Strange WW2 Defence Medal ribbon

[Peter Brydon]

Has anyone ever come across anything like this before ? It is a WW2 Defence Medal ribbon on a pin bar but it is not a piece of the normal ribbon it is actually made up from a piece of green cloth to which has been added a middle strip of orange apparently made from cotton thread and finally the two black stripes have been embroidered on.

Surely a lot easier to have just acquired a small piece of Defence Medal ribbon ?

P.B.

[Mike Jackson]

I've seen similar homemade "ribbons" - for France and Germany Star and 39-45 Star - some made of knitting wool. A collector who was around at the time told me this was the practice adopted by those who wanted to put the "ribbon" up asap after the announcement and before the issue ribbon was manufactured and issued.
When I find my examples I'll post them.
Mike

[Peter Brydon]

Thanks Mike,

Makes sense.

Peter

[Tinto]

Hi All,
Here's a metal version of the same ribbon. Were these common?
Cheers, Tinto

[Peter Brydon]

Tinto,

They are reasonably common less, so with the protective clear plastic covering that your has.

There are many variations in the design of ribbon bars as can be seen in the attached picture.

P.B.

[Tinto]

Hi P.B.,
Interesting. My "ribbon" is completely metal, no fabric attached.
Cheers, Tinto

[Mike_2817]

I think they were produced for the Emergancy Services, Prison Service and other Uniformed Services after WWII for everyday wear. My father had a pin backed ribbon bar on his Prison Service Uniform which was Medal Ribbon covered in plasic in the 1960's

[Peter Brydon]

Sorry Tinto,

I had not realised the whole of your ribbon was metal.
Peter

[Mike Jackson]

Here's my contribution:
Medal Ribbons.01.jpg
Made in the style of AoS strips.

[Peter Brydon]

These must have taken some making.

P.B.

[GTB]

Hi
I wonder if these handmade items could have been meant for use with theatrical costume
GTB

[Unknownsoldier]

The metal ribbon is in fact a metal bar with a printed paper covering, they were emergency issues to get around fabric shortages. Medal news did an article on them last month

Tom

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by GTB

Hi
I wonder if these handmade items could have been meant for use with theatrical costume
GTB

That's possible of course, but as I said here a few months ago; "A collector who was around at the time (1944) told me this was the practice adopted by those who wanted to put the "ribbon" up asap after the announcement and before the issue ribbon was manufactured and issued."

[Old Smelly]

I have a few odd ones too, most have come with other WW2 items, I think I have a uniform with them fitted as well but I'll have to check.
Top two rows in the pic are printed paper mounted on a metal bar with plastic covering. Middle two rows are coloured cotton/silk threads wound around a medal bar(two are just card). Bottom row is (L) coloured ribbon stitched to a bar and covered in plastic(35mm film) and (R) strips of coloured plastic fitted into a brass surround (Polish style). I am fairly certain that rows 3-5 are theatre made, possible Middle East or Italy.
Lee

[Nozzer]

Picked these two up today. Printed paper and very dirty......