Auseklis

However, it is puzzeling how collar badges ended up in Norway, because to my knowledge, the British troops (all ranks!) who were sent there all wore battle dress, and these collar badges were worn on the service dress in bronze by officers or in brass by other ranks. Yes, also, orher ranks wore the woolen service dress, but of a course material, including collar badges, however these were no longer issued to troops who went overseas.

Thanks for the input!

That would support the baggage idea of Chris, I think.

Yes, well possible! But anyhow, officers personal uniform pieces are usualy among the last items left behind.

Thanks for you reply. The chain is not attached to the crown, it is from another souvenir item the german soldier picked of later in Finland.

However, the Leicestershires had not that much losses during the Norway operation. Is there a list of MIA/KIA's for them?

Dear fellow researchers,

I would appreciate your help on this group of items.

A guy on my german "home-forum" presented a group of decorations and souvenirs from a soldier of Wehrmacht MG Bat. 13.

Part of this group are these 3 collar device sized british pins. Obviously taken as a souvenir in 1940 around Lillehammer, when MG Bat. 13 and 1/5th Battalion Royal Leicestershire Reg. fought for short period.

I have some questions regarding these devices.

Are they officers only or all ranks?

May they belong to one person? (Medic of the Leicestershires?)

What is the Crown standing for?

Thanks for your help!

Looks realy nice!

But why is the ribbon folded austrian style?

Maybe something like this? What is the Name of this man?

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/60457-why-did-this-man/

Why is the unit the LIR, when all soldiers of that bataillon were from the Guard-fusiliers?

Do I get your question right: Why is it not the LFR then?

The designation Füsilier was only a traditional honour since 1808.

Since the LIR had no traditional roots to draw a Füsilier designation from, it was raised as infantry.

Just the common WW1 German Heeres eagle, to be found on all army cars...

1940–1945 Belgian Red Cross Decoration

I read it as GABR, but no idea what that might have been.

Hood of a car?

Am i right thinking this is "III Batl GRPR" ?

I Don't think so... But see for yourself:

Hello,

see here for the ribbon:

http://www.huesken.com/shop/de/bayern-sammlung-abzeichen-bayerischer-kriegerbund/vergoldete-fahnenmedaille-11420.html

Hello,

it's the divisional patch of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/39th_Infantry_Division_%28India%29

Damn long time since I moved one of these around a battlefield...

http://www.hermann-historica-archiv.de/auktion/hhm52.pl?f=NR&c=55788&t=temartic_m_D&db=kat52_M.txt

Another relevant information seems to be on the map. It appers that there is a row of lakes, stretching from north to south on the right side of the map. Most propably along a river.

The direction of the fire-arcs to the north-east suggests that it might be on the Niemen-Front or in Galizia....

This is a photo taken from a diorama, isn't it?

Is this the Russian front?

I use something like this:

http://www.jetlubecanada.com/pages/Silicone_Spray.html

I don't think his signature has changed THAT much in 3 years:

http://www.huesken.com/shop/en/autographs-1933-1945-army-twenty/roques-64462.html

There is a lot of POW mail available on german ebay. Maybe you should consider to do a permanent search there on the term Camp Butner.

Ah, douane , thank you!

I try to explain the poppy to as many people over here as possible. The question comes up from time to time, when Jeremy Clarkson is wearing one (he's extremly popular over here too, even if I would bet nearly nobody get's his Battle of Britain" movie quotes).

Next summer, I will show my (then 7 year old) son the fields of the Somme with the poppys abloom. I hope he will never forget what they stand for. If you stand somewere near Thiepval and look over the fields and try to understand that the huge amount of poppys that you see, is not enough to mark any spot a soldier has fallen, it is just devastating.