ww2 Dutch free forces badges
 

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...p?albumid=1237


Hi Gents,

I just up loaded some more ww2 Dutch free forces badges in my album.

Cheers,
JB

Some very nice pieces there JB! I wished I had the Belgian equivalent for some of them! ;)

Thanks Brigade Piron,

I am partcullary very happy with the South African volunteers badge, it toke me years to get thst one!

Now I need to Canadian volunteers badge and the Dutch ww2 pata badge!

Cheers
JB

A nice collection of insignia!

What does the Canadian Volunteers badge look like? Who wore these? Were they for Dutch nationals attached to Canadian units (ie. interpreters)?

Bill.

http://www.prinsesirenebrigade.nl/

hi Bill,

In fact these were Dutchmen that had emigrated to Canadan and volunteered for service in the Dutch prinses irene brigade. They wore an orange maple leave with green contours.

Look on the above link under " rekrutering" to see the badge.

Cheers
JB

Maple leaf patch.
 

JB,

Thanks for the link, very interesting and some great photos too! I was completely unaware of the Dutch Forces recruiting in Canada. I think when I have time, I will dig a little deeper into the history of that recruiting.

Interesting patch too (never seen one before), were the SA and Cdn distinguishing patches worn on the sleeve (both sleeves)?

Bill.

Hi JB, Interesting information about the Dutch recruitment. Were they connected to the Beglian unit? (Belgians who had emigrated to Canada were recruited to form a unit during the war. They were under the British army but asked for permission to wear a maple leaf patch to show their Canadian connection and were granted permission to do so by NDHQ.)

No affiliation (and some mutual hostility!) between the Belgian and Dutch forces in exile! Could you show a picture of the patch you referred to, Bill?
BP

I don't have an image, but I think that Clive Law may?

From Distinguishing Patches, 2nd Edition, page 49 (caption);
Wearing a maple leaf patch was not limited to Canadians. This officer was one of a group of Belgians who trained in Canada. Upon their return to the United Kingdom they formed the 2nd Bn, Belgian Fusiliers and chose to honour their Canadian connection by wearing the Maple Leaf as a formation patch. Courtesy Jean-Marie Van Wijnsberghe.

The officer appears to be wearing a different shaped maple leaf but, as the photo was taken in Canada, it may pre-date the 'official' patch issued later.

http://www.servicepub.com/images/belgian.jpg http://www.servicepub.com/images/can...volunteers.jpg

Just to add to Clive's information, the Belgians asked National Defence Headquarters (Canadian) for permission to wear the maple leaf. The Canadian army reserved the use of a nationality insignia only for personnel of the army. NDHQ pondered the matter, and after consultation with Canadian Military Headquarters the Belgians were granted permission to use the maple leaf device, as they were a formed and recognized unit.

Hi Dave

The patches were worn on left sleeve under the Nederland nationality patch about 4 cm. Members of 2 Dutch troop wore it on right sleeve as left sleeve did not have a lot of space left due to combined operations patch.

See examples in my album:)
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=82687

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=82686

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=82714



Cheers
JB


[QUOTE

Interesting patch too (never seen one before), were the SA and Cdn distinguishing patches worn on the sleeve (both sleeves)?

Bill.[/QUOTE]

Thanks fior sharing these pics! i wish i had such maple leaf badge!

This badge was instituted by Ministerial Order of 25th August 1941 for Dutchmen who lived in Canada before 1st January 1941 and joined the Netherlands forces there. There were about 540 of such Canadian volunteers.
About 600 came from South Africa.
Cheers,
JB

Hi JB, Which ministerial order was the authority for the badge?

Free Dutch Forces
 

Not strictly Free Dutch Forces, but I would welcome your expert comment on these two signs. Presumably the upper one would date from c 1946? Would it have been worn in Theatre, by those of NEI nationality serving in the Netherlands Army or by Dutch nationals resident in the NEI? The lower one is unusual in that it has an orange border (unlike other examples I have seen). Is the border significant or simply a manufacturers variation.
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