coldstream

Robin Many thanks for that, like most fakes when pictured side by side the differences in quality are obvious, but I've never seen one of these myself, so needed to ask. I would imagine this is an expensive item? Simon

Gordon Thanks for posting these excellent photos. Is this the same uniform worn by the Doctor in the photograph I wonder? Simon

Stuart Just noticed your question re the torrin cap and the FS cap. The torrin cap has no buttons and has two side flaps which are stitched around the base of the cap and were just pulled down over the ears. The FS cap has the two button front which when unbuttoned would unfold and drop down around the wearers head. Both these caps in my opinion are impractical but that never stopped the Army from issuing such items! The torrin caps were brightly coloured particularly amongst Calvary Regiments and Foot Guards Officers were dark blue or black as I recall. I'll find some images to illustrate the difference as soon as I can. Simon

Brett Just wanted to add my thanks for this excellent article and I look forward to seeing the further posts in this thread. Regards Simon

Robin Could you explain what to look for regarding real and fake examples please. Nice to see you're moving away from skulls to whole skeletons now by the way Simon

One from my photos, Dr Ebeling. Cheers Simon

Many thanks for the identification. Simon :cheers:

Stuart Many thanks for that, I have never had the opportunity to handle a cap like this. Another excellent addition to your collection. Simon

Stuart How is the badge attached please? Is it sewn to the hat or is there a pin arangement to hold it in place? All the best Simon

Many thanks for clearing that up Laurence and Jan. Regards Simon

Stuart Another little snippet regarding the issue of caps to other ranks...W Y Carmen in his book 'British Military Uniforms from contemporary Pictures' published 1957 states 'Although the white helmet was worn overseas with a khaki cover, at home a wide-brimmed felt hat was tried; this gave way to the short-lived Broderick cap, a peakless round cap, at no time popular with the troops. By 1905 a peaked cap of khaki was worn by other ranks.' This of course throws in another question of whether the cap adopted for use by other ranks was based on the Officers 'staff' pattern or on the Broderick cap with the addition of a peak? Simon

Stuart Just been looking through some editions of 'Our Soldiers and Sailor's' magazine from March 1898 and it becomes apparent that Officers of the Royal Navy were wearing the 'staff' pattern style cap with RN badges at this time. Whereas all the Army Officers pictured are still shown in the rounded type! Did the Army copy the new style from the Senior Service I wonder? Simon

Stuart An interesting question! Somewhere I have an image of Caton Woodville working on a painting in his studio surrounded by militaria and so I would assume that his paintings are fairly accurate. I will trawl through my photo collection to try and find the earliest image I have of a cap in wear. Simon

Thanks again Jan, another question I'm afraid but how easy is it to access and research Belgian records for service personnel? The reason I ask is that along with this card I have another couple showing Belgians wearing orders and medals which I would like to research a little more. Regards Simon

Jan Thanks very much for the identification and information regarding British awards. I'm pretty sure that the victory medal shown is the Belgian issue so it looks like he has the War medal and Mercantile Marine medal as his British decorations. Best regards Simon :cheers:

Brian The Surrey Specials helmet plate has changed again and now has the lettering picked out in a gold colour. Next time I see one I'll get it photographed and added here. Regards Simon

I wonder if anyone can assist with the unidentified medals and tell me if it was common practise for both British and Belgian medals to be issued to the same man? By the way the card has a trademark for 'Photo Joseph, Anvers, Klapdorp 87'on it but alas, has nothing written on it. Best regards Simon

The other man may be wearing the Silver Service Star with Bar for the Congo at position one but I am uncertain on this and the rest of his medals?

If I have it right I believe that this man is wearing:- The Civil decoration for Bravery, Devotion and Philanthropy, British War Medal? Maritime Decoration 1914 - 1918, British Mercantile Marine medal, War Commemorative medal with Crown, Belgian Victory Medal. He also appears to wear something in the jacket lapel I have been unable to identify.

Ladies and Gentlemen I bought this card on Ebay UK recently mainly due to the fact that the right hand figure is wearing a mix of Belgian and British medals from the Great War. With the help of various internet sources I believe that I have managed to identify the right hand man's medals but am at a loss regarding the other man.

Chris As a non German speaker I would just like to say thanks for this and please be aware that all your and the other contributors efforts are very much appreciated in translating these fascinating documents. Regards Simon :cheers:

Michael Many thanks for showing us these wings. This appears to be such a specialised area of collecting that real examples are virtually unobtainable or have never been handled by collectors. As already stated in my earlier post I have never been fortunate enough to see a set myself and so can only compare your wings to a set of genuine wartime Para wings I once owned, (still trying to find my old scans!)and the wings shown in the link. The backing material certainly looks similar to what I have had and the embroidery does appear consistent with those on the link. Is there any indication that these have ever been sewn onto a uniform and, I know it sounds silly, but do they smell old? Normally a good indication of age!!! Regards Simon

Some very brave people there, thanks for bringing it to our attention. Regards Simon

Pete Can you recall where it came from? no old photos laying around I suppose? Regards Simon

Michael An excellent photograph, thank you for posting. As your thread sparked my interest I have been trawling the net to find other references and the two or three images I have found show these wings being worn in a similar position. They are also shown worn on the combat uniforms of US airborne forces in the air prior to a jump! As you suggest in your post the wear of these wings on operations would surely have been foolhardy at best and downright fatal at worst. To your knowledge have any confirmed orders been found regarding the wear on operations of the wings? Or are these images on the net training photos in allied areas or even staged I wonder? Best regards Simon