WWII grouping from one of the original S.A.S. members goes up for auction...
 

Boy would I love to be able to buy this, but it will probably sell far above my budget.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...l6hotFY1ie2OV8

It’s being sold across half a dozen lots at Bosley’s so will almost certainly be well and truly broken up which is a real shame.

I did not know they split it up. That is a real shame. I hope some collector with lots of money buys it all.

No doubt that’s what they’re hoping too to drive up the price...

If interested http://www.mycommissionbid.com/

A rather sad money making exercise at the expense of historical records. Just saying.

Insignia. Is one of these the first pattern wing?

I saw a comment elsewhere that the beret is not the original S.A.S. beret, and that the date has been messed with. Any opinions on that?

Man with a pipe
 

The man with the pipe in the photograph has David Stirling and an arrow inked on the picture. all the books I have read that feature this photo attribute it to another founding member of the SAS Jock Lewes.

Had they got it wrong?

Rob

Hi IMO this has all the features of a 1957 pattern sas baret. To my knowledge ww2 sand sas berets did not have a slider pocket also the beige liner and grommets is 57 pattern. The 1944 letters are too big compared to the letters British beret basque they should be the same size. Ww2 sas berets were unofficial in ww2 why would there be a British made ordnance beret in 1944 the more that in 1944 the SAS adopted the maroon beret. Only in 1957 the SAS beige beret became official and makers like Kangol or British beret basque made these.May be he acquired the beret post war to wear on reunions and he may be bought it from a dealer.

Everybody should form his own opinion but for me there are two many question marks. The other items are outstanding and it is a pity they are split up.

Cheers
JB

This is a 1957 Kangol sas beret in mint condition

See also example stamps and size of year is same as maker.


https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...5&d=1422921404

And changed or forged the date?

Very fishy.

Sadly something like this I feel calls into question the integrity of the collection. What was added when, by who and why. The addition of replacement items is relatively normal but when these have been sexed up or altered it then casts a shadow of doubt.

Add in Rob’s observation about the photo attribution. Has someone tried to make this group something it isn’t?

Either way, seems much less of a shame it being broken up now.

there is little information on dates of wings so I may be completely off but to me the flat pink centered ones are 1943/44 i have seen this type attributed to 1stSAS vets the other padded one is older may be 1942/43.

Cheers

JB

Great information guys. I would say the beret is something I definitely won't touch, but I may try to go after the insignia.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.d...s-auction.html

It is always funny all vets tend to be referred to as one of the early SAS originals I believe that this term is reserved for the first 66 members that joined L—detachment SAS in 1941. Still an earlier member of course as he joined in 1942 no 8 commando were he served produced a large number of SAS members including David Stirling.

Cheers JB

The National Army Museum has a photo of David Stirling with Jock Lewes.

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/lewes