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#1
15-08-17, 03:30 PM
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Strange badge on early commandos
Hi,
I'm looking for what is the badge on the pockets of this both commandos?  This photo was taken during the Operation Claymore in March 1941 (Raid in Lofoten islands in Norway)...  ... and this one is a photo of Lance-Sergeant Charles R. Hughes killed in action during Operation Archery in Vaagso raid, December 1942. He was member of the 2 Troop, No. 3 Commando. His first regiment was the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. In his biography on the website of Commando Veterans Association, it isn't tell that he was on the Lofoten islands. So, I don't think so he isn't the same guy on the both photos. http://www.commandoveterans.org/Char...ughes3Commando The badge looks like in metal and looks like represents an animal. It isn't looks like regulation, both soldiers don't wear it on the same side of the pocket. I don't know the first regiment of the commando of the photo taken on Lofoten Islands, can it be another variant of a Bedford & Hertford badge? I just know this both photos with badge, do you know others? Do you have any idea of what is this badge? Regards, 
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#2
15-08-17, 04:38 PM
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I am not sure that it is a badge. I think that it is a good luck charm in the shape of an animal such as a dog. Soldiers often carried good luck charms and I think it is visible in the studio photograph so that the recipient of the photograph, wife, girlfriend, mother, can see it being worn. In the other photograph it was probably worn in the pocket and tied to the button and would not be visible in normal circumstances.
I think that it is the same man in both photographs.
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#3
15-08-17, 04:56 PM
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These photographs have puzzled me for some time - I believe they both came from the Commando Veterans Assocation site. I have a further private image with the wife of a well known Commando wearing something similar.
I agree it could be a good luck badge, but I also believe it could be some form of 'funding day' badge, given wear by a Commando wife. Always interested to hear a definitive answer. Mike
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#4
15-08-17, 05:09 PM
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I should add - I think the first image is possibly Alexander Innes Sinclair Royal Armoured Corps - KIA D-Day 6 June
http://www.commandoveterans.org/Alex...clair3Commando Mike
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#5
16-08-17, 08:00 AM
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I found this two others pictures from a video of the Lofoten Raid with the same guy (I think). He doesn't looks like wear the badge on it. This video was filmed during the fighting not as the first photograph taken during the return on the boat.
Capture d’écran 2017-08-16 à 09.55.02.jpg Capture d’écran 2017-08-16 à 09.55.29.png Capture d’écran 2017-08-16 à 09.54.52.png
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#6
16-08-17, 08:29 AM
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Quote:
IWM-Claymore_1.jpg
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#7
16-08-17, 08:51 AM
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A nice 13/18 H slip on title in one image. Mike
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#8
16-08-17, 10:19 AM
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Quote:
Nick
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#9
16-08-17, 10:21 AM
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Nick
Perhaps I would not be the most reliable person to put an ID together - but a coincidence re D Troop etc - mouth looks similar so I guess I might just agree to disagree. It would be good to know for sure though. The veterans I spoke to were at the Warrington reunion of the original Commando Association, a fair time ago - shame I didn't have the picture then to ask them. All the best Mike Last edited by Mike B; 16-08-17 at 10:46 AM.
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#10
16-08-17, 11:14 PM
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Quote:
Islands are above the Artic Circle,perhaps someone thought it would be a good idea to have something to remember the raid and had a (perhaps) metal polar bear made, to be worn very unoffically by those who were active in the raid.The fact that the commando in the top photo is already wearing the polar bear is a bit strange. After all the Br.49th Infantry Division adopted a polar bear as its div.sign after fighting in Norway and based in Iceland for a time. Jo
__________________
"There truly exists but one perfect order: that of cemeteries. The dead never complain and they enjoy their equality in silence." - “There are things we know that we know,” “There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know.” Donald Rumsfeld, before the Iraqi Invasion,2003. Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.
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#11
17-08-17, 07:57 AM
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Well Chaps - given this concensus it is just as well I have not had to do a police photofit (although I was once in an ID parade - long story - but got reimbursement for standing in line).
Interesting theory re polar bear. The private image I have is the wife of a chap whose parent reg was Duke of Wellington's (West Riding). He was No.6 Cdo - see image below. The Cdo himself is wearing Green beret - (post October 1942) You can see a sort of suspension to the animal, so as suggested by High Wood it may be possible to wear tucked inside a pocket. Parties from No.6 Cdo had participated in Operation Kitbag (Floro, Norway) in Dec 1941/Jan 1942. Perhaps a pattern is emerging re an 'Arctic' connection Mike
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#12
18-08-17, 09:11 AM
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Heads up
For what it's worth, it is my understanding that in Iceland the 49th patch featured the Polar bear with its head down and when the unit returned to UK it was decided that this was a passive stance so the patch was changed to have the head up
These metal badges, if bears, would seem to have the head up. Can't work out how to copy a link on a tablet but thread http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ead.php?t=9099 discusses bear patches and does mention metal bears Ray
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#13
17-08-17, 01:30 PM
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Quote:
I, too, thought it resembled a Polar Bear - but haven't been able to find anything which might confirm that theory as yet... Nick
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#14
17-08-17, 01:59 PM
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I spent the morning looking through the internet under 'Good Luck' badges, 'Polar Bear' badges, even looked at Good luck 'Rabbit' badges (in case it had its ears down) ... ;-) ... signs of desperation setting in
Struggling but there will be an explanation out there. I am pleased Bulo started this thread - it has puzzled me for a long time and it would be good to get an answer. Mike
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