Gordon Williamson

Lovely Matrosenmütze Bob, not so easy to find an original white top these days !

Very nice indeed Bob !!!!

Hi Morten, Yes, thats a very interesting photo. For those who don't have the book, it shows several KM personnel wearing pea jackets and what appears to be dark blue M43 caps, in a photo taken after the surrender.

Here is a later signature from Dönitz as Großadmiral from February 1944 for comparison.

I don't think the wreath/swastika on the KM eagle was originally silver. The different qualities of bullion wire used have degraded differently and the original gilt finish on the wreath/swas has faded. Use of different grades of wire and mixtures of wire / cellon thread is quite common on Kriegsmarine eagles.

All look OK to me.

All look OK to me.

Hi Erik, Its a perfectly original badge and with this version of the maker marking, yes, it is quite a rarity.

Just keep watching EBay, you'll' get them eventually. Virtually all the above pieces came from various parts of the world via EBay.

You mean these ? :D

I wouldn't stake my life on it, but I think that Boot came before Schiff. Bremse was built for the Reichsmarine, befopre the Kriegsmarine was created and at that time the artillery training vessels were Artillerieschulboote. I have seen a photo of her described as Artillerieschulboot with the Reichsmartine flag, so my guess is that she was originally known as an Artillerieschulboot and later classified as an Artillerieschulschiff. A "ship" is generally considered bigger than a "boat", and Bremse was about the size of a biggish destroyer /light cruiser (the lighter German destroyers were of course known as Torpedoboote, again going with the smaller vessels being classed as "boats". Thats my take on it anyway (but I could be completely wrong )

And a little gem that just arrived today, picked up on EBay for just £1.99. Note the safety chain worn with the SWB. Not clear until it is blown up quite considerably, but on his tie is worn a fouled anchor pin which would suggest he either a Royal Navy or Merchant Navy recipient. Still looking for the elusive "MN" and "O" prefixes but doubt if I will ever see the ultra-rare "N" for Newfoundland badges.

New Zealand

Canada

Australia

Royal Navy

Very hard to find Indian issue with "I" prefix.

South Africa with SA prefix and safety chain

Royal Air Force issue.

With "B" prefix

Top centre is a nice quality piece by Gaunt with a non-prefixed number.

Acquired these over the past few months as part of a contuining interest in awards for the wounded/ next of kin etc.

U-71

U-558

U-103