An Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit awarded to Constable W. Bane, Irish Constabulary, who was awarded a Half Chevron for ‘successful exertions in the arrest and conviction of persons concerned in plundering a vessel laden with Indian Corn’ in 1865

Irish Constabulary Badge of Merit, silver, the reverse officially engraved ‘Wm. Bane Constable’, reverse with remains of four loop fasteners, the loop fasteners all missing, otherwise good very fine, rare £1,000-£1,400

William Bane, of Galway Police, was awarded an Approbation on 1 January 1851, for the ‘Prompt arrest of a suspicious person, who afterwards proved to be a convict escaped from Maryborough Gaol.’ Transferring to Mayo Police, he was awarded a further Approbation on 31 December 1860, for the ‘prompt pursuit and discovery of two thieves and the recovery of property’, and was awarded a Half Chevron (and with it the associated Badge of Merit) on 30 September 1865 for ‘successful exertions, under the direction of Sub Inspector E. Graves, in the arrest and conviction of persons concerned in plundering a vessel laden with Indian Corn’, together with a monetary grant from the Reward Fund.

Note: Chevrons and Half Chevrons for bravery and gallant conduct were instituted by the Irish Constabulary in 1842, 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 small, and 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.