Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit awarded to Constable W. Gardiner, Irish Constabulary, who was awarded a Half Chevron for ‘saving life with two other Constables’ in Tipperary in 1859; he was subsequently killed by gun shot to the neck whilst on detachment duty in Belfast, on 14 July 1886, the only R.I.C. man shot and mortally wounded during the First Home Rule Bill ‘Battle of the Boyne’ riots in Belfast

Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit, silver, the reverse officially engraved ‘Wm. Gardiner Ag. Conste.’, reverse six loop fasteners, nearly extremely fine, rare £1,400-£1,800

William Gardiner was born in co. Tipperary (North Riding) in November 1840. He was the son of Adam Gardiner, a member of the Irish Constabulary. William worked as a labourer before his father arranged for him to join the Peelers on his eighteenth birthday, 22 November 1858. He served as a Sub-Constable with the Tipperary Police from 10 June 1859, and was transferred to co. Cork on 7 January 1873. In 1872, new R.I.C. Standing Rules and Regulations discontinued the issuance of Chevrons.

According to his service record held at the Garda Museum, Gardiner was promoted to Acting Constable (insignia of Corporal) on 1 July 1875 and held this rank for 19 months before rising to Constable (insignia of Sergeant) on 1 March 1877. On the basis of these dates, and given that the Badge is officially named with the rank of Acting Constable, it was most probably awarded either when Gardiner was a Temporary Acting Constable, before his official promotion to substantive rank in 1875, or else in 1875-77 to use up the existing stock of Badges. Gardiner married a local Cork girl on 11 November 1875 and, probably as a consequence of his marriage, was transferred to Kilkenny on 20 April 1876.

Gardiner was advanced to Head Constable (insignia of a military Warrant Officer) on 1 April 1883 and transferred to co. Waterford on 20 April 1883. In 1886, W. E. Gladstone introduced his First Home Rule Bill, which was furiously opposed by Irish Protestants, especially in Belfast. Sectarian riots broke out across the city. The riots intensified on 8 June, when the Bill was defeated in Parliament. The Belfast police found themselves unable to cope, and reinforcements were sent in from other parts of Ireland. Most of the R.I.C. reinforcements were, like Gardiner, Catholics. A rumour that the reinforcements had been sent by Gladstone to punish Belfast Protestants for opposing Home Rule spread throughout the city. The rioters began to attack the police. Running battles lasted until 14 June.

On 22 June the police reinforcements were officially sent home by the Belfast city government, but some were kept on call as trouble was expected on 12 July, the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, when the most significant Orangemen parades were scheduled to take place. Violence flared, police reinforcements had to be sent in again, and the Royal Irish Constabulary found themselves fighting against both sides, but especially the Protestants. The police suffered 390 injured and one man killed – Head Constable William Gardiner, who died on 14 July from a gun-shot wound in his neck. He was 45 and had served in the R.I.C. for almost 28 years.

Note: Chevrons and Half Chevrons for gallant/meritorious conduct were instituted by the Irish Constabulary in 1842/3, and in all cases the first award was accompanied by the silver Badge of Merit. A Badge worn alone indicated that the recipient was in possession of a Half Chevron (there being no physical Half Chevrons). The Badge was officially named to the recipient when awarded as a ‘Half Chevron’, but issued unnamed when awarded as a Full Chevron (in which case the Chevron was officially named). The early Badges were comparatively small, and were worn on the lower left sleeve of the uniform jacket, mounted on a black patent leather backing by four loop fasteners. Around 1867, larger badges with six fasteners were introduced, and the backing colour changed to dark green. The issue of further Chevrons and Badges were discontinued by Regulations issued in 1872, when the Constabulary Medal (Ireland) was confirmed as the R.I.C.’s major reward for acts of pre-eminent valour and bravery