militaria
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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Gloucestershire Regiment cap badge, 1896 pattern - British
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.
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Commemorative French Resistance enamel pin - French
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.
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WW2 War & Defence Medals - British
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.
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Royal Navy officer's button, QVC - British
This button (2.3cm) is marked on the reverse 'J.GIEVE & SONS PORTSMOUTH'. Trading under this designation from 1896 to 1903. As Queen Victoria died in 1901, this button would have been produced in a fairly short span of years at the end of the 19th century.
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Royal Engineers horseshoe sweetheart brooch, George VI - British
The Royal Engineers were responsible for bridge/road building, mine fields, their laying and clearance, etc. These brooches would have been worn by women on their handbags and lapels to commemorate the service of their men in the field, a tradition which started in the Boer War.
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Queen's Own Regiment mess waiter's button - British
This little button (2.6cm) is of two-piece construction with a face plate, originally gilt, folded over a backplate with the maker's name, 'WOODROW & CO. LONDON'. The image is that of the Paschal Lamb as stipulated by the 1900 Dress Regulations for the officers mess waistcoat and field cap.
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43rd Cameron Highlanders of Canada button - Canadian
This regiment, raised in 1914 as the 43rd Infantry Battalion, also known as the Cameron Highlanders, served with great distinction on the Western Front in WW1 and one of the officers was awarded a VC in 1917. This is almost certainly an other ranks button by virtue of its construction and lack of any gilt finish.
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Infantry officer's shako plate (?) - Danish
This is typical of what the Danish officers would have worn at the time of the war with Austria and Prussia in 1864 when these two attacked Denmark to secure Schleswig-Holstein to their respective countries. Denmark put up a very good fight considering that the odds were so unequal, but in the end had to yield.
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Sabretache ornament, Saxon? - German
I think this is a badge (13.5 x 9.5cm) off an undress sabretache, ie plain leather, possibly at the time of Johann, King of Saxony (hence JR), 1854-73. It may be an unfinished piece, inasmuch as there are no fixing points on the reverse. It would appear to be a cast bronze, hand finished badge.
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Dublin High Court official's cap/collar badge - British
This is a particularly fine die-struck gilt badge (4 x 4.5cm), possibly fire gilt (as opposed to electro-gilt), with the coat of arms of Dubin in the centre, backed by the sword and scales of justice and a civic mace, topped by the burgher's crown. A court official (eg the Tipstaff of the Court) would have worn this.
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