Airborne Commando Souvenir Belt - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Bill A · #1 12-09-12, 01:07 PM

As posted in an earlier thread, a souvenir belt with several interesting badges has been offered. Attached are images of the same, and opinions on authenticity and value appreciated.

Luc · #2 12-09-12, 08:22 PM

The cloth badges certainly look authentic, and I must assume they are original to the belt (at least I've never heard of fake hate/souvernir belts).
As for value; Canadian and British parawings, curved airborne strip and RAF jump instructor patch are the real gems here. My estimate would be around €300 for the lot with a +/- €50 margin.

Mike Jackson · #3 12-09-12, 08:39 PM

Can the US Army DIs be identified and thus dated?

Bill A · #4 12-09-12, 08:57 PM

Thanks Luc, I believe the whole belt is authentic and original Second World War. I had a value for the Canadian material, but the Brit stuff had me. Mike, the one US DI is to 21st Engineers, and the other is an artillery battalion, but I haven't been able to id them. Still working on their id.

SAS1 · #5 12-09-12, 11:33 PM

Most look good to me. The RAF DR is a rare one, worth about £50, the RAF PJI if genuine, about £275 plus. (The last I saw went for £295). I don't like the Canada title and think at best its hand/theatre made. Definately not machine made. I'm not 100% on the RAF PJI either, comparing it with mine which has provenance. Some were made in India and Italy for the Parachute Training Schools and it might be one of those. Need to see a sharper photo of that one.

The rest look good, Airborne title worth about £50. Nice set of Para wings too.

Mike Jackson · #6 13-09-12, 05:52 AM

Can anyone decipher the hand embroidered text above the British parachute wings - xxxx 3RD BATT XXXXXX ?

Mike B · #7 13-09-12, 07:10 AM

I hope Bill A does not mind me cutting and pasting the following info about the belt from his earlier thread:

"It has been attributed to a Bob Foster, 3rd Bn Parachute Regiment, A Company. Is there any way to check that Foster was in the 3rd Bn A Coy."

The writing above the British para wing reflects this with '3RD PARA' to the left (at least I think 'RD') and 'BATT. A COY.' to the right - also some stitching below the wing. Regards Mike

REME245 · #8 13-09-12, 07:10 AM

The colour of the DR Badge is interesting.

Did they try making these unoffical badges for the RAF?

SAS1 · #9 13-09-12, 07:49 AM

They made both 'DR' and 'MT' winged wheel badges for the RAF, in at least two different designs for each, I have examples. Have not found any official authorisation though.

The writing above the wings says 'PARA 3RD BATT A COY'.

grip · #10 13-09-12, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAS1

They made both 'DR' and 'MT' winged wheel badges for the RAF, in at least two different designs for each, I have examples. Have not found any official authorisation though.

The writing above the wings says 'PARA 3RD BATT A COY'.

Which traslates to Parachute Regiment 3rd Battalion A Company
Very nice belt,I would be surprised if any of the bits on the belt are copies,but agree that the RAF jump instructor could be a theatre made one,which in my opinion makes it even nicer!
Regards,Ivan