History of the RDF/FCA Uniforms.

[trellheim]

When I joined [ Oct 1986 ] the issue at the time to recruits was

No.1's, tunic,trousers,tie,shirt, boots, socks,Greatcoat, Green Beret, badges. That was all you got. Combats were a private purchase from a friendly PDF Man.

The No.1's at the time had maroon epaulettes.

I'm half minded to use this thread to establish a history of when the various main uniform changes were made. For example, serving RDF personnel used to wear the black beret as FCA - when did this go out? TD tells us that DPMs were introduced in Spring 2001.

However, working dress and the Ho Chi Minh jackets were also in the interim, as was the removal of the maroon epaulettes, and the ceasing of wearing the FCA shoulder patch.

Anyone interested in contributing ? Back to Bullswool !!

[trellheim]

2007-2008 - Dri-flow and Haix Operational boots go on issue for extended exercises.

[ZULU]

2007-2008 - Dri-flow and Haix Operational boots go on issue for extended exercises.

For select few. Dont forget the bush hat!

Joined up and got OG Combat jacket, working dress trousers and combat tousers. 24b boots, 2 pair socks and beret and capbadge. Working dress shirt. Oh and a green laundry bag.

Still doesn't come close to the thermal mug though!

[Connaught Stranger]

1976 when I arrived up in Finner after PDF recruit training in Athlone the following was to be seen with FCA members:-

- Half Jacket, trousers, kahki shirt, brown tie, black boots, grey wool socks,

black shoes, green socks.

black beret with red backing, the relevant F.C.A. unit flash.

Bullswool overcoats as well as the knitted cream tie,

and stiched toecap boots,

could be found with F.C.A. oldtimers at this period.

Standard Barrack working dress for recruits in the F.C.A.

as well as those F.C.A. on "Border Duties"

was the green one-piece overall.

Connaught Stranger.

[Celtic-Warrior]

Whats the issue now 1 smock , Magnums, socks, 2 shirts, 2 combats, 2 tshirts beret badge and bush hat?

[trellheim]

Scale of Issue : http://www.rdfra.ie/Misc/scale.shtml

[hedgehog]

When I joined [ Oct 1986 ] !!

Red arse

[Mad P]

I don't knw to many that join rdf & get a bush hat. Lot of the lads buy them themselves & most will never see the stuff on the issue list. Not many CQ's want to hand out their nice collection of stores!

[trellheim]

ignoring Hedgehog as usual, The No.1's then become scarcer, once working dress came in. This was the OG green lightweight trouser and shirts, brassards for rank, Wooly jumper, and often times 58 ptn. webbing belt as well. This was pretty much the standard until 2001. Ho Chi Minh came in early '90s but left fairly sharply.

I don't think we ever had the baseball caps though.

[ZULU]

ignoring Hedgehog as usual, The No.1's then become scarcer, once working dress came in.gh.

Didn't get issued No1s till 2 weeks ago. (10 years later!)

[Goldie fish]

ignoring Hedgehog as usual, The No.1's then become scarcer, once working dress came in. This was the OG green lightweight trouser and shirts, brassards for rank, Wooly jumper, and often times 58 ptn. webbing belt as well. This was pretty much the standard until 2001. Ho Chi Minh came in early '90s but left fairly sharply.

I don't think we ever had the baseball caps though.

Was the 58 belt ever regulation? I know it was worn for any GoH or paddys day parades in working dress. A pain in the ass if you had to take it out of assembled webbing first though. It seemed to be most use for parades where long marches were involved as a "hangar" for the FN.

[hptmurphy]

A pain in the ass if you had to take it out of assembled webbing first though

.

always have a spare!

When I joined the FCA in 1991...was a recruit at 24...forgot to mention the previous service in the SM and the NS...the only thing I didn't have was a Glengarry.

I got issue the Ho Chi minh jacket ..shirts and cravats, trousers..these had actually be on issue to the PDF since 1985...24b boots SD No 1s overalls, socks , gloves, etc etc.

I had as et of combats another set of boots, half a dozen shirts and a couple of pairs of trousers. Very benevolent mate in the PDF. I had acquired a 58 pattern belt some where, had Jumpers and had name tags before they went on issue to the RDF..Leb type ones.

Opened a few eye when on night no2 Recruit murphy lands on the square kitted out..with boots like glass..creases and knew more foot drill that he should....It actually took the FCA tow whole years to track down my past record and even at that I had to tell them..so they sent me on a PNCOs course and it was all down hill from there..

Been gone 14 months now and the only thing I gave away was my PLCE..yes it was mine BRIT DPM private purchase modified..everything else is in storage...why? not as if I going to use any of it again !

[Goldie fish]

.

not as if I going to use any of it again !

The Revolution will not be televised...

[The Prisoner]

Joined January 1978

First issue:
Half tunic, trousers, overcoat, black beret & cap badge, collar badges and a pair of boots. That was your lot lot.

The long tunic with maroon epelutes, shirt & tie, green beret and a pair of socks came in to my old unit in late 1981/early 1982. (Legend has it that Bobby Molloy was Minister at the time the decision was made to issue the long tunic and he chose his county colours!)

Working dress - jacket (Ho Chi Min type), trousers (without thigh pockets), green shirt came in to my old unit in 1989.

IMHO the jacket would have been a great idea if it had been tailored properly eg hood, draw cords. It could have doubled up as a light/summer combat.

DMP came in March, 2002.

Anyone got old photos? Go on, give us a trip down memory lane!

[bohs fan]

joined oct 1977 half tunic and trousers ( think they called it battle dress) brass buttons on the tunic , brass cap badge black beret with red backing same as pdf , great coat and black boots , brass collar badges and two eastern command flashes . Additional gear combats pullovers ties etc. was acquired over time anyone remember the Italian combat jackets that were in vogue late 1970,s early 1980,s . I remember the lads in the 5th in Collins used to refer to us as the Viet Cong