Jerry B

An excelent thread, great to see all this information on the variations that I did not knwo existed. I have a few VM's, some in groups but most on their own.

Looks distressed if you get my meaning.

Thanks Mervyn, all the best to you for 2015. Perhaps because he was at home at he time at camp rather than in the frontline saved him from more serious punishment. I was lucky with this one in it having so much paperwork as most do not. Also for me an interesting unit, 15th RWF as I have an account of their war, Up to Mametz and beyond, which gives an extra appeal to this group.

Great to see these, the Victoria tin at top left is the one I see for sale. The Devons tin is superb and must be a rare one I assume.

My xmas gift to me was this 14/15 star trio to John Hanks, 15th (1st London Welsh) Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. It came with copy paper work, his MIC and also some pension records etc which include mention of a charge for malingering and another for being AWOL. He almost certainly served with the Bn during its attack at Mametz Wood in 1916 with 113th brigade 38th Welsh division. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-56195600-1420044822.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-96691900-1420044756.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-94844600-1420044779.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-48904000-1420044800.jpg http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-37663100-1420044837.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-39764800-1420044857.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-71397600-1420044879.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-73535000-1420044896.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-73535000-1420044896.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-03781900-1420044918.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-17018-0-48214200-1420044935.jpg Amongst the docs he is listed as leaving the Z reserve because of a chest disease though another document states that his medical examination did not show any sign of this and refused his pension application.

Here is one of the variant tins. On the Great War Forum it is claimed that they were a private purchase version made at the time, though others state that they are a modern (1970's) fake. Obviously they do not intend to directly mimic the originals as they are very different. The example I have is certainly of some age as it was very badly corroded inside and part of it is broken, though perhaps that merely reflects a poor quality manufacture.

At 15 bucks each worth buying any day for that price especially one for an infantry unit and a Scottish one at that, a very good price.

Looks a good early one Jock, love the textured paint on it.

Great to see the pencil's, though I know no matter how many boxes in my house I open that I will not find one, though I will almost certainly find some other items I had forgotten I have.

A seaonal post with the anniversary of these tomorrow. Sadly it is empty but they could come with tobacco and cigarettes and a pipe and lighter, a card or other versions with sweets for non smokers and spices for others were produced. Showing mine with a period Xmas card and a mini Mons star medal trio.

An interesting group. Medals were only awarded if you served overseas from your own country.

Very nice Bob, here is my recently restored SD cap for the forerunner regiment the Royal Scots Greys, another Herbert Johnson from the circa 1950s.

Indeed, I have this one as well, great for ST's. For collar badges Churchills british infantry collar badges is the one to get, but get the original edition as I have the reprint and the images are often too dark to see clearly, though is better than nothing. For cloth formation badge any of the books by Cole are a must have, heraldry at war for instance or badges on battledress.

Hi, I have the first edition. I also have his book on cloth insignia which covers that aspect in more detail. As Bob mentioned earlier K&K has poor quality illustrations and though still considered by many to be the textbook for cap badges, to me it is not good enough as besides the poor ilustrations it also does not have enough textual information on variations, dates, changes in fittings etc and I would not recommend it except to merely just have it if money is not an issue.

P46 BD did not have lapels, it was veru similar to Canadian late war blouses with a tab to close the neck instead of double hook and eye as seen on British BD. P47 did have lapels though. I notice one has lapels (the other appears to button to the neck) which were used by officers during the war and also OR's were allowed from 1944 onward to wear their BD's with shirt and tie and could therefore press the lapels open. The open collar blouse appears to have covered buttons which does not match post war BD blouses. I have a number of BD blouses, all the types except for P47, though the P46 I have has had the officer conversion to lapels as has the p40 austerity example I own. P40 austerity with open collar conversion. P46 with open collar conversion

It is the best all in one book for the period, it covers every aspect, badges, cloth patches, uniforms, helmets, webbing, everything, though for each individual aspect there are probably better books, but for an all in one book it cannot be beaten.

Best all in one book for British WWII is BL Davies's British army uniforms and insignia of WWII.

A very intersting and rare item Ross, thanks for showinf it as I had never seen or heard of these before this.

MMMM, let me think! Obviously the language thing makes a difference. Looks a good Silver and gilt and enamel version.

My two pairs of SAS wings, one set of the 1944 pattern but thought to be early 1950's manufacture. The most obvious differenc between and the later pair shown below is the blck highlight threads in the parachute canopy, though there are other diffferences as well. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-17018-0-69360300-1416841268.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-17018-0-01224600-1416841300.jpg A set of 1960's to 1980's issue wings http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-17018-0-88805800-1416841372.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-17018-0-02873900-1416841395.jpg And a Beret badge, 1960's to 1980's issue. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-17018-0-12929600-1416841412.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2014/post-17018-0-22722800-1416841432.jpg

Hi Bob, you have seen the cap. I might end up selling it as the badges are so pricey. I thought about putting the OR's lugged badge on it as a stop cap, which I might still do.

An interesting variation. The only one I have is the standard version with the black gun.

Try asking on the brit badge forum, though they might not be cheap. I found the one I need for my officers Royal Scots Greys SD cap but at £75 I had to turn it down.

Indeed Tony, here, there and every where. I admit that these caps are outside my comfort zone, it has a lot of features that I like, I just could not say with any confidence as to its date.

It might be great war, but the peak looks a bit too long,so beside the badge this type of cap is still made today. I really could not state with any confidence as to when it was made, it might be 100 years old or 30 or any age in between