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This field covers uniforms, headdress and badges from the 18th century through to Third Reich items from the 20th century. Much of this material can be seen in context in contemporary prints/drawings and other art work, eg bronzes and photographs. I keep a very sharp eye out for, and a photographic record of, all the particularly convincing Third Reich fakes that come my way. Good reference books include: The Emperor's Coat by Rest, Ortner & Ilming (Verlag Militaria) on Austro-Hungarian militaria, Great War period; Shoulder-belt plates and buttons by Parkyn on British militaria; two volumes by King on British military headdress badges. The National Army Museum (Royal Hospital Road, London SW3) has an excellent bookshop and display covering the British side of this great subject.
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Civilian forester's collar insignia, unmarked silver - German
These were worn on either side of an open-necked dark green tunic collar. The oak leaf and acorn were traditional symbols of German forestry. Every landed estate would have had its foresters responsible for keeping the woodland in trim and the livestock herds therein in good condition, ie culling them when need be.
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Railway Police collar patch - German
This is for the Bahnschutzpolizei ORs tunic. The BSP came under Reichsbahn control for their regular service duties. For specialist service, eg concentration camp deliveries, they were under Himmler's hand.
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2 Prussian Landwehr officer's cap cockades - German
The Landwehr were the first line of the reserve, the second line being the Landsturm. The concept of the Landwehr cockade dates back to the Napoleonic Wars and was always in the form of a Maltese cross. These cockades would have been worn on the front of the cap, under the national cockade in black, white and red.
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St George medal, 4th class - Russian
This is the lowest grade of this prestigious order, Russia's principle gallantry award from the time of the Napoleonic Wars until the 1917 revolution. It shows the image of Nicholas II on the face and on the reverse 'For gallantry' is inscribed in Cyrillic, together with the class of the medal below the serial number.
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Postman's badge? - Russian
This die-struck gilding metal badge is obviously intended to be worn on a cap, or possibly a lapel, because of its small size (3.5cm high). I am working in the dark, but I am guessing it is for a postman because of the motif of the hunting horns with the electrical arrows (telegraph).
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Prussian Guard artillery collar patch, Somme battle find - German
This gem is inscribed 'High Wood Aug. 1916' on the hessian backing of the reverse. No doubt a Thomas Atkins souvenir, picked up perhaps in an abandoned dug-out, or even removed from a corpse! High Wood was perhaps one of the best known locations in that eventful summer, with a fearsome reputation on both sides.
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Prussian Train officer's epaulette - German
This is an oberleutnant's example (one star). The silver bullion with black silk thread denotes a Prussian unit. The light blue underlay denotes the arm of service, in this case the Military Train (transport corps). The button is of gilding metal,with a gilt rank star.
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Two Schupo Litzen, one cotton and one wool - German
These are two different examples of Schutzpolizei collar tabs, introduced in the uniform changes of 1936. The Schupo were a truly national force, as opposed to the Gendarmerie/Landespolizei (countryside) and Gemeindepolizei (town police). They, like the Ordnungspolizei, lived in barracks, a little bit like the Guardia Civil of Franco's Spain.
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KuK officer's button - Austrian
This little gilt tunic button (2.5cm diameter) is of two-piece construction, with a brass back and gilding metal face. It bears the coat of arms of Leopold II, Emperor of Austria, who reigned 1780-92. Apart from the fighting with the Turks, this button might have seen service in the winter campaign against the French of 1793-94 in the Netherlands.
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KuK officer's button - Austrian
This little gilt tunic button (2.5cm diameter) is of two-piece construction, with a brass back and gilding metal face. It bears the coat of arms of Leopold II, Emperor of Austria, who reigned 1780-92. Apart from the fighting with the Turks, this button might have seen service in the winter campaign against the French of 1793-94 in the Netherlands.
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