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  #1  
Old 07-03-18, 07:06 PM
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Default British Cap Badges missing Crowns, Free French

Hi I have seen Free French Paratroopers (British with Crown removed), would this then be common practice? And what off Army Air Corps and Glider Pilots Rgt, did we have Free French personnel within these and doing similar?

The reason I ask is I have seen an Army Air Corps with Crown removed and its a neat removal! No burrs or sharp edges and has been done quite a while ago, this is a well worn authentic badge which I cannot understand why Crown is missing but keep thinking of Parachute Rgt badges converted thus?

Tried doing a search on the web and found stacks of French Para badges and only one which sold last week was British and with Crown removed! All the best billy
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  #2  
Old 07-03-18, 09:23 PM
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There may well have been one or two French glider pilots in British service, but there was no specific French glider pilot unit certainly not with the French in the UK, so who would have wanted to wear AAC badges 'decapitated'? I believe only French paratroopers wore the Parachute Regiment cap badge sans crown, perhaps even just one of the two regiments? And only for a short while before being absorbed into the SAS Bde.

Rgds, Thomas
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  #3  
Old 08-03-18, 06:06 AM
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Hi Thomas untill we see a picture am like yourself and except only the Parachute badge for now, but it did make me wonder! It isn't like its flimsy and easily broken? All the best billy
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  #4  
Old 08-03-18, 07:46 PM
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Hi Gents,

No Free French glider pilot known .... but I know at least two examples of RTR cap badges worn without crown by Free French ... Here Gaston Eve in May 1941....



Best regards .. Herve
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  #5  
Old 08-03-18, 07:59 PM
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Unhappy RTR minus the crown

I had one of these back in the fifties and binned it as I thought it was damaged, it came from an elder cousin who said his badges were given him by my Father, never say never . . !

Rob
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  #6  
Old 08-03-18, 08:33 PM
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Hi Herve, Rob, am intrigued by this I must admit! How many times have we walked away from stuff only to wish years later what we had passed up was in fact something special? Have bought this badge and another oddity will post pictures tomorrow but it looks O/K and like you Rob would put it down as a broken badge but having just seen a Parachute badge with Cross of Lorraine attached go for £120+ pounds in the last week got me thinking there must have been others! Which Herve you have shown splendidly with the Royal Tank Corps badge! Am not going to cut the Crown of a good badge to make it someting else But! The French versions go for a lot more I have noticed!

Many thanks Billy
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  #7  
Old 09-03-18, 04:03 PM
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Here is the pictures of the Army Air Corps Badge which has been removed quite tidily, Herve hopefully you may come across a picture at some point ? All the best Billy of course it could just beca broken badge!
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File Type: jpg 20180309_154645-1.jpg (46.4 KB, 3 views)
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  #8  
Old 09-03-18, 04:48 PM
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Cool "Broken badges"

I have a Para cap badge with the crown removed which we know was worn by the Free French, but I was totally unaware of other badges that they had with crowns neatly removed.

I have a KRR badge that has been given similar treatment, were there any Frenchmen serving with them that felt they as Republicans should act accordingly?

I did offer this badge some time ago, I think under the title "badge vandalism" without any real ideas forthcoming, so I think I will dig it out of the junk box and put it on my KRR board.

Rob
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  #9  
Old 09-03-18, 05:12 PM
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Ahh! Rob I have a K.R.R.C. and a 6th K.R.R.C. (Westminster Rifles) Badge with both Crowns removed though these are 1st W.W. both neatly removed so as to fit the soft cap ( as explained to me?) Am happy with these at any rate! You will have to dig out that Para badge, all the best billy
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  #10  
Old 09-03-18, 10:43 PM
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Default Free French

Don't be fooled by the Royal Malta Artillery gun with the Crown removed. No Frenchmen served with the unit but the Maltese did continue to wear defaced British badges after Dom Mintoff took over.

Stephen.
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  #11  
Old 09-03-18, 11:00 PM
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My example which came off a trophy belt.
Cheers
Steve
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  #12  
Old 04-02-21, 08:44 PM
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Just reviving this thread to show pictures of the AAC badge fir a recent thread 04 02 2021, cheers

Last edited by billy; 05-02-21 at 06:33 AM.
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  #13  
Old 04-02-21, 10:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billy View Post
Just reviving this thread to show pictures of the AAC badge fir a recent thread 04 02 2021, cgeers
Direct link to that other thread here:
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=83064
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Always looking for Observer Corps & Royal Observer Corps Items.
My Current 'Wants List' can be found here
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  #14  
Old 05-02-21, 06:34 AM
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Thanks Woofy - how do you do that?
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  #15  
Old 05-02-21, 06:48 AM
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The KRRC had various badges with the crown removed to wear in the Busby below the boss.
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