Gurkha Parachute Formation Sign
 

Does anyone know what this is supposed to represent please? The back looks a bit messy.

One went on eBay for £241 this morning. :eek:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GURKHA-PA...-/313836016934

Many thanks,

Graham

B****y hell!
i’ve got a couple of them, better dig them out a bit pronto.

154 Gurkha Parachute Battalion?
I have one of these but can't remember the Bn number.

I thought it was 153rd Bn. I have 2 in different colours but do not know which company's they are.
engr9266

153 is the light blue one, I can't remember the battalion numbers of the green and the black ones.......

154 was the rifle green version but the knives faced the other way i.e. with the edges of each of the blades facing towards the parachute. It does look Indian made of WWII type, but has someone made a costly error?

The arrangement of the blades on this one just sold is the same as for 153 Para Bn but theirs was sky blue.

The badge in question is the design of 153 Gurkha Parachute Battalion - the Gurkha Museum describes it has white woven on a light blue background there’s also a gold wire version on a dark blue backing. It goes on to say “There are many known later reproductions of this badge” So this is either a rare variant or a later repro. I’m pretty sure that the light blue badge that also sold on eBay was a modern repro as well. 154 Gurkha Parachute Battalion was formed in 1943 from the 3/7GR initially they wore 7GR insignia but in 1943 adopted a badge based on their parent regiment with the crossed kukris blades edge upwards white woven on a black backing.

There is a similar badge on dark green, I can't remember which Battalion wore it.

I think 154 was rifle green (as 7 GR was a rifle regiment), not black, although it might look like black at first glance.

There was also a badge with black background, again, I can't remember which unit.

The post war Gurkha Independent Parachute Company wore the ‘153’ design in white on black as a shoulder patch. (The WWII 151, 152, 153 and 154 designs were worn on the Gurkha felt hat before the maroon beret was adopted by the Indian Parachute Regiment.)

Hi Colin - the 154 Btn's was definitely black background ( source Gurkha Museum's book on the Insignia of Gurkha Units ) - I think the badge with the dark green background was the 43rd Indian Lorried Infantry Brigade ( white crossed Kukris on dark green background ) - but no parachute. The 63rd Gurkha Brigade had a similar badge on a black background.

There is a crossed kukris with pararachute badge in existence, tho' just because it exists it doesn't mean it's right.
I have an idea that one of Guido Rosignoli's books shows the light blue and either the green or black versions.

I have the light blue labelled as 153 Bn, the dark green as 154 Bn, both worn on the left side of the hat, I don't have any info filed with the black badge.
These badges have passed muster as being genuine in the past when shown on militaria forums but I wouldn't be at all surprised if others disagree.

These three are certainly very poor fakes:

Tim