Robin Lumsden

I got this on eBay last year. It's a kettle drum panel for LHR1. From what I've been able to find out, LHR 1 had only one band (the regimental band) with a kettle drum. Does anyone know if that is the case? If that entire regiment had only one kettle drum, the panel must be pretty rare - although I suppose several covers may have been made over the years. For the last year, I've been looking for photos of the LHR 1 band to get a look at the drum 'in action', but with no success.

This group is my favourite imperial 'pick-up' from 2005.

Thanks Rick. As I say, it's just a shot in the dark. I always wondered if he had anything to do with the opera house!

...and here's the inside, 'signed' by the mysterious Herr Kroll........

A couple of forum members were very helpful recently in tracking down information on Rittmeister Hemmerde and General Vollrath von Hellermann. How about this one for a 'hat-trick' for the imperial researchers.......... I have a busby from LHR2 which has the name 'K. Kroll' in it. It's pre-1897 as there is no Reich cockade. It's black bearskin, not opposum or sealskin, with an officer-style lining but OR-pattern cockade. Presumably 'K. Kroll' was an NCO or a 1-year volunteer. I have tried various archives and the net, but no luck. Does anyone have anything in their records relating to a 'K. Kroll' serving with LHR2 ?? I know it's a long shot, him not being an officer, but then the other two long-shots I referred to forum members paid off dividends! Here's the busby (with little Braunschweiger friend)..........

And not a Juncker mark or a crown in sight! (Well, except for the obvious).

And the backs. Again, bog-standard issue pieces, with a pin attachment like that on the pilot badge.

These were a bonus.....a full matching set of wound badges.

It came along with a lot of other stuff attached to this untouched 1919-dated US vet's "hate belt". The pilot badge was the main reason I bought the belt. It is obviously a wartime badge - not a '20s or '30s replacement.

It's the bog-standard hollow-back silvered iron version - but it has that 'been there' feel.

Here's my latest pick-up.

and the hook is pretty substantial.....although the pin has the dreaded 'pointy end'. Anyway, I don't know if it's 1930s or 1950s.....but I like it all the same.

The hinge area of the pin has some brass peeking through.....

It seems to be nickel, or nickeled brass. It's hollow, but with a backplate and 'blowhole'.

It's totally unmarked so I haven't a clue who made it - or when it was made. I just know the quality is that of a professionally made badge.

The commonly known pattern appears to have come in during the mid-1930s. Here's the one I have.

and worn by Dietrich during the pre-'35-ish period.....

based on the award certificate........

Despite the low numbers awarded, I think there must have been many makers of these badges. The original design was like this, with a Prussian TK.......

Rick. They were given to married SS men only. Either on marriage or at a later date. The idea was that each 'SS family' would eventually have one. The widow of a fallen SS soldier could also receive one.

Rick. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Happy Julfest boys and girls!

The skull's less than an inch across, which gives an idea of scale.

Actually, I think they're pretty well made. The originals, that is.

Copy on the left, I think.