Chris Boonzaier

I have had the wifes grandfathers German navy items for decades... then yesterday, her uncle was cleaning out the attic and found these... in a box since the 1930s.... as a young student in the late 20s her grandfather joined the Stahlhelm, then in the 30s transfered to the Sa, then later the NSKK. Not having any SA references it took some time... but this seems to be the Sahlhelmbund as worn on the sleeve for a short while after transfering to the SA, then the collar badges for the Staff of the brigade 79 in Wurzburg, where he was a medical student. I like the bavarian colors in the shoulder boards 🙂

Sorry for the spoilers in this, it is so rare I do not want to see it being "sold" elsewhere.... when the Legion was formed in 1831, this gentleman was one of the first to join. I think he was in the Regiment Hohenlohe before as he was "Sgt Major just 3 months after joining the legion, demoted to Sgt a few months after that. The 3rd battalion was the first legion unit ever to engage the enemy. Back them the contract was 3 years, he left after three years... a real collection crown jewel for me, his end of contract good conduct discharge

I am pretty happy with this, the Dahomey campaign being the most interesting part for me

His Beret

What a fantastic collection!!!!!

This is a rare variation, the railway medal is usually a service medal, but can be awarded to non railway employees. Apparently there are just over 20 awards for "courage" In this case for a legionnaire, from what I can see he was part of the patrol which killed the attacker in the knife attack at Marseilles station in 2017. He himself was not the shooter.

Apparently possible from 1905... He was the 19th "foreigner" to get it, number 6-25 on the list were awarded in Munich when the Saxon King visited Bavaria in 1905, 2 from the ILR, a Feldwebel and him. I suppose they were the NCOs in charge of the honor Guard.

A selection of the Sahara/Portee/Montee Top line pre WW2 2nd line WW2 3rd line Marocco post WW2 4th line the 1st-4th CSPL 5th Line the Compagnie Portee 4eme REI

Nope, just the award docs. The bar would have been sexy!

A very rare badge indeed.... and as luck would have it.... both Versions in one go!!!! and on their fobs!

Heinrich Steinmetz has a spectacular array of lower end awards... from 7 different states.... I am assuming as a Feldwebel in the Bavarian Infantry leibregiment most were given by visiting heads of state ... but a very unusual array indeed... An "old man" during the war he was with the Regiment in the field, but not really an active combat role and quite some time spent training new recruits at the Alpenkorps field recruit depot. The documents in order of the awarding (I have left out the post war documents)

Commando Georges was the brainchild of Bigeard. Considered an elite unit it played an important part in hunting down rebel groups in the Saida area. With a Cadre of French officers and NCOs the unit had a high percentage of ex rebels. Due to the reputation of the unit and the high number of rebels it accounted for the men of the commando were prime targets for revenge operations after the war. This rare numbered badge for the commando is the rarest of Commando George Badges. A souvenier brought back by a german legionnaire.

Here are 2 of the members of the platoon recieving the cross of valor and the Brevet given after a year in the platoon. Every company has its desinated marksmen/Snipers, but the support company has the STELD or "long distance" sniper platoon which is armed with the 50cal sniper weapons and lighter ones as well. The patch is non official

Some of the rarer modern patches in wear....

The "stage franchissement" or "crossing qualification" was a qualification for Drivers of the Amphibious APC, the "VAB"... part of the instruction was using a mini resperator, underwater obstacles etc to train them in the case of the VAB sinking. Evacuation of personel etc. In later years the extra armour on the VAB made the vehicule too heavy for amphibious operations. All the new vehicules are too heavy and for that reason the qualification no longer exists. On the left is the standard badge, on the right the relatively rare one used by the 1st company of the 2nd REI