Old repair to central plume (top of plume broken off at one stage and re-attached with a brass strengthening backing plate to rear of plume to repair break), and tip of quill from base of right hand feather lacking, plating rubbed on plumes and polished overall, otherwise Good Very Fine.
The repair to this badge would appear to be an “in the field” repair dating from the period of its working life, the badge no doubt repaired rather than discarded because of its rarity (Pipe-Major's badges were produced in small numbers) making a replacement badge difficult to obtain at short notice, particularly when overseas on active service. Senior non-commissioned officers and officers of the Leinster Regiment are recorded as having worn a similar large size bi-metal cap badge. (see R.G. Harris, The Irish Regiments 1683-1999, page 196, for a photograph of the Pioneer Section, 1st Leinsters, in India in the 1880s, where one of the Pioneer sergeants wears a large embroidered badge of similar design on his peaked cap).
This badge was originally the property of Pipe-Major Benjamin McGowan, the last Pipe-Major to see service with the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment prior to that battalion’s disbandment in July 1922.
Provenance: Bonhams, 5th August 2008, lot 300 (part).
Benjamin Valentine McGowan was born into the Leinster Regiment at Shorncliffe, Kent, on 1/2/1889, the son of Private (later Corporal) Thomas Henry McGowan, who was then serving in Shorncliffe with the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, having enlisted into the regiment as a 15 year old Boy Soldier in October 1880. Benjamin McGowan is recorded the 1891 census as being resident at the South Camp, Aldershot, Hampshire, living with his 25 year old father, then a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, and 24 year old mother, Mary McGowan, and in the 1901 Irish census as a 12 year old boy resident in House 28 at the Military Barracks in Birr, King’s County (now County Offaly) with his mother Mary and sisters Isabella and Mary Jane, aged 8 and 10 respectively. Benjamin enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment at Birr on 2/4/1904, and was, like his father, a boy soldier recruit, aged 15 years and 3 month. He is recorded in the 1911 census as a 22 year old Private serving with the 2nd Leinsters at Jullundur in the Punjab, India. McGowan’s Medal Index Card records him as having first seen active service during the First World War in France and Flanders, entering that theatre of operations on 12th September 1914 (the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment embarked for France on 8th September 1914 as a unit, landing at St Nazaire on 12th September 1914). McGowan saw service initially as 7331 Leinster Regiment, subsequently as 450902 Labour Corps, and finally as 7331 Leinster Regiment, and was invalided from France in 1917 (for his services during WW1 Pipe Major McGowan was awarded a 1914 Star and bar trio). The 1921 census records McGowan as a Sergeant with the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment serving with the British Forces in Silesia, Germany. Benjamin McGowan was discharged from the 2nd Leinsters following the battalion’s disbandment at Colchester on 21/7/1922 and transferred to the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers (unfortunately, there is no mention of his transfer or services with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in the Royal Irish Fusiliers Regimental Journal, no doubt due to the state of affairs in 1922, with various regiments and / or battalions being disbanded and numerous men being transferred between regiments). McGowan was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1922. The1939 Register records Benjamin McGowan as the garage and service station manager of the Pondtail Service Station, King’s Road, Fleet, Hampshire, resident at the garage with his wife, Margaret. Pipe Major McGowan died in Fleet, Hampshire, on 13/2/1957. Benjamin McGowan married Margaret O’Connor at Cork on 7/1/1914. His son, Thomas Harry, was born on 23/12/1918 at Southsea. Benjamin McGowan’s father, Thomas Henry McGowan, was born in the parish of Crinkle, Birr, Co. Offaly. He enlisted into the Leinster Regiment on 13/10/1880. At the time of enlistment he was under age, 15 years and 5 months old, and stated that he had no trade. Thomas initially saw service as a Boy Soldier with the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, being promoted Lance Corporal 14/9/1889 and Corporal, 11/2/1891, but reverted to Private at his own request on 22/6/1891. He transferred to the 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment on 5/5/1898, with the rank of Private, and was eventually discharged on 20/9/1905, having claimed his discharge after 3 month notice. Discharge papers confirm that, in addition to service at home, Thomas McGowan also saw service in Malta, Bermuda and Canada (no active service so no campaign medals awarded)
