Who collects what?
 

I am starting this thread as I believe it could be a short cut for many forum members who have queries regarding badges and generally offer them up on the forum for comments by members.

Many knowledgeable members do not always touch base with the forum on a daily basis and can miss questions on the subject of a Regiment or unit they specialise in. This can happen when people are on holiday or away from their computers, yes, I know all about smartphones, I have one, but if I am on holiday I do not have access to my files and I may be with company who are not badge collectors.

So, as a suggestion I propose that members who have knowledge or interest on specific units add their names to this thread with a possibility of it becoming a reference for members.

Of course, members can always offer their queries to the forum generally as well as specific collectors who specialise. If they need a specific answer, PM a member from the list.

My interests are British and Colonial badges of all descriptions with a leaning towards Royal Engineers, RAF and East Anglian Regular and TF units.

I hope this makes sense, if so add your name and your special interests.

Rob

I am always pleased to help members with Arab badges and Arabic, but I much prefer to do it on the open forum because otherwise the knowledge is only passed on to one person at a time and I would find myself answering the same question over and over again - The Arab Legion is a great example, I must have IDed that one on the open forum a dozen times at least.

I would suggest people keep asking on the open forum but always give a clue what the question is in the title of the thread. "ID this badge" does not float my boat "ID this Arab badge" will always get an answer. I usually ]search for the word Arab once a week or so and then answer any queries that turn up that way.

Eddie

Eddie, maybe you should do a collectors' guide to Arabic badges i.e. common words found on Arabic badges, how to tell the difference between, say, Egyptian and Iraqi badges. Not that you probably haven't got a lot more on your plate!

Cheers,
David

KLR !
Specifically however, 1881 to 1967 regular, volunteer, and territorial battalions - orthodox as well as "unofficial", theatre made etc. Research in numerous archives, museums etc has been on official Patterns and other documents. I concentrate on 'cap (in it's widest sense) badges and though I have details for other King's badges etc etc I do not actively collect them.

However, I have also looked at other infantry regulations and badge details to compare with the KLR and I can usually supply Pattern numbers and dates for most - and perhaps a few non infy too.

KLR = Julian

PS Apart from the (half completed) KLR book I am still writing a history of 123 Coy MGC but no longer collect their badges !

I collect to the Long Range Desert Group and its sister units the Indian Long Range Squadron and Popski's Private Army.

Not just the cloth and metal badges but also the history, medals, documents, photos, specialist equipment, uniforms etc.

I would be pleased to assist collectors, and to give advice on badges or anything else associated with these units.

Keith

Specialists
 

Thanks chaps for your input, it was late last night when I put the thread on the forum.

Maybe a list of members who specialise in certain aspects of our hobby may be an idea, although as Eddie has quite rightly said "ID this badge" does not grab everyones attention.

Rob

My main area of collecting is anything military (including research) from Rhodesia 1893 - 1980. The motivation for this is that I served there from 1970 - 1979.

I also collect badges / insignia from -
South Africa 1899 - 2003 (I served there from 1980 - 2006).
Great Britain 1880s - to date.
USA cloth patches WW 2 era.
Axis forces WW 2 era (this element of the collection has now stagnated due to all the modern repros etc).

Count me in for:

Durham Light Infantry
Lincolnshire Regiment
Leicestershire Regiment
Notts and Derby Regiment

Learning on the rest, cheers Dean.

David - I am afraid It's far too complicated for a simple guide - believe me, I've tried! I do have an "Idiot's Guide" to Arab Eagles but it's far from complete. I can't post it as it has embedded jpegs in it.

Eddie,

I served in BAYS and KDG..........I collect both....with spin offs to RAC and Cav.

Royal Australian Armoured Corps, Post WW2 UK, NZ and Canadian Armoured Corps.

WW1 UK Cavalry badges and thinking about WW1 Yeomanry badges :)

I collect British Army cap badges from 1900 onwards; British Army cloth shoulder titles; Royal Artillery badges; Special Forces badges; some Canadian cap badges; RAF and RCAF badges. Other odds and sods that come my way which I can't say "no" to, plus any foreign badges picked up on my travels. Oh yes, and caps and berets (so far, British, Canadian, Soviet, Thai, Chinese). I also have a few Canadian uniforms.

I've started to look for more cloth badges as the list of cap badges I collect becomes smaller, rarer, or out of my price range.

David

Hi Gents,

My main area of expertise (see website below) is not in insignia as collecting such is my hobby, however on the off chance it would be of assistance - my knowledge base is in the area of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife (aka Commando Dagger) and also Wilkinson of London aka Wilkinson Sword Co Ltd. Writing and dealing in the F-S has been my full time occupation for some years now.

As mentioned, not specifically insignia but I know for some collectors there is a cross-over interest. So if anyone wishes any assistance with either the F-S knife and or Wilkinson then I'm happy to assist and I can be contacted through the forum or via my website.

Cheerio, Roy.

Morning , i collect insignia / books etc for Army Service Corps / Transport Corps / Logistic Corps ,Australian / Commonwealth / world wide.

WW1 Cloth Insignia
 

I collect WW1 Cloth insignia, formation patches, shoulder titles, rank, trade and proficiency badges on khaki.

Happy to chip in with advice or comment.

I now collect pre 1945 aviation badges of the world. Items from the Easter Rising 1916,Tank Corps,Napoleonic badges,and Polish pilot / Warsaw uprising items. Basically anything that rocks my boat !! :)
cheers
Steve

I collect Cadet Force insignia - with a special interest in anything to Yorkshire Cadet units. Also interested in anything relating to Worksop College OTC/JTC/CCF. As a recent sideline I also collect (somewhat bizarrely) Bundeswehr Insignia.

PL

I collect South African Military and Police badges, all periods. I concentrate on metal badges, but have some cloth items that tickled my fancy. Regards Andrew

I'm a general all-rounder, ready to give a home to anything that takes my fancy. In my early days of collecting I would amass (accept/hoard) anything and everything. Now I am more discerning but have a soft spot for Maltese insignia, medal ribbons, buttons. Always delighted to fill in gaps to the British Army.
GTB

GTB, I used to work for Toly Malta spent many happy times there in the 70/80s.
Miss the sunshine!

Had a couple of heat waves recently. No winter this year - stepped from Autumn straight into Spring. Temp currently 30 degrees.
I don't know how long you have been collecting but you may recall that just across the road from the Industrial Estate where Toly Products are situated, there was a HUGE nissen hut full of army surplus, equipment, uniforms, WW2 militaria, etc. The owner went by the nickname of "Pickles" (locally pronounced "Pick Less"!!)
GTB

My main collection is Rhodesian Buttons of any period (I am preparing a booklet on these buttons), British South Africa Police (various members of my family served in the BSAP) - I also have a small collection of Rhodesian Air Force, Rhodesia Regiment and Rhodesia Prison Services insignia

Outside of badges, I collect Minaiture Medal Groups as well as interesting Ribbon bars

Wayne

hi guys
i collect whatever takes my fancy but my main interest and specialty is australian badges of all periods.
cheers
bc

I collect buttons, using my wits and a small budget. I prefer maritime buttons and topics few people fancy.

Topics that few people fancy normally indicates bargains to be had!:)

badges
 

Prison services UK and overseas
Lincolnshire Regiment
Variations of the Royal Military Police
and as others have said, what ever takes my eye on the day....

Sadly in the past I've collected far too much to many different Regiments, without rhyme or reason. I see something I like and think 'that'll make a good collection' :) I buy everything I can find on it and then get bored or find something better... and I'm stuck with loads of items to be sold off for a pittance. :(

Now I've come to my senses and I'm concentrating :rolleyes: on L&BIY and it's decendants.

The odd Northumbrian or Lowlands goodie (if anyone has a Duns RV buckle I'll buy it.)

Royal Artillery Signaller postcards.

Yes, but it is a matter of supply and demand and when sellers may be ignorant, bidders are not.
Here is a favourite: smelly victorian ladies being carted into the sea for a dip.
Royal Sea Bathing Hospital Margate.

The 'gun' badge, grenade collars, NCOs 'guns' and embroidered/printed red letters on blue shoulder titles for all British Commonwealth artillery 1902-current.
All to Australian Artillery 1903-current.
All post 1987 Australian Army unit colour patches and post 1964 anodised shoulder titles.
The biggest enjoyment of the collecting I think is the research!

Having started off with all things anodised (since sold) my main collecting interest is anything to the Essex Yeomanry and predecessor units. These days more researching alongside the collecting.

Also interest in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Royal Signals and the Essex Regiment as units I've served in / have some affiliation with.

Happy to help where I can.

Michael

Over the years I have collected to a number of local regiments to where I have lived or worked but my main interest is in the Kings Liverpools and I have sold off items to other regiments to pay for Kings items I could not otherwise have afforded and my collection is now almost entirely to the Kings.

I do find that these days I get as much of a kick out of finding the answers to old queries as I do adding items to my collection.

P.B.

Having been a magpie for many years on all things militaria related I have settled in to WW2 RAF wings and crew member brevets. As well as the Commonwealth air forces from the same period.

That is not to say I do not stray from time to time, however my discipline is much better.

Reading and research brings much enjoyment as well as gardening "unrelated".
Best
Jack

Hello,
I live near Vimy, Arras and Cambrai, not far from the Somme either. Near the old battlefields of WW1.
I collect long the cap badges of soldiers commonwealth: and now especially the Canadian and New Zealand badges.

I do not forget the second war also left traces in 1940.

Good afternoon.

Quaren'tro, a French collector.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp?albumid=623

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...p?albumid=1337

Marc :)

Who Collects What
 

My main interests are :-

1/ Guards Machine Gun Regiment and Battalion
2/ WW2 Plastic Badges
3/ Border Regiment
4/ Scots Guards
5/ Ceylon Planters
6/New Zealand WW1 Badges
7/Regimental Dirks to the Scots Guards.

If anyone wants photo,s of any of my badges please feel tree to ask.
Regards
Ray Smith

Interests
 

My Interests are the County Regiments ‘associated’ with the Royal Anglian Regiment:

• Norfolk
• Suffolk
• Essex
• Northants
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Beds
• Herts
• Beds & Herts
• Cambridgeshire
• Rutland
• Huntingdonshire
Plus
• East Anglia Brigade
• Royal Anglian Regiment

I try to remain focused on the War Raised Cavalry Regiments:

- 22nd Dragoons
- 23rd Hussars
- 24th Lancers
- 25th Dragoons
- 26th Hussars
- 27th Lancers

Incidentally, I've just updated my album if anyone has an interest in the WRC genre - I've only posted a few representative and favourite badges to date.

Link: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...p?albumid=2407

In addition, I have an interest in Northamptonshire related badges, too; plus, as funds permit, a number of other cavalry and yeomanry regiments that just appeal to me, or that have a family connection.

Best,

Marcus

Hi All.
I collect a few things
1. New Zealand, Australian and United Kingdom military aircrew wings, brevets and flying badges
2. New Zealand Military Rank and Insignia post 1990
3. New Zealand Civilian Rank and Insignia (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Customs etc)
4. Associated uniforms.
More than happy to help out where I can.
Please check out my collection at http://www.militarywings.weebly.com

Cheers

I'm all about the Maltese Regiments and Colonial Malta Police Corps, from medals to badges, buttons, swagger sticks and sweethearts :rolleyes:

British badges to 1953. Especially Essex Rgt and Royal Artillery.
CEF especially 43rd
All things WW1
Was an avid collector of WW2 Axis militaria 30 years ago.
Basically anything that takes my fancy at the time.