The Irish Guards Cap Star: History, Symbolism and Collecting Guide
Introduction
The Irish Guards cap star is among the most distinctive items of head-dress insignia worn in the British Army. Its design is taken from the Star of the Order of St Patrick rather than from a device created specifically for the regiment, setting it apart from the insignia of the other Foot Guards. The Guards Museum records the grenade, Garter Star, thistle, shamrock and leek as the respective collar badges of the five regiments.
The regiment was raised on 1 April 1900 by order of Queen Victoria in recognition of the distinguished service of Irish soldiers during the South African War. Since then, the Irish Guards have combined the ceremonial responsibilities of the Household Division with operational infantry service in both World Wars, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. The cap star has remained a constant feature of regimental dress throughout that history.
About This Guide
This article was prepared by Precision Military Emblems using accessible official British Army material, regimental histories, museum collections, recognised works on British military insignia and primary sources where available. References include Kipling and King's Head-Dress Badges of the British Army and Rudyard Kipling's The Irish Guards in the Great War. Claims dependent on restricted or undigitised archive material are stated cautiously.
Did You Know?
- The Irish Guards were raised by order of Queen Victoria on 1 April 1900 as the fourth regiment of Foot Guards then in existence. The Welsh Guards followed in 1915.
- Queen Victoria ordered the raising of the regiment to recognise the distinguished service of Irish soldiers during the South African War.
- The cap star is derived from the Star of the Order of St Patrick, Ireland's senior order of chivalry, founded by King George III in 1783.
- The Irish Guards are the only Foot Guards regiment whose principal head-dress badge is derived from the Star of the Order of St Patrick.
- The regiment wears a St Patrick's blue plume on the right side of the bearskin.
- The regiment's Irish Wolfhound mascot takes part in major ceremonial occasions, including the annual St Patrick's Day parade, and also receives shamrock.
- Rudyard Kipling, whose son John was killed at the Battle of Loos in 1915 while serving with the Irish Guards, wrote the two-volume regimental history The Irish Guards in the Great War (1923).
- Six Victoria Cross recipients are associated with the Irish Guards: four from the First World War and two from the Second World War.
- Irish Guards buttons are arranged in groups of four, and the shamrock is worn as the regimental collar badge.
- The Order of St Patrick has had no living knights since 1974, but its star remains in use as the Irish Guards' cap star.
Formation of the Irish Guards
On 1 April 1900, Queen Victoria ordered the raising of the Irish Guards to recognise the distinguished service of Irish soldiers during the South African War. Men from Irish regiments, together with Irish-born soldiers serving elsewhere in the Army, had distinguished themselves during the campaign. The new regiment gave permanent recognition to that service.
The decision to raise a new Regiment of Foot Guards was significant. The Household Division comprises the five Regiments of Foot Guards and the two Regiments of Household Cavalry. Alongside their operational duties, these regiments provide the Sovereign's ceremonial guard for State and Royal occasions. The Irish Guards joined the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards as the fourth Regiment of Foot Guards then in existence; the Welsh Guards followed in 1915.
Field Marshal Lord Roberts VC was appointed the regiment's first Colonel.
From the outset, the regiment was required to meet the ceremonial standards of the Household Division while remaining an operational infantry unit. Public duties and field service have therefore run side by side throughout its history.
Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901, less than a year after ordering the regiment's formation. The Irish Guards went on to serve in both World Wars and on numerous later operations while continuing their duties within the Household Division.
Key Dates in the Regiment's History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1783 | The Order of St Patrick was founded by King George III on 5 February 1783. The Star of the Order — an eight-pointed star — later provided the heraldic basis for the Irish Guards cap star. |
| 1899–1902 | Irish regiments and Irish-born soldiers serving throughout the British Army distinguish themselves during the South African War, prompting the creation of a new Foot Guards regiment. |
| 1 April 1900 | Queen Victoria orders the raising of the Irish Guards as the fourth regiment of Foot Guards then in existence. |
| 1901 | Queen Alexandra carries out the first royal presentation of shamrock to the regiment. |
| May 1902 | King Edward VII presents the regiment's first Colours at Horse Guards on 30 May. During the same year, the Irish Guards receive their first Irish Wolfhound mascot. |
| 1914–1918 | First World War. Irish Guards battalions serve on the Western Front and four Victoria Crosses are awarded to men associated with the regiment. |
| August 1914 | The 1st Battalion deploys to France. |
| 1915 | The Welsh Guards are formed on 26 February 1915 as the fifth regiment of Foot Guards. |
| September 1915 | The 2nd Battalion deploys to France and fights at Loos; Lieutenant John Kipling is killed on 27 September. |
| 1919–1920 | During the troubles surrounding the partition and independence of Ireland, some Irish Guards personnel are accused of supplying weapons and equipment to Irish republican forces. |
| 1923 | Rudyard Kipling publishes the two-volume regimental history The Irish Guards in the Great War, written as a memorial to his son and to those who served. |
| Inter-war years | Between the two World Wars, the regiment undertakes successive overseas postings in Turkey, Gibraltar, Egypt and Palestine. |
| 1939–1945 | Second World War. Irish Guards battalions serve in Norway, the Netherlands, North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe in both infantry and armoured roles. |
| 1940 | The 1st Battalion serves in Norway and the 2nd Battalion in the Netherlands. |
| 1943 | From March, the 1st Battalion fights in Tunisia, including Djebel Bou Aoukaz; it moves to Italy in December. |
| 1944 | The 1st Battalion continues the Italian campaign, including Anzio. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions land in Normandy in June and later take part in Operation Market Garden. |
| 21 April 1945 | Guardsman Edward Charlton carries out the action at Wistedt for which he is awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. |
| 1947 | The 1st Battalion deploys to Palestine on security duties; the 2nd Battalion is placed in suspended animation. |
| 1947–1956 | After serving in Palestine, the 1st Battalion moves to the Suez Canal Zone and remains there until the British withdrawal in 1956. |
| 1950 | King George VI presents shamrock in person during the regiment's 50th anniversary. |
| Late 1950s–1960s | The regiment serves in Cyprus and Aden. |
| 1970s–1980s | The regiment serves repeatedly with the British Army of the Rhine in West Germany and also undertakes postings to Hong Kong and Belize. |
| 1974 | The last surviving Knight of the Order of St Patrick dies. Although the Order becomes dormant, its heraldic star continues in use as the Irish Guards cap star. |
| 1992 | The regiment undertakes its first operational tour in Northern Ireland. |
| 1999 | Irish Guards personnel deploy to Kosovo as part of the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force. |
| 2003 | The Irish Guards serve in Iraq during Operation Telic. |
| 2006–2007 | A further operational deployment to Iraq follows. |
| 2010–2011 | The Irish Guards deploy to Helmand Province during Operation Herrick 13. |
| 2013 | A company of Irish Guards returns to Afghanistan. |
| 2014 | The Irish Guards are stationed in Cyprus. |
| 2017–2018 | A company serves as the Falkland Islands Roulement Infantry Company. |
| 2019–2020 | Elements of the regiment deploy on Operation Shader in Iraq and Operation Trenton in South Sudan. |
| September 2022 | Numbers 9 and 12 Companies are re-established for the Public Duties role. On 12 September, Number 12 Company mounts the first formal Changing of the Guard of Charles III's reign, taking over from Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards. |
| March 2023 | The Princess of Wales attends her first St Patrick's Day parade as Colonel of the Irish Guards on 17 March. |
| 10 June 2024 | The King presents new Colours to Numbers 9 and 12 Companies. |
| 15 June 2024 | Number 9 Company Irish Guards troops its Colour at the King's Birthday Parade, the first Irish Guards Public Duties Company to do so. |
| 2025 | The Irish Guards mark the 125th anniversary of their formation with church services, military events in Northern Ireland and the laying up of old Colours at St Mark's Church, Belfast. The anniversary programme is scheduled to conclude on 1 April 2026. |
The Irish Guards Cap Star: Design and Heraldic Elements
The Irish Guards cap star takes the form of an eight-pointed rayed star based on the Star of the Order of St Patrick. It is the regiment's principal head-dress badge and is most closely associated with the bearskin worn for ceremonial duties.
The Order of St Patrick
King George III founded the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick on 5 February 1783 as Ireland's senior order of chivalry. It stood alongside the Order of the Garter in England and the Order of the Thistle in Scotland. The Sovereign headed the Order, while the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland served as Grand Master. The Order's ceremonial home was St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, where installation ceremonies were traditionally held.
The Order's insignia included an eight-pointed star carrying the saltire, shamrock, three crowns, motto and foundation date later adopted for the Irish Guards cap star. The motto, Quis Separabit? — 'Who shall separate us?' — is drawn from Romans 8:35.
Unlike badges devised solely as regimental devices, the Irish Guards cap star adopted the insignia of an established national order of chivalry. This gave the new regiment a heraldic identity already closely associated with Ireland.
Appointments dwindled after the establishment of the Irish Free State, and none has been made since the 1930s. The Order was never formally abolished, but the death of the Duke of Gloucester in 1974 left it without a surviving knight. The Order became dormant, but its star continued in use with the Irish Guards.
The Eight-Pointed Star
The star has eight principal points, the four cardinal points extending farther than those between them. On documented examples, each point is formed by groups of radiating lines. Construction and finish vary according to period, maker, rank and intended use.
The Central Device: Saltire, Shamrock and Three Crowns
At the centre is the device of the Order of St Patrick: a red saltire on a white field — argent in heraldic terminology — overlaid by a green shamrock bearing a crown on each leaf. Around it appear the motto Quis Separabit? and the date MDCCLXXXIII, recording the foundation of the Order in 1783.
The Motto: Quis Separabit?
The motto Quis Separabit? — 'Who shall separate us?' — appears around the central device. Drawn from Romans 8:35, it belonged to the Order of St Patrick long before the Irish Guards were formed and passed into regimental use with the star.
Officer and Other-Rank Variants
Officer, other-rank, service and private-purchase examples differ in construction and finish. Apparent metal type alone is not enough to establish rank or date; the complete pattern, fittings, provenance and comparison with documented examples must be considered.
Evolution of the Cap Star
The cap star has remained the regiment's principal head-dress badge since the early years of the Irish Guards, although methods of manufacture, fixing and finish have evolved over successive generations. Surviving examples vary in size, material, construction and reverse fittings, but these differences do not alter the central heraldic design.
The three crowns on the shamrock belong to the Order of St Patrick. They are not a separate Royal Crown surmounting the badge and should not be used to divide the principal cap-star pattern into King's Crown and Queen's Crown reign types.
Regimental Traditions and Distinctions
On parade, the regiment is identified by the St Patrick's blue plume, buttons arranged in fours and the shamrock collar badge. The annual presentation of shamrock and the Irish Wolfhound mascot are equally well-established regimental traditions.
These distinctions are the established means of identifying the five Foot Guards regiments when wearing otherwise closely related ceremonial dress.
The Blue Plume
The Irish Guards wear a St Patrick's blue plume on the right side of the bearskin. Together with buttons grouped in fours, it identifies the regiment on parade.
Button Spacing and Collar Badge
Button spacing is one of the recognised distinctions between the Foot Guards regiments. The Grenadier Guards wear theirs evenly spaced, the Coldstream Guards in pairs, the Scots Guards in threes, the Irish Guards in fours and the Welsh Guards in fives.
The regimental collar badge is the shamrock, another distinction confirmed by the Guards Museum's guide to Foot Guards uniforms.
The Bearskin
Like all five regiments of Foot Guards, the Irish Guards wear the bearskin on state and ceremonial occasions. The Irish Guards are distinguished by the St Patrick's blue plume on the right side and by the cap star worn at the front.
The Shamrock Ceremony
On St Patrick's Day, shamrock is presented to the regiment and then issued along the ranks. The sprigs are worn on the uniform during the parade, and the regimental Irish Wolfhound receives shamrock as well. Queen Alexandra first carried out the royal presentation in 1901. King George VI made the presentation personally during the regiment's 50th anniversary in 1950, and members of the Royal Family have continued the tradition in later years.
The Irish Wolfhound
An Irish Wolfhound serves as the regimental mascot and appears on major parades. The wolfhound also receives shamrock during the annual St Patrick's Day ceremony and remains a familiar part of the regiment's ceremonial life.
Operational Legacy
Since 1900, the Irish Guards have combined ceremonial duties with operational service at home and overseas. Operational service has taken the regiment from the Western Front to North Africa, Italy, North-West Europe, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus and South Sudan.
The First World War, 1914–1918
During the First World War, Irish Guards battalions served on the Western Front and suffered heavy losses. Their actions included Mons, the Marne, the Aisne, Ypres, Loos, the Somme, Arras, Passchendaele and the final advance of 1918. Lieutenant John Kipling, son of Rudyard Kipling, was killed at Loos on 27 September 1915. A grave was attributed to him in 1992, although that identification has since been questioned.
Four Victoria Cross recipients are associated with the Irish Guards during the First World War: Michael O'Leary, George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, John Moyney and James Neville Marshall. Marshall remained an Irish Guards officer while commanding the 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.
Rudyard Kipling's two-volume The Irish Guards in the Great War (1923) was written as a memorial to his son and to those who served. It remains an important account of the regiment's First World War service.
The Second World War, 1939–1945
During the Second World War, Irish Guards battalions served in Norway, the Netherlands, North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe. The 1st Battalion fought in Norway in 1940 before the Allied evacuation. The 2nd Battalion served in the Netherlands, assisted in the evacuation of members of the Dutch Royal Family and withdrew in the face of the German advance. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions later served with the Guards Armoured Division.
In 1943 the 1st Battalion fought in Tunisia, including the action at Djebel Bou Aoukaz in which John Patrick Kenneally earned the Victoria Cross. It moved to Italy in December 1943 and later served at Anzio, where the beachhead was held under prolonged artillery fire and repeated counter-attacks.
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions landed in Normandy in June 1944 as part of the Guards Armoured Division. They fought around Caen before advancing through Belgium into the Netherlands, forming part of XXX Corps' advance during Operation Market Garden and reaching Nijmegen. The regiment continued through the Netherlands and into Germany, where Guardsman Edward Charlton earned a posthumous Victoria Cross at Wistedt on 21 April 1945.
Northern Ireland
The Irish Guards did not undertake an operational tour in Northern Ireland until 1992, having been exempt from such service for much of the Troubles.
Iraq and Afghanistan
The Irish Guards served in Iraq during Operation Telic. In Afghanistan, the regiment deployed during Operation Herrick 13 in 2010–11, serving in Helmand Province. During 2019–20, elements of the regiment deployed on Operation Shader in Iraq while others served on Operation Trenton in South Sudan. Later commitments have included Operation Tosca in Cyprus.
Collector's Note
No single feature proves that a cap star is original. Pattern, construction, fittings, maker's marks, wear and provenance should be assessed together and compared with documented examples.
Where provenance is important, photographs alone are rarely sufficient. Careful examination of construction, reverse fittings, manufacturing quality and comparison with documented originals remains the most reliable approach.
Battle Honours
Battle honours recognise distinguished participation in campaigns and engagements. In accordance with long-established British Army practice, only a selection is emblazoned on a regiment's Colours, representing some of its most significant achievements in war.
The regiment has been awarded 52 Honorary Distinctions, commonly known as battle honours, 21 of which appear on the Colours.
Among the principal actions associated with the regiment are Mons, Ypres, Loos, the Somme, Passchendaele and Cambrai in the First World War, and Norway, Djebel Bou Aoukaz, Anzio, Normandy, Nijmegen, the Rhineland and North-West Europe in the Second.
Victoria Cross Recipients
Six Victoria Cross recipients are associated with the Irish Guards: four from the First World War and two from the Second World War. The summaries below give the circumstances of each award; the original citations in The London Gazette remain the authoritative record.
Michael O'Leary VC — Cuinchy, 1 February 1915
Lance-Corporal Michael O'Leary advanced ahead of a storming party, attacked two German barricades in succession, captured the position and took prisoners, preventing the rest of the party from being fired upon.
George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort VC — Cambrin, 3 August 1915
Second Lieutenant George Boyd-Rochfort placed himself over a trench-mortar bomb that had landed beside a group of soldiers, shielding them from the explosion despite suffering serious injuries.
John Moyney VC — Broembeek, 12–13 September 1917
Lance-Sergeant John Moyney organised the defence of advanced posts while surrounded and repeatedly attacked, maintaining the position for many hours before fighting his way back with the survivors.
James Neville Marshall VC, MC and Bar — Sambre–Oise Canal, 4 November 1918
Acting Lieutenant-Colonel James Neville Marshall remained an Irish Guards officer while commanding the 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. He organised repair parties and helped men cross the canal under heavy fire before being killed during the action.
John Patrick Kenneally VC — Djebel Bou Aoukaz, 28 April 1943
Lance-Corporal John Patrick Kenneally repeatedly advanced in the open with a Bren gun, disrupting German attacks and helping the battalion hold its ground.
Edward Colquhoun Charlton VC — Wistedt, 21 April 1945
Guardsman Edward Charlton was serving as a tank co-driver when his vehicle was disabled. He fought first from the tank and then from the ground with a Browning machine gun, enabling other men to withdraw. He was captured and died from his wounds.
Collecting and Identifying the Cap Star
Irish Guards cap stars exist in a number of recognised constructions and finishes. Differences in maker, fittings and manufacture should not be confused with supposed King's Crown or Queen's Crown versions of the principal design.
Officers' and Other Ranks' Stars
Officer, other-rank, service and private-purchase examples vary in construction and finish. Rank and date cannot safely be assigned from apparent metal type alone; the complete pattern, fittings, maker's mark and provenance must be considered.
Do Not Date It by Crown Type
The three crowns on the shamrock form part of the Order of St Patrick device. They are not the Tudor Crown or St Edward's Crown and should not be used to divide the principal Irish Guards cap-star pattern into King's Crown and Queen's Crown examples.
Materials and Finishes
Surviving examples vary in material, construction and finish. Identification should be based on comparison with documented examples and recognised references. Wear, polishing, storage and repair can all alter the surface.
Manufacturers
Documented examples are known from manufacturers including J.R. Gaunt & Son, Firmin & Sons and Toye, Kenning & Spencer. Maker's marks can assist attribution, but an unmarked example is not automatically a reproduction and a stamped name does not guarantee authenticity.
Genuine vs Reproduction Stars
Reproductions exist, but neither weight nor patina is conclusive. Assessment should take account of the form of the rays and central device, construction, reverse fittings, maker's marks, condition and provenance, with comparison against documented originals.
Fixing Methods
The reverse of a cap star should be examined carefully. Loops, lugs, pins and other fittings vary according to period, pattern and intended head-dress. Some examples have had fittings replaced during service, repair or later restoration, so the reverse should never be judged in isolation. Construction, materials, dimensions, maker's marks and provenance should be considered together. Many genuine stars have been professionally cleaned, repaired or re-fitted during their service life; such alterations do not necessarily indicate a reproduction.
Provenance and Authenticity
Provenance can add considerably to the historical interest of a cap star. Service papers, photographs, letters or labelled groups of effects can help link an example to a named Guardsman and period of service. Such material should be preserved with the badge and assessed as a complete body of evidence rather than as isolated items.
Where service attribution is claimed, well-documented provenance should generally carry greater weight than appearance alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Irish Guards cap star show?
The Irish Guards cap star is an eight-pointed rayed star derived from the Star of the Order of St Patrick. Its centre contains a red saltire, a green shamrock bearing three crowns, the motto Quis Separabit? and the date MDCCLXXXIII, recording the foundation of the Order in 1783.
Why is it called a cap star rather than a cap badge?
Because the badge is based on the eight-pointed Star of the Order of St Patrick, it is traditionally described as a cap star. The broader term cap badge is also commonly used.
What does Quis Separabit mean?
Quis Separabit? means 'Who shall separate us?' It is drawn from Romans 8:35 and was the motto of the Order of St Patrick before becoming associated with the Irish Guards.
Why were the Irish Guards raised?
Queen Victoria raised the Irish Guards by order on 1 April 1900 in recognition of the gallantry shown by Irish soldiers during the South African War.
What is the blue plume?
The St Patrick's blue plume is worn on the right side of the bearskin. Together with buttons grouped in fours, it identifies the Irish Guards on parade.
How are Irish Guards buttons arranged?
Irish Guards buttons are arranged in groups of four on the tunic. This distinguishes the regiment from the other Foot Guards: Grenadier Guards (evenly spaced), Coldstream Guards (pairs), Scots Guards (threes), Welsh Guards (fives).
Did the Irish Guards suffer the losses aboard RFA Sir Galahad?
No. The Guardsmen killed aboard RFA Sir Galahad at Bluff Cove on 8 June 1982 were principally Welsh Guards. Those losses must not be attributed to the Irish Guards.
What is the shamrock ceremony?
On St Patrick's Day, shamrock is presented to the regiment and then issued along the ranks to be worn during the parade. The regimental Irish Wolfhound also receives shamrock.
What is the Order of St Patrick?
The Order of St Patrick was founded by King George III in 1783 as Ireland's senior order of chivalry. Appointments had ceased by the 1930s, and the death of the Duke of Gloucester in 1974 left it without a surviving knight. The Order was never formally abolished. Its star remains the basis of the Irish Guards cap star.
Is the Irish Guards cap star different under a King and a Queen?
The principal design is not divided into King's Crown and Queen's Crown versions. The three crowns on the shamrock belong to the Order of St Patrick device and are not a separate Royal Crown placed above the badge. Differences between surviving examples are more likely to reflect rank, period, maker, construction or intended order of dress.
How do I identify an officer's cap star?
Officer and private-purchase stars vary by period and maker. Finer construction, enamel, silver or silver-coloured metal may be encountered, but no single material or hallmark proves that an example is an officer's pattern. The complete construction and provenance should be considered.
Why do some Irish Guards cap stars look different?
Differences may reflect the maker, period, officer or other-rank pattern, private purchase, intended order of dress, repair or later restoration. The underlying heraldic design remains the same.
Are there reproductions of the Irish Guards cap star?
Reproductions exist. No single test is conclusive; pattern, construction, dimensions, fittings, maker's marks, finish and provenance should be considered together and compared with authenticated examples.
The Irish Guards Cap Star Today
More than 125 years after the regiment was raised, the cap star remains one of the clearest visual symbols of the Irish Guards. Its design links the regiment's ceremonial identity and operational record with the heraldry of the Order of St Patrick.
For serving soldiers, veterans and their families, it may carry a direct association with personal service as well as with the regiment itself.
Further Reading
Readers wishing to explore the history, traditions and insignia of the Irish Guards in greater detail may find the following sources useful.
- Rudyard Kipling — The Irish Guards in the Great War (1923) — The classic two-volume regimental history of the Irish Guards during the First World War.
- A. L. Kipling & H. L. King — Head-Dress Badges of the British Army — A standard reference work covering British Army head-dress badges, including Irish Guards examples.
- British Army – The Irish Guards — Official information on the regiment's history, organisation, ceremonial role and current service.
- National Army Museum – The Irish Guards — Dedicated history, collections and research relating to the regiment.
- The Guards Museum – Foot Guards Uniforms and Insignia — Guidance on Irish Guards dress distinctions including plume, buttons and collar badge.
- The London Gazette — Primary source for Victoria Cross citations, commissions and official notices relating to members of the Irish Guards.
Officially Licensed Irish Guards Emblems & Heritage Displays
Precision Military Emblems produces officially licensed Irish Guards emblems and heritage display frames under Ministry of Defence licence, using authorised artwork and historical reference material.
- Irish Guards Cap Star — An officially licensed reproduction of the Irish Guards cap star.
- Irish Guards Cap Star Display Frame — A museum-style heritage display featuring the Irish Guards cap star, produced under Ministry of Defence licence.
About Precision Military Emblems
Precision Military Emblems holds official Ministry of Defence licences to produce British military emblems and museum-style heritage displays for a growing range of regiments and corps. Our work is based on authorised artwork and supported by research into regimental histories, museum collections and official records.
Our aim is to reproduce these emblems accurately and explain the documented history behind them.