Another trivial matter led to prolonged and irritating controversy.  Towards the end of October the Belfast and Dublin papers announced that the Army Council had approved of “an Ulster badge similar to that worn by Ulster Volunteers” as a cap badge for all troops in the Ulster Division.  It was pointed out that this would have the effect of preserving the identity of the Ulster Division.  Immediately, and not unnaturally, the demand for a similar concession was put forward on behalf of the Sixteenth Division.  General Parsons was opposed, as any old soldier would be, to a variation in the distinguishing marks of old and famous regiments.  He did not allow for the fact that we needed to attract new soldiers in masses—­men who as yet knew nothing of regimental tradition.  Still, he co-operated in forwarding Redmond’s desire, which was to meet a widely spread sentimental demand.  Now that the war is over, many soldiers argue that there is no reason in the nature of things why Irish regiments should not have a clearly distinguishing uniform, as the Scots or the Colonials do.  In the last months, when recruiting was a matter of urgency, Colonel Lynch induced the War Office to consent to equipping an Irish Brigade with a completely distinctive dress; unhappily the pattern was (after several months) still under discussion when the war ended.  I have little doubt that from the point of view of recruiting even the badge, to say nothing of a distinctive uniform, would have been an asset; I have no doubt at all that the refusal of it was a set-back, because it was a refusal given after a discussion and correspondence which lasted from November till February.  The most interesting point, however, is that Lord Kitchener found time to occupy himself repeatedly with this question in the period between the first and second battles of Ypres.  If his intervention had been judicious, it would have been as impressive as the spectacle of a battery elephant stopping in action to pick up a pin with his trunk.

On one point Redmond’s representations, heartily backed by General Parsons, were successful.  Catholic chaplains, of whom no adequate number were at first provided for Irish troops, were secured.  It is pleasant to note that Lord Roberts, who before the war had been vehement on the Ulster side, used his personal influence to support this application.  A month or two later, when death came to the veteran, dramatically, among the troops in France, Redmond told the House of Commons how on that question Lord Roberts had met him in the friendliest way and endeavoured to arrange for attending the great meeting at the Dublin Mansion House.

On another matter Redmond was able to assist the equipment of the Division.  He suggested, and General Parsons fully admitted the value of, regimental bands; but the War Office made no grants for them.  Redmond drew upon a large sum which had been placed at his disposal by a private individual to further his campaign, and all our battalions were indebted to him for their fife and drum equipment.  There was, in short, no detail in which he was not willing and anxious to assist the Division and its commander.  But the friction between the two men was unmistakable.