Liverpool general interest

[BILL DUGGAN]

Does anyone remember this Army Surplus Store next to The City Museum in Byrom Street (which lead into Scotland Road) ?

This pic. is dated 1949

I remember it in the early 1950's and seeing Tea-chests dotted about the place each containing thousands of cap badges of every description.

There was also rack upon rack of battle-dress blouses all with their Cloth shoulder titles and formation badges in situ.

Everything costing a few coppers. Cap badges for a shilling or two and B/D's for 10 bob (50p) or so.....three floors of it.

A militaria collectors paradise that modern collectors couldn't even dream of.

And they call them the bad old days........My A**e !!

[Peter Brydon]

Bill,

I cannot remember when I visited the shop ( must be about 50 years ago ) but I can remember buying a RAEC badge from there.

Do you also remember the Junk shop by the Childrens Hospital on Myrtle Street and opposite the Roller Rink. Boxes full of metal military badges of all types- Oh for a time machine .There was another junk shop on Brownlow Hill that had some military badges.

I also remember the Liverpool Show`s held just across the road from my old School, how I wish I had taken more interest ( as well as photos ) of the Liverpool Irish and Liverpool Scottish Pipe bands that used to perform at the show.



(I think the College of Technology was built on the site of the old Army and Navy Store ( now part of Liverpool John Moores University ) and when I was on day release at the Collge of Building we were taken to the College of Technolgy to see their "new " computer. It occupied a large room which had to be air conditioned and was programmed using punched cards -and that was only in the early 1970`s )

Peter

[BILL DUGGAN]

Sorry mate I'm an exiled 'Woolyback' living darn sarf.

I used to go down to Liverpool with my pocket money now and again.

It was always a great city.

I did however take up the Queens shilling and swear the oath in London Road. (recruit Sgt. Scots Guards)

[grey_green_acorn]

Bill,
I may have missed that one but remember in the 1960s picking up many cloth shoulder titles from the Army and Navy Stores near Lewis's (or was it the Famous Army Stores?) which were tipped on the floor from full kitbags. There were also SOE camouflage jumpsuit overalls selling for £1 each! (about 8 weeks pocket money so too dear for me then!)
I too "took the Queen's Shilling" at the ACIO in London Road (but in 1969).

Tim

[BILL DUGGAN]

Yes I remember when that Surplus store was open opposite Lewis's. But I think I may have been in uniform myself by then.

In '69 I had days to do.

I've seen Army Surplus stores that have stocked thousands of metal cap badges. The country was awash with them in the 50's.

I think it was in the wake of the introduction of the staybrite badges.

I do tend to think there is a lot of paranoia regarding restrikes.

I have an old army buddie that swears ALL metal badges are modern reproductions.........It's very difficult to change the mindset of people like that.

[john badge]

It was the same over the water.

My first badges were 6d each from a junk shop in New Brighton. I remember going to the Army & Navy opposite Lewises when I was serving.

I took my shilling in Borough Rd Birkenhead in 67. The recruiting Sgt seemed to have a palm tree for a cap badge. Thats how I ended up in the Welsh Guards.

[Peter Brydon]

Just to show that eventually almost everything in the world ends up on E bay, a 1954 catalogue from the Army and Navy Store which started this thread 2 years ago has been listed for sale:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3212479068...84.m1423.l2648

That brings back some memories.

P.B.