WW2 - SWEETHEART BROOCH

[Mervyn Mitton]

During the Boer War it became quite a common practise for serving soldiers - officers and other ranks - to give their wives or, sweethearts a brooch with their Regimental Crest. This was carried forward into the 1st. WW and both the Royal Navy and the newly formed Royal Flying Corps did the same - it was a way for the men to be remembered by their loved ones at home.

The 2nd. WW saw the same habit of giving brooches and this one is for the RAF. Made of silver , the 'sparkling' stones are actually cut,facetted and polished steel - known as marcasite. Whilst not worn so often these days, it is still a popular collecting field.

This example is just under 3 inches across (6cm).

[IrishGunner]

Mervyn, interestingly US military units still have this tradition somewhat; at least, my wife has a small collection of regimental pins she's gotten over the years. She also has a couple gold charms to wear as a necklace with division insignia. And the US Marine Corps has the tradition of giving a gold rose brooch with the EGA attached to their ladies.

I've been meaning to pick up a couple of the WWI sweeheart pins as a neat side bar to the collection.