WW2 East African Abyssinia / Somali Irregular Forces Brass Cap Badge

A rare theatre cast brass cap badge with two integral lugs to the reverse as worn by the First Battalion, Irregular Forces. The sword of Gideon to the centre of a circlet bearing the title, " First Irregulars ". A large badge at circa 7.1cms tall. Not sure if they were part of Wingate's Gideon Force.

This was a a very short-lived unit of the British Army in East Africa, the First Irregulars (Somali), formed in October 1940 and disbanded 1st April 1941, with the personnel transferring to other units in the area.

This is not the badge from the Bob Betts collection but identical to it and he attributes it to Somaliland, others have attributed it to Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

Gideon Force, comprised of troops from the Sudan Defence Force and Abyssinian / Somali Irregulars led by Brigadier Sandford and Lt Col Wingate (of Burma fame later in the war), mounted guerrilla attacks from Sudan into Gojjam province of Abyssinia in March 1941.

H59.2

Code: 69549