This could be a US piece for the Union kepi or the Hardee hat, which was a black felt slouch hat with a turned up brim. Alternatively it could be for some colonial Dutch or Boer unit. It is head insignia because of the two pairs of holes punched for stitching attachment at either end of one of the canons and the brass prongs sweated on at the back.

This is the standard Russian other ranks buckle of the Great War worn up until the Bolsheviks changed the insignia in the 1920s. This has the coat of arms of imperial Russia, with St George and the dragon mounted on the breast of the double eagle, which carries the state coat of arms of the constituent parts of the empire.

This could be a French, Dutch or even a US Union bridle boss and one would have been riveted on each side of the bridle. It is a die-struck brass badge (2.7cm top to bottom) and its condition is clean with remarkably little wear.

This could be Russian or East European and would have been worn perhaps on a sealskin fur cap, rather like those worn by our own Rifle Brigade at the turn of the century. It is essentially a brass badge with a silver wash, together with gilt metal inserts filled with dark (possibly black) enamel.

This is the sterling silver version issued in 1945 to Canadian troops for service overseas in World War 2. The British version was struck in nickel silver, but for some reason the Canadians were lucky enough to have theirs issued in somewhat finer metal. It carried the normal ribbon for the British example, sadly missing.

This little badge (which could possibly be made of unmarked silver) is possibly Austrian or Belgian. It has stitch holes at either end of the bugle and would have been worn on a soft peak cap.

This was given to the good and great in 1935 to commemorate the Jubilee of George V and Queen Mary. The men received it on a conventional loose ribbon with pin suspension; the women received it in this fashion with a bow.

This commemorates the service of the Gloucestershire Regiment in Egypt in 1801, unique in the annals of the British Army, inasmuch as they are the only regiment to wear the back badge commemorating the moment when the rear file of the regiment was ordered to turn around and fire at the French who were attempting to take them from behind.

This is an official award for a member of the French Resistance, with the Cross of Lorraine, the great symbol of France's resistance to the Germans in both wars, but specifically in the 2nd, together with other images of regional insignia. There is '269' punched on the reverse.

This is the classic pair of campaign awards for WW2; indeed, other than the India Service Medal and the War Medal in silver for the Canadians, they were the only circular medals issued by the British Empire in WW2.