A superb - un-issued - Royal Ulster Rifles green on black embroided shoulder title

This is a neat example of a nicely and un-issued black on green shoulder title to the Royal Ulster Rifles. The regiment's history dates backs to the reign of King George III. In 1793 the British army expanded to meet the commitments of the war with the French First Republic. As part of that expansion it raised two new regiments of foot, the 83rd and the 86th. At the same time the counties Antrim, Down and Louth regiments of militia were raised. When war was declared the 1st Battalion was serving in India, with 31 Infantry Brigade, which was trained in mountain warfare. When the brigade returned to the United Kingdom, it was decided that, with its light scale of equipment, it brigade could be converted into a glider-borne unit. Renamed 1 Airlanding Brigade, part of 1st Airborne Division but later transferred to 6th Airborne Division as part of 6 Airlanding Brigade). Carried in Horsa gliders, the battalion took part in Operation Mallard during the D-Day landings in 1944 and Operation Varsity, the airborne element of Operation PLUNDER, the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. The Rifles had the unique distinction of being the only British infantry regiment to have both of its regular battalions involved in the Normandy landings. Riflemen of the Royal Ulster Rifles, 6 Airlanding Brigade, aboard a jeep and trailer, driving off Landing Zone N past a crashed Airspeed Horsa glider on the evening of 6 June. In 1947 the Rifles were grouped with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Royal Irish Fusiliers into the North Irish Brigade. A year later, the regiment formed a pipe band, wearing saffron kilts and playing Irish Warpipes. In 1968 the Royal Ulster Rifles amalgamated with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Fusiliers to form The Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd and 87th). A further amalgamation took place with the Ulster Defence Regiment in 1992 to form The Royal Irish Regiment (27th Inniskilling, 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment).

Code: 50445