irish Defences Forces, priced at €30 +P&P, email James at jamesperkinsbadgebook@gmail.com. Brig Gen Rory O'Connor, GOC Air Corps launching the book in Military Archives. Retired Flt Sgt James Perkins signing copies of Badges and Insignia of the Irish Defences Forces.

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