achern

That's interesting! Do you know where I could find the register? It would be nice to know who the badges were awarded to, just for fun.

Alf, Very nice, thanks for sharing these early sports parachute badges with us. Somewhere there is a register which indicates who these numbered badges were awarded to. Kevin

Guess what, gents, I managed to buy the badges and they arrived today. Here are the pictures:

Thanks, mate. I checked out Qatar and they do use a crown and star, but unfortunately, the crown is the wrong shape here. Qatar has a pretty distinctive prong at the apex of the crown. Unless it looked different in the past...but I've no info on that.

Judging from the crimson color in the crown my opinion is Qatar, but that is only my guess, hope it gets you in the right direction. Scott.

I've seen the master badge before - any idea how much it will cost to buy one today?

Master

Gents,

I came across this Katanga parachute badge.

It is made in Belgium, but unlike the originals I've seen with a gold wash and twin screwbacks and serial number, this one has a pinback and no markings behind.

What do you make of it?

Comments much appreciated!

-Alf

They are not in my collection, but I am hoping to try and bring them home! I'm glad you could use the orange para patch, and yes! Those early West German badges are in my collection. I'll keep you all posted if I manage to secure the DDRs. -Alf

I'm doing well. How about you? The two DDR sport parachute badges you posted are quite outstanding, not something you see every day. Are they in your collection? Thank you again for the orange parachute patch I got from you last year. I also remember you posted some early West German badges on the WAF forum last year. Kevin

Thanks for the link, my friend! How have you been since we met?

These two sport parachute badges of the Flug und Fallschirmsportverband der DDR (FFSV) are hard to find. They are Fallschirmsportleistungsabzeichen that were issued until 1977 and the early ones were numbered on the back and registered to the individual they were awarded to. The hangers indicate the number of jumps and are also very hard to find. The badge in post #103 appears to be a very early version from around 1957. If it is origninal it would be very rare indeed. For more infomation on these badges see this article in German: http://www.fallschir...e/?page_id=1671

And then the gold badge:

Can anyone tell me what the serial number is for, and why the bottom front of the silver badge is a "blank rectangle", but the same place on the gold badge has a tricolour flag?

-Alf

Gents,

I am going to have to resurrect this old thread because I've just come across two DDR sport para badges which have the hangers and I would like to share them with you all.

First off, the silver badge:

Anyone knows anything about these shoulder boards please?

Hard to say what it was for, but they do have a 'bush jacket'. It doesn't seem quite appropriate to use bullion for field dress, but one never knows!

The current highest rank is that of General, and it is also based on the British system of crossed-sword-and-baton, diamond pip and the crescent-and-star.

There was only one FM, Muhammad Ayub Khan, before and up to 1958.

Alf - must have been for field service ? Interesting the way British influence still persists years after the Colonial links have been broken. I wonder if a Pakistan FM actually carries a Baton as on the Rank ?

Gents,

Here's what arrived the mail today. A pair of Field Marshal ranks from Pakistan. These are quite small shoulder boards, and the back has a strap with a snap-on button. They came wrapped tightly in some very old, very yellow, and very flaky cellophane paper.

Mervyn, my collection does not go back that far, unfortunately! It would take me a very long time to prepare something on that scale that is worth reading. My collection spans a several countries where you can see the relationship of rank insignia within the various colonies, and the timeframe is only within the last fifty to sixty years. My specialty would be Singapore from 1965 - present, but apart from being a member of the Commonwealth, would not really fit in with the few-hundred-year British senior officer rank article. What are your thoughts on this?

Alf - a history of senior officers' insignia over the past few hundred years. With llustrations I think it would make a very different - and important - article. For length - as long as you need - but, as a guide - about 5 or 6 A4 size + photos. Once questions start to come-in you will be able to enlarge on points. Once we see the content , Brian and I will be very happy to consider it for pinning and also the 'Moderators' Choice' panel. This remains with the thread even when un-pinned. We read every post with a view to doing this as a thankyou.

Hi Mervyn, thanks for your help in advance. What sort of article are you looking for? Let me know, and I'll try to come up with something you can use.

Hi - Alf. I'll have a look and see what I can find - and I'm sure others will also. You have an interesting collecting field - both Brian and I would welcome an article from you on your collection. Mervyn

Gents,

I have with me a pair of large, gold cord shoulder boards with a crown and a star.

I'm thinking an Arab monarchy LTC rank, maybe Oman or Kuwait, but I am not sure.

Does anyone know what these are for please?

Thanks,

Alf

Gents,

I managed to photograph some rather unusual-looking South Vietnamese Army general and Navy admiral ranks that came from a wartime insignia display board which was broken up and sold piecemeal.

Could anyone who knows what the Navy ranks are, especially, post their comments here please?

Thanks,

Alf

Gentlemen,

I am doing a bit of pictorial research on Generals and Field Marshals wearing the Royal Cyphers on their uniforms, and I would like to view a variety of high resolution photographs of how these cyphers were worn on the uniform tunics and jackets.

Some of these officers, such as Deverill, having served two monarchs, wore more than one cypher.

Photographs of personalities such as Deverill, Auchinleck, Harold Alexander, and Mountbatten (with his three cyphers) would be most gratefully appreciated.

If you do not wish to post the pictures here, you could also contact me privately.

Thank you very much.

-Alf

Ah! What a pity. If you visit again do take lots of photographs of the 5-star ranks. Are those the originals worn by either Suharto or Nasution?

Alf

unfortunately i can't, the picture resolution is too small, and i forgot to take a photo of 5 star rank during my last visit to the museum..

Kapten - can you help me post a close-up of those five-star ranks? I would like to see them more clearly please. Thanks!

Alf

And here are some for Turkey:

Admiral:

And Gendarmerie:

I have some more ranks for your reference:

Syria Army Mushir, worn by the President Bashar al-Assad.

and the reverse:

I spent a lot of time today reading about the history from Soekarno to Soeharto, and the coup which Nasution narrowly escaped with a broken ankle! Absolutely fascinating.

Alf

No, tell us more about the 1965 coup.

I was going to remark that Prabowo in the last photo looks terribly young for a Lieutenant General. He's put on a fair bit of weight now, though.

Yes, it's much easier to get Soeharto's picture in his 5 star uniform..

Lt.Gen Prabowo is a controversial officer,as you knew that Prabowo was the president Soeharto son-in-law, and he was one of the fastest promoted army officer along with Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono/SBY..

People said that Prabowo and SBY was rival to be the Army Chief of Staff, but in fact none of them became it,

Now SBY become Indonesian president and Prabowo is a rich businessman..

Have everyone here heard about the failed coup d' etat 1965 tragedy that killed some Indonesian army high officers (generals) and also killed Nasution's little daughter?

Here's the caption for the Nasution photo - Retired five-star General Abdul Haris Nasution, 79, attended the event where President Suharto's son-in-law, Lt-Gen Prabowo Subianto, assumed command of Kostrad.

It's easier to find pictures of Soeharto in his five-star uniform as there are pictures of him fully dressed in his uniform used during the funeral.

Alf

It could be something along those lines.

I vaguely remember the caption as being something about Nasution returning (to the scene) during some crisis or other.

He's wearing his Jendral Besar ranks at the time so it should be after he retired.

Alf

quote name='Hugh' timestamp='1308421921' post='457056']

Post # 9 looks a little as though he's being taken into custody! Thanks for these, both of you.

H