Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit awarded to Sub Constable J. Richey, Irish Constabulary

Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit, silver, the reverse officially engraved ‘Jas. Richey. Sub Const.’, reverse with four loop fasteners, very fine, rare £1,200-£1,600

James Richey was born in co. Fermanagh in 1817. He was a Protestant, and worked as a labourer before joining the Peelers on 1 January 1838, at the age of 20. He was allocated to the Tyrone Police and settled there, marrying a local girl in 1845. Like many of his Constabulary contemporaries, his career progression followed a ‘snakes and ladders’ pattern. Between April 1841 and November 1858 he was promoted twice and reduced in rank three times. Richey attained the rank of Constable (insignia of a Sergeant) on 18 December 1847, and managed to retain that rank for ten years, until he was reduced in rank In January 1857. By May 1858 he was back at the same lowly rank he had held twenty years before. However, later in that year he was awarded a Half Chevron for a gallant act of Merit, as announced on 24 November 1858, and was restored to the level of First Class Sub-Constable. Richey held this rank until he retired on pension on 1 May 1875, after thirty-seven years’ service. He died in 1893.

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 named 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 of Merit were small, and were mounted on a black patent leather backing by four loop fasteners for wear on the lower left sleeve of the uniform jacket. Around 1867, larger badges with six fasteners were introduced and the backing colour changed to dark green. The issue of further Chevrons and Badges was 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.