Canada,CEF. A 199th Infantry Battalion "Irish Canadian Rangers / Duchess of Connaught's Own" Cap Badge

Type I with Quis Separabit/Duchess of Connaught's Own/199/Irish Canadian Rangers: In pickled brass, with a silvered crown, clover leaf and maple leaf, unmarked, voided, measuring 42.7 mm (w) x 55.5 mm (h), both lugs intact, light contact, scattered silvering wear, reddish residue in the recessed areas, better than very fine.

 

Footnote: The 199th Infantry Battalion "Irish Canadian Rangers / Duchess of Connaught's Own" Infantry Battalion was founded by the CEF to improve their recruitment success by having an all-Irish regiment. They were called the "Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish Rangers", as a tribute to Princess Louise Margaret, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn, who funded the battalion. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915-1916 in that city. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was sent on a tour of Ireland at the request of the Colonial Secretary, the Canadian-born Bonar Law. On its return to England, the battalion was absorbed into the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF, on May 11, 1917. The battalion had two commanding officers: Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Trihey (December 26, 1916 - January 10, 1917) and Lieutenant-Colonel J. V. O'Donahoe (January 10, 1917 - April 11, 1917). In 1920, the perpetuation of the 199th Battalion was assigned to the Irish Canadian Rangers, a Montreal infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia that disbanded in 1936.